We continued from Dyrhólaey onto the town of Vík and the famed black sand beach. It was actually more like small, round stones. Zillions of stones rubbed smooth.
![Iceland 2015_8735 Iceland 2015_8735](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/a443e2198d528f64aed7a6d41c035b87/20150831_155504-700_8735-900x900.jpg)
![Iceland 2015_8797 Iceland 2015_8797](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/d2417701c5a45b9c1fd065c777b61818/20150831_162225-700_8797-900x900.jpg)
I'd researched the trip into a frenzy, so often wasn't surprised with our destinations, but I wasn't expecting the columns and caves on this beach, or the fans of volcanic stone with seabirds swarmed above.
![Iceland 2015_8750 Iceland 2015_8750](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/21e85a6e37999be77e0725a9e4b1c4cb/20150831_155811-700_8750-900x900.jpg)
![Iceland 2015_8754 Iceland 2015_8754](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/6d48b64c88e5f4713b9cdd8837265338/20150831_160010-700_8754-900x900.jpg)
![Iceland 2015_8763 Iceland 2015_8763](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/a40a3a3a3b56db1e227429fd7ddea393/20150831_160333-700_8763-900x900.jpg)
![Iceland 2015_8768 Iceland 2015_8768](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/92333fba4a3fb4b0e2de482b988f21c3/20150831_160455-700_8768-900x900.jpg)
The waves hit the shore loudly, the tide advanced rapidly, and walking on the stones that made up the beach was a trudge, so I was anxious to turn around once we reached the sea stacks at the far end of the beach.
![Iceland 2015_8792 Iceland 2015_8792](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/a58d1af9625f1285901b42e2d50d42c7/20150831_162159-700_8792-900x900.jpg)
![Iceland 2015_8789 Iceland 2015_8789](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/a9ff68d9838753270949bf081db4a42d/20150831_162148-700_8789-900x900.jpg)
![Iceland 2015_8818 Iceland 2015_8818](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/b6c2578a6c5049d3f9f9e00cdfb1c336/20150831_163146-700_8818-900x900.jpg)
You might recognize the arches from Dyrhólaey, which we could still see in the distance; it actually took about 40 minutes to drive all the way into Vík and back around the get down to the Vík beach.
![Iceland 2015_8824 Iceland 2015_8824](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/eb8f2e23c434829b610cab7048829f91/20150831_163348-700_8824-900x900.jpg)
![Iceland 2015_8821 Iceland 2015_8821](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/ec4c0b84d6ea8208ea62698aaee6696f/20150831_163225-700_8821-900x900.jpg)
As we drove back to Hvolsvöllur, where we were staying, we made a couple more stops. The first was to a hidden, geothermal pool, Seljavallalaug. I'd read about it on a blog and we discovered it was on most maps. The drive into the mountains was a bit bumpy (and I was a little jittery the tires would be punctured), but the hike in was moderate and flat. We met a few other hikers, but mostly had the valley to ourselves as we hiked in.
![Iceland 2015_8835 Iceland 2015_8835](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/1af3110313f59e6019fef930e56d984c/20150831_172345-700_8835-900x900.jpg)
![Iceland 2015_8849 Iceland 2015_8849](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/eec8d964abbe8b0f485a74c0e880fc66/20150831_173203-700_8849-900x900.jpg)
I'd read you had to cross a few rivers, but thankfully it was just this stream--quite a relief.
![Iceland 2015_8842 Iceland 2015_8842](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/5754e20240871e6310148646f4244d63/20150831_172840-700_8842-900x900.jpg)
Around a few mountainsides, and there it was. A free, warm pool. It was a bit swampy looking, so I dipped my hand in and we left it at that.
![Iceland 2015_8854 Iceland 2015_8854](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/18052f979086624e8185f05a109eb406/20150831_173826-700_8854-900x900.jpg)
Walk was happy with the cheery stream,
![Iceland 2015_8861 Iceland 2015_8861](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/08e8ea3339282104978ed12af8083eaa/20150831_174807-700_8861-900x900.jpg)
![Iceland 2015_8910 Iceland 2015_8910](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/91c72810d84ea7437cb392a5d71e4e2c/20150831_181328-700_8910-900x900.jpg)
and the sunset falling onto the hills bright, then dark.
![Iceland 2015_8920 Iceland 2015_8920](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/3559b1887c81087cf1635a23e220706d/20150831_181707-700_8920-900x900.jpg)
![Iceland 2015_8923 Iceland 2015_8923](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/6b5d3f4c167f13cb761f1a0543d8cd9e/20150831_181842-700_8923-900x900.jpg)
Such a stunning hike, and so happily devoid of noise.
![Iceland 2015_8924 Iceland 2015_8924](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/63835f1dbf00073d773f787fa172fc00/20150831_181907-700_8924-900x900.jpg)
![Iceland 2015_8931 Iceland 2015_8931](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/da78695484f912b5540448760c8c92e9/20150831_182034-700_8931-900x900.jpg)
![Iceland 2015_8937 Iceland 2015_8937](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/bb1f467fd9b01d082db850aa84377f1b/20150831_182340-700_8937-900x900.jpg)
The sun set late, so we had time to catch one last sight, the very popular Seljalandsfoss waterfall. The draw of these falls is that you can actually follow a path behind the waterfall. It was steeper, slipperier and wetter than I'd imagined. At points, the wind blew the falls toward us as thick as rain; you can see how large the falls were if you can spot the tiny people on the path.
![Iceland 2015_9016 Iceland 2015_9016](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/29f5eaea9b54646bd8893a158e26d77c/20150831_192500-700_9016-900x900.jpg)
![Iceland 2015_9003 Iceland 2015_9003](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/7ebc2ab51e8e865cdcc8149af856afcf/20150831_192124-700_9003-900x900.jpg)
![Iceland 2015_8967 Iceland 2015_8967](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/daddfc5d92a3ec105d0ec551d324a273/20150831_190356-700_8967-900x900.jpg)
The last stop of the day was the Gljúfrabúi waterfall, about a half mile walk from Seljalandsfoss, and hidden behind large stones. No one else seemed to have seen it! I ducked my head into the grotto-like cave, but it was so wet, we had to keep the camera at a safe distance and can only show you this view.
![Iceland 2015_9024 Iceland 2015_9024](https://media.walkandalie.com/images/b2555d04d288f3e5d65938caa54c4068/20150831_194127-700_9024-900x900.jpg)
I can't believe the photos up here are only the first 3 days of the trip; much more to come!
Also, I used an awesome app to plan this trip called Tripcipe, and loved it so much that when Tripcipe asked me to guest blog, I was excited to share. Click on over there to see a summary of our whole trip with some photos not posted here yet, and try out Tripcipe on your next trip!