Iceland part 1 in photos

[fbhjr]

We got to Iceland, check the directions and started up the west coast towards where we were going.





























We got to the museum at the farm of Eric the Red and Leif Ericson where the fire festival was being held.
https://www.eiriksstadir.is/


We looked around, including visiting the longhouse there that the one we would build would be modeled on.










Our friend Bill was already setting things up for the festival that would start the next day.


The container was for the preliminary tests and a turf house for the main event. For Thursday he had enough help, and my wife was cold, so we went into town, bought my wife a sweater, had some lunch and went to our hotel.





The hotel gave us our own cabin. That and a sweater made my wife happy.




It is high summer there and even in the middle of the night, it was not very dark…

Yes, that photo above was taken at at 2:30 in the morning..

Friday we got up, drove back to town for some supplies, then over to the museum to help for the day.








Bill needed help building the sod house. There were some experts for the actual building, but there was a lot of turf that needed to be carried and lifted to help. That was the main thing we did. The turf was in strips so it was like lifting a soil bath towel, but much heavier.
It was a bit cold…

















There was a point of lifting ceiling beams too.







Work was also being done on the test prototype and the doors that would be used in those tests.




The fire department was ready…



There was a nice lunch, then back to work.






When it came time for a burn test, I sat across the river to make sure I was out of the way, but still had a good view.













Then, back to building.





Then, we ran out of turf. This mean going down the valley to the farm that supplied it and collecting more.












Then, another burn test.










Then, back to the hotel for dinner and rest.





Midnight sunset was quite spectacular.


Saturday morning, the return to building.






Remember, this was all done for experiments, not just for fun. So instruments, cables and cameras were all set up as we build the house.


As the house got higher, it got more difficult to get the turf to the top.













And, more prototype burns.






















There was a bird that came by and just hovered in the breeze to watch the burning house.



Then, back to building.





Then, another turf run.







More building.







The rocks seemed to have a lot of iron. The certainly had rust in the center.


More fire tests.












Then close to finishing the house, but leaving some room for the fire specialist to finish their instruments.









Then, back to our hotel before the final day.

Comments

[threemeninaboat]

I love that sweater! When were there in July 21st 2007 it looked exactly the same. I bought a hat from 66 Degrees North that I've been wearing constantly for almost 20 years. I had to replace the mittens once.

[koyaanisqatsi]

These pics are so fun! Thank you for sharing!! Really makes me miss Iceland and want to go back. 😊