Quads, Pools, and Walkies

I 

So quad biking in Grindavik. Amazing. 

The tour leader was such a calming spirit. He taught me and a couple from Brazil how to use the quad bikes and we were off. There seem to be a lot of Brazilians here. But our tour guide said that he had only met a few over the last 3 years.  

It took a bit of driving to get the feel of how the bike worked. I pushed my heels down and forged onwards! We started on flat ground to gain our balance and then graduated to climbing part of a mountain.  I became confident enough to partially stand whilst going over the big bumps.  Maybe it was to save my tailbone. 

I struggled at first with smoothly working the accelerator. I would jolt when accelerating making me buck forward in my seat. This too I got used to and had the confidence to keep up with the tour leader. The Brazilians (no not that Brazilian) had a go pro to which I cheekily asked for a copy of the film from today.  They are going to get me a copy once they finish their tour of Iceland and all of Scandinavia.  

I was then dropped off at the Blue Lagoon for my spa day.  I had booked a slightly fancy package because, well I deserve it. I started with a glass of bubbly in a very nice restaurant whist in my bathrobe!  Through the huge glass windows I could see the baths.  A quick gulp and I was off. 

Well actually I was weightless.  The silica rich water just makes you float so easily.  

The water is very harsh on hair so as recommended, I had shoved about a bottle of restoration conditioner in my hair to protect it. I bobbed over to the pool (?) side bar and had myself another bubbly. The pools are huge and it wasn't crowded, so I literally could find a nook and act like a buoy by myself. 

Moving in the water was interesting.  I would try and paddle but without much progress. Walking normally didn't seem to get me very far at any speed. So everyone looked like they were gliding in slow motion. 

There was a regime of mud masks to be used. And use them I did. After about 3 hours past and I thought that I might fall asleep I made my way to the relaxation area to where I did fall asleep in a zero gravity chair. 

I awoke and made my way to the massage area. Another treat for myself. This was a secluded area of the pools. I was asked to get on a thin floating pad and I was covered with a wet blanket. A towel covered my eyes as the reflection from the pools are so bright. 

The masseuse started with my toes and worked up my legs.  Every few minutes she would push my floating pad down so my body would be submerged and warm water would warm the blanket again.  I had been ever so curious as to how she was going to massage my back without attempting to drown me. She actually massage my back from underwater. It was unexpectedly amazing. She was able to get a lot of pressure from that angle. 

I was so utterly relaxed.  

It was a surreal experience to be floating and to be moved around in the water. My ears were slightly under water dulling my hearing. 

She finished with a face and neck massage and then moved me to a recovery pen where I relaxed for a few more minutes. 

I glided out of the pen and granted myself one more glass of bubbly before going to the relaxation room again. A long shower had me ready to depart.  

My next mission was a 4.5 mile walk to Grindavik to my next housing.  As I had been dropped off at the blue lagoon, the quad bike tour leader had gracefully told me that there are almost always taxis outside if I didn't feel like walking. My host for the night had also tried to convince me over the last 2 days that it was too far of a walk.  When have I ever listened to people telling me that I can't do things? 

However, as I was leaving my legs were jello. Maybe from the massage or maybe from the bubbly (which all glasses were not disclosed above). I made the decision to walk.  I am so glad that I did. 

It was stunning. They have recently made a path for 1/2 of the walk which goes through the most beautiful scenes.  

The ground over the rocks was covered in this loss like plant which was like walking on a heap of sponges. 

I made good time with all of my luggage and was rounding the last 1/3 of the journey (which the path was close to the main road). All of a sudden a car pulled off. I recognized my host!   She had recognized my previously described red hiking bag and wondered if I wanted a lift. I declined because I was so close and could almost taste the satisfaction of completing the job. 

 I am now settled here and just had some instant pasta that I had brought just in case. I figured my budget today had been blown by bubbly, so instant pasta it was. 

Understandably I am shattered and now head to bed.