FEATURE I DAINESE EXPEDITION MASTERS ICELAND
P96
Hawaii, but the cloud has totally
closed off the sun, and we're
greeted with the first of what will
be many, many fat drops of rain.
Landmannalaugar is a favor-
ite overnight stop for campers,
where you'll find the Mountain
Mall. No, this isn't some out-
of-place eyesore strip mall
created by a faceless multina-
tional. Rather, it's three con-
verted school buses joined in
a U-shape that contain all the
essentials for a night under the
Icelandic stars. Water, pack-
aged food, coffee and booze
can all be bought, but this is
Iceland, and you'll pay a pretty
penny for everything as it's all im-
ported, and thus the expenses
get passed on to you.
As we turn and head west for
Reykjavík, Iceland has another
final surprise up her sleeve. With
only 60 miles to get home, Ice-
land does her best to pound us
with unrelenting rain, matched to
a healthy dose of the wind that
nearly knocked all of us off the
side of Helka Volcano yesterday.
The rain comes down with brut-
ish force and visibility is reduced
to 20 feet at times, but there's
nothing much to do than laugh—
otherwise, you'd go mad.
I'm following Ducati's second-
in-charge, Francesco Milicia,
the diminutive Italian riding his
Multistrada at a near-constant
30-degree angle while still go-
ing in a straight line. It's quite a
sight and almost looks like the
rain is coming in sideways.
We return to Reykjavík reju-
venated, a feeling that can only
come from riding through some
kind of obstacle in a group.
There's that shared relief you all
made it and wonder for the vistas
and terrain we just experienced.
Iceland is unquestionably one
of the highlights of my riding
life. To call the place stunning
is a complete understatement.
It must be experienced to be
believed.
CN
Hekla looms large in
the distance, towering
over the landscape
like a matriarch.
Iceland is one of those places you'll
never forget once you've been there.
