| vtrman 
Joined: Dec 18, 2008
Posts: 34
From: Nottingham, UK
What can I say? Excellent. What a superlative adventure. I can honestly say that this was one of he best biking trips I have EVER been on, EVER. It helped that the group were handpicked. All were friends or past customers, and most knew their way around a trail bike. Everyone was warned that it could be tough - and IT WAS :)
I don't know which picture sums it up the best. They're all good! I'll keep adding photos & comments, and invite the guys from the trip to chip in with their observations and add more photos.
Come on guys - add your comments! I know at least on eof you has time on your hands right now :)
Bill @ Bike Tours UK
[ This message was edited by: Adventuremagnet on 29/06/2009 14:29 ] |
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vtrman Joined: Dec 18, 2008
Posts: 34
From: Nottingham, UK
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The Iceland tour will need to be written up in full gory detail, but I'll summarise here for now in just a few hundred words. We visited the Blue Lagoon after landing in Keflavic, for relaxation after several G&Ts on the aeroplane. We were taken on a mini-bus tour through the lava fields, before having a BBQ and setting up camp on the outskirts of Reykjavik. All in bright sunshine until 2.00am and beyond.
As planned, we rode up through the barren interior of Iceland on unpaved roads, after doing the tourist bit at Geysir & Gulfoss. Bye-bye bus tourists - we're all alone now. After a few little distractions trying to get some spare fuel (the XT's won't make it on one tankful across the interior) and a puncture, we made camp at Hveravellir, and lounged away the evening in hot, sulphurous, steaming pools, drinking Bennivin with crazy naked Icelanders. A very strange evening indeed. 2.00am -bright sun in a huge blue sky, a hard frost under foot, we camped out again.
The photo shows John Robinson riding a KLR650 through "Arctic Desert". This unsurafced road runs through the interior of Iceland, between two ice caps. Section between Gulfoss & Hveravellir.
Bill @ Bike Tours UK
[ This message was edited by: vtrman on 26/06/2009 18:08 ] | |
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vtrman Joined: Dec 18, 2008
Posts: 34
From: Nottingham, UK
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Again, bang on plan, we rode to the most Northerly point from there, to Sigulfjordur, which sits just a smidgeon beneath the Arctic Circle. We struck camp on the village green (nothing like a village green actually), and then partied for Iceland, along with locals and weekend visitors to celebrate the longest day of the year, and the demise of the herring industry. These folks know how to play hard, when the mood takes them.
With a thick head, and a mouthfull of car wash, we swiftly packed the tents and set off at the crack of Midday on Sunday, for our long trek back south. After a hundred km or so of tedious road work, we hit the trails again.
This is where the adventure really got started. At the beginning of an easy unsurfaced road, we bought fuel and enquired whether the road ahead was "open". A grey-haired old lady looked up from her knitting, and informed us it was, and it was "easy going". Ha! Sure enough, it started off easy, but soon became a proper trail, along a river bed, with grapefruit sized boulders and rock steps. Not a problem for the experienced trail riding boys, but the road riders were now starting to struggle a bit.
We ploughed on. It got better & better. Miles from anywhere, we crossed a gravel runway. Then one of the guys chucked his bike over a steep edge. Rob was first on scene, and reported suspected broken shoulder, broken ribs and even a collapsed lung???? Not pretty. He put a brave face on, and gritted his teeth.
Time to put the rescue machine to work. We're 80 miles from the nearest road, so once again, "self-rescue" is in order. Rather extravagantly, we'd decided to go for 4x4 support on this trip, and now it seemed like a Really Good Idea.
Karen drove the truck, Rob (passenger until now) rode Clive's bike out, and Clive, better known as Geordie Gasman, set off on the most uncomfortable, bumpy, bone jarring ride to hospital he's ever had.
Progress was slow, the trail was quite tricky in parts, and then.......
We came to The River. OMG. Someone had to wade across first to ascertain how deep it was. Me. I pushed / powered the first bike through. Waist deep was the route I chose, although subsequent bikes found slightly shallower ways across. NOW, we have an adventure.
I was a long job. We eventually reached paved road at Husafell, but then had to go another 60-100km to Borgames and then Arkames to get Geordie Gasman to hospital. He was initially x-rayed and treated by midnight, then moved to a different clinic, and back at our motel by 02:30am. Black clouds outside, and hailstones battering the Velux windows. We didn't camp that night. Whimps that we are.
First X-rays suggested nothing much was broken, just a dislocate4d shoulder. We called Clive "The Great Pretender". He phoned me somewhat gleefully on Tuesday, to say later X-Rays confirmed he had suffered an unusual fracture of the Scapula.
A rainy ride back to Reykjavik Monday morning, then out by Icelandair in late afternoon. Top Trip. Fantastic. Even Geordie Gasman thought so.
[ This message was edited by: vtrman on 26/06/2009 18:13 ] | |
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vtrman Joined: Dec 18, 2008
Posts: 34
From: Nottingham, UK
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No time to write stories right now, lets just get a few pictures up to get the ball rolling.
Bill @ Bike Tours UK | Advertisement  |
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vtrman Joined: Dec 18, 2008
Posts: 34
From: Nottingham, UK
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| The accident had some benefits. While waiting for the blue "ambulance" to catch up, I was able to grab some nice photos. | |
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vtrman Joined: Dec 18, 2008
Posts: 34
From: Nottingham, UK
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| The ambulance with miserable occupant comes into view.... | |
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vtrman Joined: Dec 18, 2008
Posts: 34
From: Nottingham, UK
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Despite Clive's very obvious & painful suffering, I was in seventh heaven. The light after the storm was just magical. I wanted to stay for hours on that barren volcanic plateau, taking pictures.
Bill @ Bike Tours UK | |
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vtrman Joined: Dec 18, 2008
Posts: 34
From: Nottingham, UK
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OK, I need to pack for France now. I leave this topic for now, and invite the trip members to contribute. Plug, plug, plug.....
This was a reconnaisance trip, my third visit, and the means to plan future trips. It's proper adventure stuff, bu tif peopel know what they may be getting into, I'm already setting up 1 or more repeat trips in late August or September.
Over to the others......
Bill @ Bike Tours UK
[ This message was edited by: vtrman on 26/06/2009 18:28 ] | |
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vtrman Joined: Dec 18, 2008
Posts: 34
From: Nottingham, UK
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I couldn't resist 1 last snapshot. All pix so far are by me...
But we had a couple in the support 4x4, and Rob is a photographer. I found out later he was able to grab this lucky shot just as Clive went over the edge.
Bill @ Bike Tours UK | |
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vtrman Joined: Dec 18, 2008
Posts: 34
From: Nottingham, UK
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Seems like Geordie Gasman is on the ball, and will be posting some items ASAP. Let's keep the report vaguely in chronological order, then it may retain some interest or usefulness to anyone thinking about setting up their own tour.
So, 10 mins off the plane at Keflavic, where do you go first? The Blue Lagoon. This is outside the place, before we went in. Someone with a waterproof camera took the shots in the lagoon itself. 15E entrance fee, or the ISK equivalent. Worth every penny. Yeah, a "toursit trap" but a wonderful experience none-the-less.
Hot, stinky, turquoise wild swimming pit - full of slim blond Icelandic girls. You could do a lot worse for a first impression of Iceland. Of couirse there were a few chubby old English guys as well.
Bill @ Bike Tours UK | |
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Administrator Joined: May 19, 2001
Posts: 5237
From: UK
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On 2009-06-26 18:15, vtrman wrote: No time to write stories right now, lets just get a few pictures up to get the ball rolling.
That looks seriously cold.
AdventureMag - an open and shareable internet resource for adventure junkies.
"Knowledge is a tricky thing." | |
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vtrman Joined: Dec 18, 2008
Posts: 34
From: Nottingham, UK
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| Only a little glacial meltwater. Adrenaline rush meant just get on and do it, no time to think about wet or cold. | |
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vtrman Joined: Dec 18, 2008
Posts: 34
From: Nottingham, UK
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Still no word from "The Great Pretender" himself. Here I am, in The Alps, walking through the 35 degree heat every day to the nearest internet cafe, dealing with an extremely rude waitress*, handling a dodgy french keyboard _ and no word from Mr Poorly? Get your finger out Clive!
* I come into this dump at 1&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&éé²:45 Bloody keyboqrd stuck, ONE :45; I daren,t press thqt ONE key again!!!!
So; ask for the "plat du jour" at one 45, tart says sit down and we,ll come and serve you at the table. I wait and wait and wait, no service. So I go back to the counter after one5 minutes; yes you,ve guessed it; "Can,t serve you food now, we stop at 2:00!"
Bloody French!!!!!!!! I like them normally; it,s just this one I,ve taken a major dislike to.
Ah well, against my better judgement, I,m off t Macdonalds insteqd.
Au revoir, a bientot! | |
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GeordieBandit  Joined: Jun 29, 2009
Posts: 3
From: geordieland
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Hey! I haven't been well you know. What's with le "great pretender"? I've proved it was a near death experience by getting a 6 week sicknote. Anyway, I can claim that I was the one who tested whether The International Rescue & Recovery Team would work. AND IT DID!
I'm not going to let the XT660 get the better of me so I've bought one. I can now practise for the next Extreme Bike Tours adventure. I have a feeling most, if not all, of this years Iceland 11 would be up for a replay. Maybe we could make it an annual re-union?
I'm off to my sick-bed to rest my aching shoulder. It's a hard life being an International Rescue & Recovery Team tester.....see you soon
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GeordieBandit Joined: Jun 29, 2009
Posts: 3
From: geordieland
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| so, what was it Bill?, "Le Big Mac"? or "Royale with Cheese"? | |
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