Anticipation and a word from the wise one

So many elements of the journey being pieced together as we go, perhaps worth a consideration of the fundamentals before we start. The hotel we booked below is not without a story, chosen initially because it looked class but our room choice in our original booking gave us some club lounge type of benefits. We lost those when we chose to extend our stay so we will instead simply consider the comforts and location a useful jumping off point. Friends who have been recently and not so recently have already made recommendations in terms of restaurants (added to links) and the challenge so far is to find a puffin burger.  We'll see how foodie we want to take it and sense price might have a say. £50 for a bottle of wine I'm told is the going rate, but is cheaper in the government licensed wine shops. So I'll be all about free scenery and government wine where I can get it. Anyway, this looks like our base for the next few days, once we get the travelling and transfers done.

 

In terms of other inked in plans we have arranged a few added luxuries to ensure smooth travel on what is quite a compressed trip. These include short stay (valet collection) onsite at Heathrow Airport which hopefully means we can get straight into the Wetherspoons for breakfast.  Chrissi has indicated as things stand this could be the thing she is most looking forward to.  I've also paid for a transfer to the hotel from the airport, although I do understand that might pass the Blue Lagoon, which is on our must see list.

Not sure we are as well prepared as these people, but also pleased this video didn't turn X rated, as there was point I did wonder where it was going ... 

So can we factor that in tomorrow or Friday, we may not be able to determine until we arrive, so will be very much on the hoof.

Most other planning will be done I think on our 3 and a half hour flight in the good company of the Lonely Planet, but certainly the Golden Circle self drive is very much looking to be the way to go next Sunday or Monday after we return to the airport to collect our car from Budget for a couple of days.

I think Saturday will need to incorporate a run of some distance, whilst a few days of reduced Autumn marathon training is acceptable it would be rude not to do a few miles. There used to be a parkrun in Iceland (below) so an extended version of this looking likely unless I can find linked running group willing to have us tag on to one of their runs.

Co-incidentally we found out a few weeks ago this would have been the weekend of the Reykjavik Marathon which I'd have willingly had a go at, so entered, and within days it was pulled due to covid. And perhaps that will be the third travelling companion on this trip, we will always be mindful, but hopeful it keeps itself away from any of our excursions. 

So lots of gaps to still fill in, but anticipation is part of the fun, a lot of the fun, so lets see where some of these ideas take us over the next few days.

As so many of you have expressed disappointment at a lack of Carys before our trip I'd like to give her the last few words before we head off ....

Hi! A bit of a weird situation for me  to be typing in as I'd never have expected to not be coming on this years holidays. Though I am sad not to be travelling somewhere new and exciting, I've really been enjoying my summer so far. It's been busy but that's how I like things best. I'm excited to hear all about mum and dad's travels and hoping that the next holiday taken by this household I will be a part of.