Why Iceland?
Well partly because I have not been there before, and partly because I have been to several countries in the past few years, where you can ride a motorcycle across the arctic circle, so that was another reason.
However, I hear you say, Iceland is below the arctic circle. That is true, however, there is a small island above Iceland and officially part of Iceland, called Grimsey Island, and part of that is in the arctic circle. Now, that does mean a short and possibly rough ferry crossing, and I don't think I can ride the motorcycle very far on the island, but I will be able to walk or cycle to the arctic circle monument, so that is good enough for me!
Having done quite a bit of research into my trip, which is quite easy as many people, especially motorcyclists have done this before, and the internet is loaded with this information, not so many people go to Grimsey Island. So information about this is a little more sparse. In fact, I have only come across one person that has done this with a motorcycle, but none the less, my motorcycle and I are booked on the ferry, so watch this blog to see how we get on!
There is one element of motorcycling that is popular in Iceland and that is the gravel roads, especially the 'F' roads. It is law out there, that cars must have four wheel drive. Now I do like a little bit of off-road riding, although that is not something I am highly skilled at. So because of my lower skill level, plus there are several water crossings, it is not something I would want to do alone. Fortunately for me, Nathan Millward, of Dorothy's Speed Shop in North Devon, was planning a trip to Iceland this year for a group of motorcyclists, and luck has it, I got my self a space on his trip! This means I can ride the 'F' roads with the added support of others.
However, because I wanted to do the Grimsey Island part, and preferred to go by ferry, I am departing the UK two weeks ahead of the rest of the group, and will also not arrive back in the UK until two weeks after them. This means my trip is going to be about six weeks in total, with four weeks of those in Iceland!
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