July 3rd – Rutshellir are man-made caves right along Route 1. These were used for hay storage and probably had a smithy as it was next to a historical travel route. Over 90 farms in the south of Iceland have caves like these with wood and sod fronts extending out from the rock formation.

Caves of Hella, a similar place with formal tours was on our list for July 3rd, but the timing wasn’t right for the reservations that were available.

July 6th – Torfhusin I Hjardarhaga means turf houses of Hjardarhagi farm and is a roadside stop to see turf buildings that were in use for storage and livestock up through the 1970s. At that time, four of the buildings were demolished to make way for Route 1 and the two sheep houses left are now protected by the Cultural Heritage Agency and open for exploring. There were two baby birds holding really still down on the steps to one of these storage rooms. We didn’t enter so as not to disturb them.

July 8th – Glaumbaer turf farm and museum was our first stop that morning. People have been living here for over 900 years, and archaeological digs have found the remains of a Viking longhouse. The clustered buildings here were home to about 20 people. Visitors were revered and got to stay in a really nice blue room, and the priest/teacher had his own room. The rooms were all connected by a long, dark, narrow, dirt floor hallway. Everyone else slept in the dorm-style beds and that was their work area and eating area as well. There was no heat, but with woolen clothing and really thick walls, heating was not needed. I beg to differ on the need for heat; these were tough, hardy people. The last extended family to live here left in 1947, and it was then declared a protected site.

Hay harvest was in session all over the countryside. The field nearest this turf farm had a manure spreader in action. Kansas farmer, Martie, had to snap a photo. Hay bales wrapped in white, dotted fields like big marshmallows, and eventually we saw other colors, too. Chocolate, strawberry, and mint flavored marshmallows were also to be found.

One interesting note about Iceland – they are the world’s energy superpower, per capita. Not only are they in the number one spot, but they produce twice the energy of the number two spot! And practically 100% of that energy is renewable, in the forms of hydroelectric and geothermal. We hope that they are successful in keeping overhead power lines out in the picturesque fjord area that includes the Glaumbaer turf farm, west of Akureyri.