Back in the UK

With the sound of that song by CATS UK playing in our heads ( well in mine anyway ) we landed at Luton Airport oo ee oo about an hour ago. Decent flight not without the hiccup of a lost boarding card but fortunately there was room in the cargo hold ;) We're now crawling along the M1 northbound towards the gastronomic delight of Watford Gap services awarded a Michelin star as the chicken burgers taste of rubber.

Day five

Packing and breakfast early for our coach to the airport. The kids have been great and have hopefully learned lots and enjoyed themselves. Thanks to them all. Homeward bound now... Week B for packing tomorrow's school bag!

The Aurora Borealis

After dinner last night we drove out of Reykjavik into the north. After about an hour we got out and looked skywards but there was quite a lot of high cloud and a full moon lighting up the clouds. We journeyed further where the driver could do so more off roading and bounced along a track where we got out again. This time the sky was much more clear but after an hour or so of waiting, still no lights. We joined the highway back to the city and as it was now one a.m. We decided to call it a night as we have to be out of the hotel by eight in the morning. On the way back Arni had kept looking out while everyone slept. Suddenly he said something and the driver pulled over into a lay by.

The sight of twenty two teenagers bounding out of a bus and armed with cameras must have seriously alarmed the courting couple in the Ford Escort who's seclusion we had interrupted. Anyway he drove off at high speed whilst uttering some words that Arni assured me didn't warrant translation, leaving us to gaze up at the northern lights shimmering across the sky. The five-hour chase was worth every minute. One or two people got photo's but I've got no way of getting them onto here until we're home.

The northern lights are spectacular, even on a cloudy, moonlit night.

Arni

Our tour guide Arni, has a wealth of knowledge about the country and was very helpful. Here he is in action while the driver is doing some off-roading in a Mercedes bus on the way to the glacier.

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Behind the waterfall

There is a slippery path behind the Seljalandfoss falls. Compared with the last visit it was less treacherous this time as there was no ice. They've also put a handrail in to help you get over the slime covered boulders without slipping.

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Seljalandfoss

Group photo at Seljalandfoss.

Black Sands

We travelled around the south coast to the town of Vik passing many waterfalls and valleys along the way. The beach is black sand from volcanic ash and has won many 'best beach' awards. We ate lunch here but it was quite windy. Still; ham, egg and ash sandwiches are quite a delicacy, and there was much fun to be had chasing bits of tomato and cucumber that had blown off the bread.

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