Alice wins the January competition
Alice Crawford, Lewis Jones, Danny Stone and Nannette Gibbs
We finally got hold of the January winner and it’s Alice Crawford that brings home the title this time. We loved her pictures and we asked her a few questions:
For how long had you planned your trip to Iceland and who where on the trip with you?
We started planning our trip to Iceland in September 2014, because i wanted to see the Northern Lights and had seen pictures online. The more i researched the more me and my fiance Lewis Jones wanted to go, seeing the amazing scenery and beautiful country, so i booked the flights. After booking the flights i told my parents, Danny Stone and Nannette Gibbs that i had booked the holiday for me and Lewis and the more i showed them the more they wanted to come so they booked their flights and we then started to plan our trip .
Tell us the route you chose to drive and how did you come down to exactly that trip?
We decided to base ourselves in Reykjavik staying at the Bolholt Apartments and take various day trips out to explore the country. On our first day in Iceland we stayed in Reykjavik to explore the city before driving out to the country up route 1 that evening, stopping at a look out point hoping to catch a glimpse of the northern lights, which we did!
The second day we drove our way around the Golden Circle starting with Thingvellir, then going to Geysir, then Gullfoss and finally just before dark stopping to see Kerid. We chose this route as thingvellir was the closest stop on the Golden Circle to Reykjavik and followed directions that i found on the internet and in a travel book.
The longest journey we took was from Reykjavik to the Glacier Lagoon in Jokulsarlon, where we drove for nearly 6 hours to reach the beach cafe to go ice caving and to see the glacier beach, although this was the longest trip it was with out a doubt our favorite getting to see inside Europe’s largest glacier and a country so different to our own.
We also visited Kirkjufell Mountain which again was about a 3 hour drive from Reykjavik with steep roads covered in snow, and stopped in a local restaurant for some lunch. This trip was planned for a later day but due to the weather forecast and road condition website recommended by the Go Iceland employee we decided to do it sooner. When at the restaurant we considered driving around the mountain to see the ‘witch’s hat’ view of the mountain, but after speaking to the friendly locals who advised against it we decided not to, which was a wise decision.
This evening, after two more previous trips out of the city to try and see the northern lights, to no avail, we headed back up route one, after again looking at a northern light forecast website recommended by Go Iceland, and saw the Northern Lights even brighter and greener than our first sighting. Truly Mesmerizing.
Finally on our last day in Iceland we headed out to the Blue Lagoon, against the advice of the Blue Lagoon employees, who recommended er amended our booking due to the waters being cooler than usual due to bad weather. But unable to do this, as our flight left at 11 am the next morning, we headed out that day in the rain and grey skies, the only day of bad weather we had, the rest was glorious sunshine! After my mum and myself finally got up the courage to run into the water from the warmth of inside we finished our trip with a relaxing stay in the geothermal waters.
Why Iceland and why in January when the driving can be quite tricky?
We decided on Iceland as i wanted to see the Northern Lights and after looking online at places to see them we saw how beautiful Iceland was and that the best time to see the lights was in the winter so we booked our trip for January 2015, what better way to start the year! We decided to rent a car as there was so much in Iceland that we wanted to see and we didn’t want to be reliant on excursions. I also had a friend who had driven Iceland’s ring road and recommended hiring a car. So after looking at the price of hiring a car we decided to book it, booking a 4X4 which would be better on the icy/snowy roads. With my step father Danny doing most of the driving, with experience driving in icy conditions, and me taking over if and when he would let me, we were not put off from driving in the winter conditions, even less so when we picked up the car which was fantastic!
When you initially was handed over the Great Auk, what was your response?
When we were handed the Great Auk we thought is was a really fun idea that would set us a challenge on our holiday to get some good fun pictures of him and Iceland.
Did you know about the Great Auk competition before you booked your car?
No we didn’t know about the competition but it added to our experience of Iceland, making us laugh taking the pictures of him in all the places we visited, and trying to be imaginative with where we took them. The Great Auk became a 5th member of the family on our holiday.
Tell us about the best part of the trip.
The best part of our trip was, after the long journey, visiting the ice caves in Jokulsarlon, looking at this natural wonder and learning how it is formed each year, from our tour guide Thor, as each cave is unique each year. This is something we will not do again and it is something we will always remember.
Was there anything on the trip around Iceland you din‘t like too much?
After us all discussing this question, we genuinely cannot think of anything that we didn’t love about Iceland! Contemplating living in Iceland but definitely coming back again in the summer.
Was there anything that you were surprised to discover here?
We were surprised by the vast distances where there would be no houses or buildings for miles and then a small cluster of houses or a church, miles outside of any large area of civilization. We were also surprised to discover just how friendly everyone we met was, everyone we spoke to was willing to help us and were more than happy to talk to us, which made us feel very welcome.
If you could do the trip all over again, what would you do differently?
The only thing we would do differently was possibly stay for the night near Jokulsarlon rather than driving for 6 hours back to Reykjavik, after such a long day.
What advise do you have for people coming here to drive around Iceland?
I would always recommend listening to anything the locals have to say. If the locals say the roads are dangerous, listen!
Listen to the Go Iceland employees they give you good advice and good websites to look at so look at them and take in what they tell you as they know the roads.
Always hire a good car from a reputable company, such as Go Iceland. If it is winter hire a 4×4 as some roads would not be suitable in a small car.
We congratulate Alice for the win and thank her so much for her generous answers. She will soon be paid back her rental fees and we are already getting closer to chose the winner for February. We are so happy with all the contributions. It seems like so many of you have so much fun talking pics of the Great Auk. But remember, while driving out there, especially in the winter, take it easy and stay safe. You are on a vacation in Iceland so enjoy it!
Happy travels! #GoIceland