(Post 1 of 5) There are more sheep than people in the ring when we arrive. The Queen of the Mountain has been organizing the sheep herders up in the highlands for a week, and today the animals are driven down to Skaftholtsréttir, the annual sheep round up for this region. The central ring, which…
(Post 3 of 5) Jón Marteinn Finnbogason is the youngest son of the six siblings from Minni-Mástunga farm, and he will keep the business going, even though times are changing. “People don’t eat lamb anymore. They eat all this American shit.” You can only get fresh lamb in fall, and Icelandic lamb is, according to…
(Post 4 of 5) Many people come to the sheep round up on horseback, and finding your horses again can be a bit of a trick. Guðmundur Stefán Finnbogason (Gummí) is another son from Minni-Mástunga farm, and he’s gathered his five horses together to drive the sheep the last seven kilometers back home. To find…
(Post 2 of 5) Getting a sheep into the ring isn’t always easy, and it’s best to start young. Here, a man shows a little girl what to do. Straddle the sheep, grab it by the horns, and don’t let go. The important thing is to have a good grip; some of the little kids…
(Post 5 of 5) Finnbogi Jóhannsson has been in the background all day, but his leadership is clear. His family has been working these fields for generations, and he has owned this specific farm for 32 years. Finnbogi knows the best course, the right pace, and how to keep his sheep safe. They are very…
(Post 1 of 2) This map from an old newspaper tells us where the elves live around Reykjavik, and this is part of my introduction to the country. Dagný Ívarsdottír has brought us to the city park to explain a long standing family tradition. Dagný is 29 years old, and she has been coming to…
(Post 2 of 2) Welcome to the elf church. “It’s an easy place to let your imagination run wild,” says our guide and host, Dagný Ívarsdottír. This is where Dagný and her family stop to light sparklers and sing songs about the elves. About 20 people come out each year. The kids crawl around on…
(Post 1 of 2) Another transition and another exquisite landscape to explore. Hello Iceland! I’ve arrived from Greenland, and #meetthenorth has two weeks to discover this country through the eyes of those who live here. Iceland sits on the mid-Atlantic ridge and straddles two tectonic plates; to arrive here is to experience the formation of…
(Post 2 of 2) Eric Guth is here with me in Iceland. Reunion! For those of you following my progress with #meetthenorth, you will remember him from Svalbard back in June. He’s got the camera this week, and I’m happy about that. Here we go!
It’s time to leave Greenland. I am really going to miss this place. So long to the summer nights and the exquisite ice. We will meet again. I am bound for Iceland to meet some new friends, find an old friend and begin a most excellent road trip. See you there.