Our next stop took us on a rainy cold walk in this valley along this river. Another huge field of black rock without a trail or markings. But maybe there was a pool here. A hot spring pool. Seljavallalaug.
Fully rugged in thermals, woollen jumper, boots and wet-weather gear we set off for a swim. (Swimmers in a bag).
In various places along the river were ag-pipes releasing steaming water. Promising?
About 20 minutes up the river a naked man darted out way ahead of us and ran down out of sight. He must have had his ears picked up! Haha. But a good sign that there was a pool this way.
Two wet heads craned from behind a rock just in front of us and looking up from inside my hooded jacket I could see that they were in a pool (clothed). Their mate returned with some boardies on, said hello and jumped in the pool.
The pool is incredible, but I failed to even take a photo. It’s a 25 meter pool, very similar in style to Merewether Baths.
A couple of Christmases ago I was in Japan. One of my favourite experiences was sitting naked in an onsen (hot spring pool) looking out over the snowy mountains before us and having snow fall onto the face and into the pool. So warm and pleasant. This pool was pretty much an identical experience.
The pool was made in 1923 and was used for compulsory swimming classes from 1927.
We talked to the guys who’d slept nearby overnight and were recovering in the pool. We found our way to the warmest places, where the spring water came in. Swimming away from the spring inlets was cold and unpleasant, but amusing to watch someone else do!
We probably stayed for about half an hour, until Kerrie was completely cold, having stood waiting for us in the elements.
Getting dressed got easier as the shivering subsided and the walk back to the car felt strangely warm to me.
We had planned to visit the blue lagoon hot spring on our way to Reykjavik but at the advice of the guys at the pool we decided to give it a miss. Apparently this pool was much better – and free.
We arrived back in Reykjavik in the mid afternoon and spent most of the rest of the day looking through op-shops.
