Escaping the heatwave 2019

by Kostadin Mutafchiev

8609km in 26 days · 2367 views

Day 1, Friday, August 2

485km in 5h · 51km/h
  • Traveled 1km in 3min
  • 17:18 40min Packing and strapping everything up.
  • Traveled 42km in 42min
  • 18:42 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 14km in 10min
  • 18:56 Stop for 11min
  • Traveled 286m in 46s
  • 19:08 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 0m in 0s
  • 19:11 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 64m in 13s
  • 19:14 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 231km in 2h 15min
  • 21:33 20min First fill up after a biblical storm near Nis
  • Traveled 197km in 1h 52min
  • 23:45 10h 20min Stop for the night in Novi Sad. The lady is a bike fan, made us promise a photoshoot with the bikes

Day 2, Saturday, August 3

632km in 9h · 56km/h
  • Traveled 111km in 1h 26min
  • 11:33 Stop for 9min
  • Traveled 5km in 10min
  • 11:52 26min Almost out of gas entering Hungary. Breakfast for bikes and bodies.
  • Traveled 260km in 3h 28min
  • 15:46 34min After the exclusively boring Hungary and the outskirts of Budapest, a fill up and rest is necessary.
  • Traveled 85km in 1h 09min
  • 17:30 1h 15min Lunch in Banska Bistrica. Not very nice service and not very nice food. Would not recommend.
  • Traveled 30km in 25min
  • 19:11 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 103km in 1h 31min
  • 20:45 Stop for 6min
  • Traveled 32km in 32min
  • 21:24 Stop for 5min
  • Traveled 5km in 8min
  • 21:37 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 523m in 4min
  • 21:45 13h 12min A night in Poland. Welcome drink - vodka.

Day 3, Sunday, August 4

665km in 9h · 66km/h
  • Traveled 220km in 2h 49min
  • 13:47 Stop for 33min
  • Traveled 134km in 1h 59min
  • 16:20 1h 09min Managed to find the most crowded KFC restaurant in Poland
  • Traveled 151km in 1h 31min
  • 19:02 Stop for 19min
  • Traveled 18km in 26min
  • 19:48 Stop for 5min
  • Traveled 4km in 4min
  • 19:58 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 99km in 1h 12min
  • 21:14 Stop for 8min
  • Traveled 39km in 27min
  • 21:50 1h 43min Greek restaurant working in Sunday evening in Germany. Ouzo and souvlaki for everyone.
  • Traveled 875m in 1min
  • 23:35 8h 51min Monument-camping in the park.

Day 4, Monday, August 5

826km in 9h · 79km/h
  • Traveled 34km in 28min
  • 08:55 16min Fill up before hitting the highway
  • Traveled 157km in 1h 20min
  • 10:31 19min Fuel prices outside the highways are 20 cents down.
  • Traveled 184km in 1h 41min
  • 12:32 31min Filling up on the cheap(ish) before entering Denmark.
  • Traveled 139km in 1h 46min
  • 14:50 42min Roadside lunch from a 7eleven.
  • Traveled 251km in 2h 42min
  • 18:15 1h 10min Walk to Grenen and around.
  • Traveled 38km in 31min
  • 19:56 Stop for 6min
  • Traveled 17km in 15min
  • 20:18 1h 57min Spoiling ourselves a bit with a restaurant before the sailing.
  • Traveled 5km in 12min
  • 22:29 10h 08min As the camping was full we resorted to finding a place for pitching a tent for the night. Raining a bit.

Day 5, Tuesday, August 6

6km in 0h · 35km/h
  • Traveled 3km in 4min
  • 08:41 31min Gas station breakfast and fill up. Iceland is more expensive than Denmark.
  • Traveled 3km in 3min
  • 09:17 51min Checking in and boarding the ferry
  • Traveled 321m in 57s
  • 10:10 2d 01h To Iceland!

Day 6, Wednesday, August 7

Day 7, Thursday, August 8

458km in 6h · 51km/h
  • Traveled 25m in 51s
  • 12:06 Stop for 4min
  • Traveled 53km in 40min
  • 12:51 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 28km in 27min
  • 13:22 18min Escaping the rain and 3 degrees temperature in Seydisfjordur and first offroad experiences.
  • Traveled 9km in 18min
  • 13:58 21min First *foss (a suffix for waterfall in Icelandic)
  • Traveled 24km in 19min
  • 14:39 23min Stop for snacks and beer.
  • Traveled 11km in 8min
  • 15:12 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 33km in 22min
  • 15:37 20min Random seaside viewpoint
  • Traveled 10km in 8min
  • 16:05 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 43km in 30min
  • 16:39 24min Starting point for Vesterhorn
  • Traveled 486m in 1min
  • 17:05 37min Vesterhorn itself. And abandoned props from a viking movie scene
  • Traveled 1km in 2min
  • 17:45 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 596m in 1min
  • 17:50 Stop for 14min
  • Traveled 7km in 9min
  • 18:14 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 10km in 7min
  • 18:24 Stop for 36min
  • Traveled 80km in 53min
  • 19:54 46min The Glacier Lagoon - Jokulsarlon
  • Traveled 179m in 36s
  • 20:41 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 960m in 2min
  • 20:45 28min Where the icebergs from Jokulsarlon enter the sea.
  • Traveled 2km in 3min
  • 21:18 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 13km in 17min
  • 21:38 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 37m in 10s
  • 21:41 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 14km in 16min
  • 22:00 16min Another lake at the skirt of the glacier.
  • Traveled 2km in 3min
  • 22:19 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 45km in 31min
  • 22:55 1h 15min Hike to Svartifoss and its bassalt columns
  • Traveled 70km in 44min
  • 00:55 Stop for 7min
  • Traveled 431m in 52s
  • 01:03 Stop for 4min
  • Traveled 214m in 1min
  • 01:09 11h 19min Camping for the night. A bit shocked that Icelandic campings do not offer the level of facilites we are used to.

Day 8, Friday, August 9

281km in 5h · 39km/h
  • Traveled 24km in 14min
  • 12:43 Stop for 5min
  • Traveled 21km in 23min
  • 13:12 Stop for 5min
  • Traveled 1km in 2min
  • 13:19 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 4km in 6min
  • 13:28 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 2km in 4min
  • 13:35 Stop for 4min
  • Traveled 5km in 8min
  • 13:48 22min A very beautiful waterfall, far from the tourist flocks.
  • Traveled 3km in 7min
  • 14:18 Stop for 5min
  • Traveled 13km in 23min
  • 14:47 26min Monumental river crossing. The first of quite a few (20 or more)
  • Traveled 11km in 20min
  • 15:34 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 5km in 9min
  • 15:45 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 11km in 22min
  • 16:10 Stop for 9min
  • Traveled 4km in 7min
  • 16:27 Stop for 4min
  • Traveled 5km in 9min
  • 16:41 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 3km in 4min
  • 16:49 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 6km in 10min
  • 17:02 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 501m in 1min
  • 17:06 51min Stop at the basecamp for Landmann peak - Landmannalaugar
  • Traveled 14km in 19min
  • 18:17 20min Miscommunication and regrouping.
  • Traveled 27km in 30min
  • 19:08 15min Refil after a day of offroading
  • Traveled 123km in 1h 15min
  • 20:39 31min Looking around Seljalandsfoss
  • Traveled 684m in 1min
  • 21:11 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 87m in 25s
  • 21:15 16h 09min Camping right next to the waterfall

Day 9, Saturday, August 10

417km in 5h · 75km/h
  • Traveled 40km in 25min
  • 13:50 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 3km in 5min
  • 13:58 16min The plainwreck of a DC-3 and the threats of the bus driver.
  • Traveled 17km in 15min
  • 14:29 Stop for 36min
  • Traveled 2km in 3min
  • 15:10 Stop for 56min
  • Traveled 18km in 13min
  • 16:20 2h 21min Restauranting again
  • Traveled 34km in 23min
  • 19:05 40min Skogafoss waterfall
  • Traveled 49km in 31min
  • 20:18 Stop for 4min
  • Traveled 63km in 42min
  • 21:05 23min Kerid crater. Already quite windy
  • Traveled 41km in 26min
  • 21:55 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 894m in 55s
  • 21:59 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 3km in 3min
  • 22:06 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 13km in 10min
  • 22:19 28min Gaysir, the original. We only had a chance to see a smaller one - Stokkur - erupt.
  • Traveled 132km in 1h 20min
  • 00:08 13h 01min Back to the camping next to Seljafoss

Day 10, Sunday, August 11

223km in 3h · 49km/h
  • Traveled 69km in 47min
  • 13:57 48min Using a KFC to have brunch and to get a bit warm after a windy night.
  • Traveled 62km in 43min
  • 15:29 Stop for 6min
  • Traveled 10km in 7min
  • 15:44 30min Gullfoss waterfall. Quite remarkable.
  • Traveled 42km in 39min
  • 16:54 38min A warm-up stop at a hut on the F35 on our way to Kerlingarfjöll
  • Traveled 30km in 46min
  • 18:19 Stop for 4min
  • Traveled 4km in 8min
  • 18:32 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 2km in 5min
  • 18:42 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 4km in 7min
  • 18:53 32min A decision to sleep in a cabin here was made
  • Traveled 66m in 25s
  • 19:25 16h 29min A nice two-storey cabin for the night. Snow outside.

Day 11, Monday, August 12

599km in 7h · 77km/h
  • Traveled 147km in 2h 10min
  • 14:05 53min Some time to get warm and to get some calories in after the 100 km offroad and then 50 km in pouring rain.
  • Traveled 125km in 1h 14min
  • 16:14 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 40km in 27min
  • 16:44 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 5km in 4min
  • 16:51 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 6km in 4min
  • 16:58 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 51km in 38min
  • 17:40 1h 41min A supermarket stop to have some lunch and stock on some breakfast supplies.
  • Traveled 56km in 40min
  • 20:01 1h 02min A nice walk in the lava fields around Londrangar
  • Traveled 25km in 17min
  • 21:22 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 4km in 7min
  • 21:33 Stop for 14min
  • Traveled 139km in 1h 33min
  • 23:21 13h 41min An unattended but well maintained camping and philipine restaurant for dinner.

Day 12, Tuesday, August 13

626km in 7h · 68km/h
  • Traveled 988m in 1min
  • 13:05 Stop for 9min
  • Traveled 1km in 1min
  • 13:16 20min Fill up and get the forgotten water bottle
  • Traveled 194km in 2h 03min
  • 15:40 Stop for 6min
  • Traveled 35km in 22min
  • 16:09 38min Fill up after the futile attempt to see something from the Westfjords. The weather didn't let us go in at least relative comfort.
  • Traveled 175km in 1h 55min
  • 18:43 25min A nice rock formation almost on the beach. Whether it is a troll or an elephant doesn't actually matter that much.
  • Traveled 76km in 49min
  • 19:58 46min Gas and some calories for the bodies after the battle with the winds on the road.
  • Traveled 144km in 1h 26min
  • 22:11 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 104m in 38s
  • 22:14 14h 56min Very nice and cheap (for the local standards) hostel. Warm shower and a roof above our heads.

Day 13, Wednesday, August 14

361km in 4h · 81km/h
  • Traveled 6km in 6min
  • 13:17 Stop for 5min
  • Traveled 21km in 12min
  • 13:35 34min Godafoss, the Golden Waterfall.
  • Traveled 38km in 23min
  • 14:34 45min Myvatn - rather regular view in the company of what we've seen in Iceland the previous days.
  • Traveled 12km in 8min
  • 15:28 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 10km in 11min
  • 15:42 1h 17min Leirhnjukur - an active geothermal site. It is not a coincidence that one of the bigger geothermal electric power plants (Krafla) is in the area as well.
  • Traveled 70km in 57min
  • 17:57 41min The East viewpoint to the Detifoss waterfall - the most powerful in Europe. Road was "unsealed" and full of potholes and inadequate drivers.
  • Traveled 160km in 1h 49min
  • 20:28 45min Snack and gas stop.
  • Traveled 35km in 20min
  • 21:34 Stop for 4min
  • Traveled 9km in 6min
  • 21:45 13h 08min A night with Hogni and Unnur, that have been referenced by Melanie and Greg Turp. A great evening with talks about adventures and stories from the road. Also, they got us copies of their book about the trip they've made to Mongolia in 2014.

Day 14, Thursday, August 15

70km in 1h · 75km/h
  • Traveled 9km in 5min
  • 11:00 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 4km in 2min
  • 11:06 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 57km in 39min
  • 11:48 Stop for 5min
  • Traveled 174m in 48s
  • 11:53 17h 53min Again on the ferry. Next stop - the Faroe Islands.

Day 15, Friday, August 16

126km in 2h · 54km/h
  • Traveled 1km in 2min
  • 05:50 58min Gas and maintenance after a slow and VERY early disembarkment between 3 and 3 a.m. local time.
  • Traveled 65km in 50min
  • 07:38 Stop for 4min
  • Traveled 5km in 9min
  • 07:52 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 10km in 8min
  • 08:02 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 4km in 4min
  • 08:09 16min The most remote point of the islands accessible via road (w/o ferries)
  • Traveled 13km in 11min
  • 08:37 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 3km in 2min
  • 08:42 Stop for 4min
  • Traveled 35m in 6s
  • 08:46 5h 11min Waiting for the rain to stop, but without any results.
  • Traveled 2km in 2min
  • 14:01 Stop for 4min
  • Traveled 22km in 18min
  • 14:24 1d 00h Very welcoming hosts in a small village on one of the islands.

Day 16, Saturday, August 17

195km in 3h · 67km/h
  • Traveled 24km in 17min
  • 14:47 Stop for 7min
  • Traveled 32km in 22min
  • 15:16 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 16km in 13min
  • 15:32 7min The legend says that this horse lures people to pet him then drags them to the bottom of the lake.
  • Traveled 6km in 7min
  • 15:47 7min One of the scenic places and start of one of the buttercup (scenic) roads.
  • Traveled 728m in 46s
  • 15:56 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 5km in 9min
  • 16:07 Stop for 1h 58min
  • Traveled 27km in 21min
  • 18:27 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 29km in 28min
  • 18:58 10min Rain, but we need gas.
  • Traveled 55km in 38min
  • 19:47 18h 26min Back to base for the night.

Day 17, Sunday, August 18

121km in 2h · 41km/h
  • Traveled 21km in 21min
  • 14:35 Stop for 32min
  • Traveled 29km in 28min
  • 15:36 Stop for 2h 54min
  • Traveled 18km in 21min
  • 18:52 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 51km in 36min
  • 19:30 Stop for 1h 22min
  • Traveled 2km in 4min
  • 20:57 Stop for 3h 35min
  • Traveled 243m in 2min
  • 00:36 Stop for 26min
  • Traveled 62m in 1min
  • 01:03 Stop for 1d 09h

Day 18, Monday, August 19

Day 19, Tuesday, August 20

406km in 5h · 56km/h
  • Traveled 186km in 1h 42min
  • 12:23 Stop for 9min
  • Traveled 82m in 15s
  • 12:32 Stop for 41min
  • Traveled 167m in 33s
  • 13:14 1h 29min Ferry to Odde
  • Traveled 105km in 59min
  • 15:43 Stop for 7min
  • Traveled 159m in 1min
  • 15:52 43min Chain care and fast food
  • Traveled 17km in 11min
  • 16:47 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 13km in 7min
  • 16:57 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 6km in 4min
  • 17:04 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 9km in 12min
  • 17:20 Stop for 10min
  • Traveled 63km in 59min
  • 18:30 11min Check-in for the ferry
  • Traveled 3km in 5min
  • 18:47 28min Searching for place to waste time
  • Traveled 169m in 30s
  • 19:15 2h 52min A Chinese restaurant and some beers
  • Traveled 3km in 6min
  • 22:15 9h 46min Skipping Germany

Day 20, Wednesday, August 21

894km in 12h · 68km/h
  • Traveled 2km in 6min
  • 08:08 Stop for 7min
  • Traveled 42km in 28min
  • 08:45 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 179km in 2h 22min
  • 11:11 26min Refill and coffee, pt.1
  • Traveled 81km in 1h 01min
  • 12:39 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 181km in 2h 29min
  • 15:12 35min Refill and coffee, pt.2
  • Traveled 184km in 2h 28min
  • 18:16 36min Refill and coffee, pt.3
  • Traveled 176km in 2h 13min
  • 21:07 Stop for 9min
  • Traveled 50km in 51min
  • 22:08 12h 14min Finally, rest

Day 21, Thursday, August 22

698km in 9h · 69km/h
  • Traveled 306km in 3h 56min
  • 14:19 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 9km in 9min
  • 14:32 1h 38min Worst service in Romania, ever
  • Traveled 2km in 3min
  • 16:14 Stop for 6min
  • Traveled 16km in 15min
  • 16:35 Stop for 4min
  • Traveled 47km in 36min
  • 17:16 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 170km in 1h 50min
  • 19:09 20min Tank filled and bladder emptied
  • Traveled 148km in 2h 01min
  • 21:32 15h 18min HU Romania!

Day 22, Friday, August 23

1km in 0h · 26km/h
  • Traveled 1km in 2min
  • 12:53 1d 21h Hotel for next two nights. Still HU Romania

Day 23, Saturday, August 24

Day 24, Sunday, August 25

517km in 7h · 61km/h
  • Traveled 1km in 2min
  • 09:56 17min Breakfast at the base. Goodbye, HU Romania!
  • Traveled 209km in 3h 08min
  • 13:23 25min Found Ivo!
  • Traveled 49km in 42min
  • 14:31 Stop for 2min
  • Traveled 47km in 34min
  • 15:07 Stop for 3h 03min
  • Traveled 195km in 2h 31min
  • 20:42 Stop for 3min
  • Traveled 16km in 22min

Day 25, Monday, August 26

Day 26, Tuesday, August 27

Legend

  • Gas station 26
  • Generic stop 21
  • Beautiful sight 15
  • Restaurant 8
  • Hotel 7
  • Tourist sight 7
  • Something special 6
  • Camping 6
  • Natural sight 5
  • Ferry 4
  • Coffee 2