Iceland .. Jökulsárlón pt 2

My journal entry for today reads "Just had the best of days at Jökulsárlón!" an understatement if ever in the circumstances, before erroneously noting "Arctic Skua and Snow Bunting provided the main soundtrack [to the day]". A more reasonable description being that "Arctic Tern and Snow Bunting etc". I have been conflating Arctic Skua for Arctic Tern at every opportunity this holiday, one of those misnomers that sticks around even when I know it is incorrect.

We arrived late morning, back at the glacial lagoon, parked the Jimny, "took a breath", then grabbed a coffee and relaxed into the scenery. The icebergs seemed larger and more compact than at our last visit. Some showing the deepest blue of the recently carved iceberg, whilst others thin, translucent, grimed with volcanic dust.

As we sat for lunch a WhatsApp message from a dear friend came through to us both. It confirmed the safe arrival of their son, born yesterday, and weighing in at a stonking 8lb+. Mother and baby were both doing fine. We wept.

In celebratory mode we headed to “Diamond Bay” instantly taken with the large chunks of ice, washed up on the shoreline, sparkling against the black volcanic sands. The monochrome contrasting with the bright colours of Gortex, Soft Shell, and Wool on show by the accompanying tourists.

Shortly afterwards we joined a small boat cruise of the glacial lagoon, heading out on a Zodiac RIB with a local guide, taking us the 8km from the mouth of the lagoon to the tongue of the Vatnajökull Glacier.

Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides)

above 3 photos - one of the most impressive and 
freshly carved icebergs present on the day!

Boat Trip: Ice Lagoon Adventure Tours

Food: Ishusid Pizzeria