Driving in a big circle around Iceland
June 20, 2016 2:01 PM Subscribe
Route One is a 24 hour live broadcast by Icelandic state television RÚV of a drive on the Ring Road, which goes all the way around Iceland. Underneath a procedurally generated 24 hour remix of a new Sigur Rós song called Óveður will be playing. It starts now.
OMG YES
posted by phooky at 2:09 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by phooky at 2:09 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
Oh, and if the YouTube stream gets bad for some reason, there's another stream here.
posted by Kattullus at 2:09 PM on June 20, 2016
posted by Kattullus at 2:09 PM on June 20, 2016
Oh and, the program used to procedurally generate the remix is called Bronze.
Also, don't worry about night time, it's the solstice, there's barely any darkness in Iceland this time of year.
posted by Kattullus at 2:12 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also, don't worry about night time, it's the solstice, there's barely any darkness in Iceland this time of year.
posted by Kattullus at 2:12 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
I see no ice.
posted by RolandOfEld at 2:15 PM on June 20, 2016
posted by RolandOfEld at 2:15 PM on June 20, 2016
I see no ice.
You're thinking of Greenland. It's a classic mistake, by which I mean a thousand-year-old deliberate bait-and-switch.
posted by qntm at 2:17 PM on June 20, 2016 [27 favorites]
You're thinking of Greenland. It's a classic mistake, by which I mean a thousand-year-old deliberate bait-and-switch.
posted by qntm at 2:17 PM on June 20, 2016 [27 favorites]
This is the icelandest thing I've ever seen
posted by theodolite at 2:17 PM on June 20, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 2:17 PM on June 20, 2016 [15 favorites]
How long will the sun set today?
posted by Emma May Smith at 2:18 PM on June 20, 2016
posted by Emma May Smith at 2:18 PM on June 20, 2016
This new Minecraft update is kind of boring.
posted by schmod at 2:19 PM on June 20, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by schmod at 2:19 PM on June 20, 2016 [4 favorites]
I think I tuned in just too late to see them on the roads in Reykjavik which I've actually visited before. It would be nice if the map worked, I can't even tell if they're driving clockwise or anticlockwise...
posted by qntm at 2:20 PM on June 20, 2016
posted by qntm at 2:20 PM on June 20, 2016
() !
posted by davebush at 2:21 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by davebush at 2:21 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think I tuned in just too late to see them on the roads in Reykjavik which I've actually visited before. It would be nice if the map worked, I can't even tell if they're driving clockwise or anticlockwise...
Zoom out and back in. It seems to be badly centred.
posted by Emma May Smith at 2:22 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Zoom out and back in. It seems to be badly centred.
posted by Emma May Smith at 2:22 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
here is my iceland story
almost 15 years ago my icelandic friend petur, inspired by a drunken moment of horrible cunning, decided to tell me, very seriously, that bjork had made a generous kindly offer to her fellow citizens of iceland: that any citizen of iceland anywhere on earth could attend one bjork concert for free upon display of their passport. i believed this glorious tale for like 3, maybe 4 years, and also shared this delightful piece of information with many other people, all of whom may very well have also innocently (drunkenly) believed it.
4 years after this i mentioned it to him and he was like oh my god i made that up, have you been telling people this hilarious lie all this time?
gentle readers, no one will ever find his grave
posted by poffin boffin at 2:24 PM on June 20, 2016 [63 favorites]
almost 15 years ago my icelandic friend petur, inspired by a drunken moment of horrible cunning, decided to tell me, very seriously, that bjork had made a generous kindly offer to her fellow citizens of iceland: that any citizen of iceland anywhere on earth could attend one bjork concert for free upon display of their passport. i believed this glorious tale for like 3, maybe 4 years, and also shared this delightful piece of information with many other people, all of whom may very well have also innocently (drunkenly) believed it.
4 years after this i mentioned it to him and he was like oh my god i made that up, have you been telling people this hilarious lie all this time?
gentle readers, no one will ever find his grave
posted by poffin boffin at 2:24 PM on June 20, 2016 [63 favorites]
What is the blue/purple ground cover along the sides of the road?
posted by Rock Steady at 2:25 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Rock Steady at 2:25 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
anyway my point is this post is EXACTLY THE SORT OF THING that made his tale so plausible (aside from the alcoholism i mean) and i salute it
posted by poffin boffin at 2:26 PM on June 20, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 2:26 PM on June 20, 2016 [5 favorites]
What is the blue/purple ground cover along the sides of the road?
Lupins!
posted by qntm at 2:27 PM on June 20, 2016 [7 favorites]
Lupins!
posted by qntm at 2:27 PM on June 20, 2016 [7 favorites]
They're going anti-clockwise and they're a few miles east of Reykjavik. The map seems to be several minutes out of date, even when you do fix the positioning.
posted by grahamparks at 2:27 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by grahamparks at 2:27 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Thanks, Katullus! I'm getting all wistful to my ring road drive in 2014.
There's some really spectacular segments in the south/southeast near the Vatnasjokull national park, as well as near Lake Myvatn.
posted by JauntyFedora at 2:31 PM on June 20, 2016
There's some really spectacular segments in the south/southeast near the Vatnasjokull national park, as well as near Lake Myvatn.
posted by JauntyFedora at 2:31 PM on June 20, 2016
How long will the sun set today?
Sun sets at 12:03 a.m. and rises at 2:55 a.m. Is that even enough time to get completely dark?
posted by stargell at 2:32 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sun sets at 12:03 a.m. and rises at 2:55 a.m. Is that even enough time to get completely dark?
posted by stargell at 2:32 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Good God did I love driving in Iceland.
(well except for that one intersection in Reykjavik where I always took the wrong ramp)
posted by Kabanos at 2:34 PM on June 20, 2016
(well except for that one intersection in Reykjavik where I always took the wrong ramp)
posted by Kabanos at 2:34 PM on June 20, 2016
They should really pull over to the side at some point and chill with some friendly Icelandic horses.
posted by Kabanos at 2:36 PM on June 20, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Kabanos at 2:36 PM on June 20, 2016 [5 favorites]
Is this the Ring Cycle I've heard about?
I thought there would be singers.
posted by MtDewd at 2:37 PM on June 20, 2016 [8 favorites]
I thought there would be singers.
posted by MtDewd at 2:37 PM on June 20, 2016 [8 favorites]
I guess this would have been less interesting on Dec. 20.
posted by stargell at 2:37 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by stargell at 2:37 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
#dronebandsdottir
posted by mcstayinskool at 2:37 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by mcstayinskool at 2:37 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
hey who's the dude who's gonna be visiting Iceland in a few months?
it me. this dude.
I never splurge on anything — even when I'm making more than broke-people money, I have broke-people instincts and tend to talk myself out of major purchases — but screw it. Iceland is basically the only place I've ever wanted so badly to visit, and so I am going to visit it.
The inside of my brain is like this continual Icelandgasm right now. 97% of my thoughts are either "squee! iceland!" or functionally equivalent to "squee! iceland!"
which is to say I'm going to have a hard time not dropping everything I'm doing to watch as much of this as possible.
squeeeeeeeee
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:39 PM on June 20, 2016 [32 favorites]
it me. this dude.
I never splurge on anything — even when I'm making more than broke-people money, I have broke-people instincts and tend to talk myself out of major purchases — but screw it. Iceland is basically the only place I've ever wanted so badly to visit, and so I am going to visit it.
The inside of my brain is like this continual Icelandgasm right now. 97% of my thoughts are either "squee! iceland!" or functionally equivalent to "squee! iceland!"
which is to say I'm going to have a hard time not dropping everything I'm doing to watch as much of this as possible.
squeeeeeeeee
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 2:39 PM on June 20, 2016 [32 favorites]
When you're done you can watch the 134 hour broadcast of the Hurtigruten boat travelling up the coast of Norway from Bergen to Kirkenes. Strangely it only seems to be available at at this address http://nrk.no/hurtigruten/?lang=en, whereas if you strip the ?lang=en from the end, it goes to a half hour "Hurtigruten: One year later" documentary.
posted by knapah at 2:39 PM on June 20, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by knapah at 2:39 PM on June 20, 2016 [9 favorites]
Elf!
posted by Kabanos at 2:39 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Kabanos at 2:39 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
AWESOMSAUCE.
I've driven Iceland a bit, but mostly in the west, including around the Westfjords -- our one time around the Ring Road was by bus. BY CAR ALL THE WAY BABY.
posted by Quasirandom at 2:40 PM on June 20, 2016
I've driven Iceland a bit, but mostly in the west, including around the Westfjords -- our one time around the Ring Road was by bus. BY CAR ALL THE WAY BABY.
posted by Quasirandom at 2:40 PM on June 20, 2016
Good God did I love driving in Iceland.
(well except for that one intersection in Reykjavik where I always told the wrong ramp)
It's a non stop adventure! Yell at sheep! Wonder if this is a real road! Marvel at sudden drops into the sea with no guard rails! Wonder why yu rented a freaking LADA when it completely stalls in the middle of then ring road at rush hour!
posted by The Whelk at 2:40 PM on June 20, 2016 [5 favorites]
(well except for that one intersection in Reykjavik where I always told the wrong ramp)
It's a non stop adventure! Yell at sheep! Wonder if this is a real road! Marvel at sudden drops into the sea with no guard rails! Wonder why yu rented a freaking LADA when it completely stalls in the middle of then ring road at rush hour!
posted by The Whelk at 2:40 PM on June 20, 2016 [5 favorites]
I see no ice.
You're thinking of Greenland. It's a classic mistake, by which I mean a thousand-year-old deliberate bait-and-switch.
I think it actually came from that common error of mistaking "I found a nice land" for "I found an Iceland." Kerning was important, even in Old West Nordic. Almost as important as kenning, actually.
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:46 PM on June 20, 2016 [16 favorites]
You're thinking of Greenland. It's a classic mistake, by which I mean a thousand-year-old deliberate bait-and-switch.
I think it actually came from that common error of mistaking "I found a nice land" for "I found an Iceland." Kerning was important, even in Old West Nordic. Almost as important as kenning, actually.
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:46 PM on June 20, 2016 [16 favorites]
Skyrr!
posted by parki at 2:46 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by parki at 2:46 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Wow, that bit of overtaking was a bit close cut.
posted by Emma May Smith at 2:58 PM on June 20, 2016
posted by Emma May Smith at 2:58 PM on June 20, 2016
Are we there yet??????!!!
Já.
Are we there yet????!
Enn já.
posted by The Bellman at 2:59 PM on June 20, 2016
Já.
Are we there yet????!
Enn já.
posted by The Bellman at 2:59 PM on June 20, 2016
This is great.
In Reykjavik, sunset will be just after midnight, followed by sunrise just before 3 am. Happy solstice!
posted by fitnr at 3:00 PM on June 20, 2016
In Reykjavik, sunset will be just after midnight, followed by sunrise just before 3 am. Happy solstice!
posted by fitnr at 3:00 PM on June 20, 2016
no I'm pretty sure this is a chapter cut from a William Gibson novel
posted by skycrashesdown at 3:01 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by skycrashesdown at 3:01 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
Oh God the map is blank right now
I have this recurring, not nightmare, but numinous dream where I am simultaneously returned to the far northern home of my childhood hundreds of kilometres from anywhere else and a thousand kilometres fro the nearest city, and being able to look down upon myself on the map, and I contemplate the furthest reaches of cold around the world and the furthest points from anywhere else, and everything is so far, and has so much more in common with Arctic lands than with the city I'm in now, and
I don't know how to convey the chill that goes down my spine when I look at the map of this guy's position in a far northern land and see no images, and all the labels say they don't have any images.
posted by tel3path at 3:02 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
I have this recurring, not nightmare, but numinous dream where I am simultaneously returned to the far northern home of my childhood hundreds of kilometres from anywhere else and a thousand kilometres fro the nearest city, and being able to look down upon myself on the map, and I contemplate the furthest reaches of cold around the world and the furthest points from anywhere else, and everything is so far, and has so much more in common with Arctic lands than with the city I'm in now, and
I don't know how to convey the chill that goes down my spine when I look at the map of this guy's position in a far northern land and see no images, and all the labels say they don't have any images.
posted by tel3path at 3:02 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm not much watching the driving, but I find the music delightfully calming. I love Sigur Rós.
posted by angeline at 3:05 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by angeline at 3:05 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
The map is nothing but blank blue, and I can't tell you how scary that is for me and how glad I am that they just drove into a town and drove past a gas station with a picture of an ice cream cone painted on the side.
But now he's driving out of that town and back out into nothing. At least he has a road. You could be a mile away from my home town and never find it again.
posted by tel3path at 3:06 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
But now he's driving out of that town and back out into nothing. At least he has a road. You could be a mile away from my home town and never find it again.
posted by tel3path at 3:06 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
We just passed through a little town, with a little Icelandic KFC, and a gas station, and a roundabout and now we're back on the highway. I'm starting to miss highway driving.
and now I am going to start weirdly associating Sigur Ros with KFC
posted by phooky at 3:07 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
and now I am going to start weirdly associating Sigur Ros with KFC
posted by phooky at 3:07 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
Oh God you guys I just moved Greenland out of the way with the little hand-grabby thing, and scrolled across the ocean to Iceland and with the eerie music it's as if I'm living my recurring dream. This is freaking me out.
Thankfully there seem to be towns at frequent intervals on the highway all around the country, otherwise I would be cowering under my blankets right now with my ear covered to keep out the vast empty space.
posted by tel3path at 3:13 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
Thankfully there seem to be towns at frequent intervals on the highway all around the country, otherwise I would be cowering under my blankets right now with my ear covered to keep out the vast empty space.
posted by tel3path at 3:13 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
The map was blue for me too-- try zooming out and zooming in again, it may just be off-centered and you're looking at the ocean.
posted by The otter lady at 3:15 PM on June 20, 2016
posted by The otter lady at 3:15 PM on June 20, 2016
CANCEL MY APPOINTMENTS
posted by rodlymight at 3:16 PM on June 20, 2016 [14 favorites]
posted by rodlymight at 3:16 PM on June 20, 2016 [14 favorites]
I didn't think I could be more excited about our upcoming Iceland trip, and now this.
posted by emelenjr at 3:19 PM on June 20, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by emelenjr at 3:19 PM on June 20, 2016 [4 favorites]
You have got to be kidding me. I JUST GOT BACK FROM DRIVING THE RING ROAD AROUND ICELAND. Like, two days ago, and today is my first day back at work.
We had very little music along the way, thanks to sparse radio station coverage and non-functional audio interfaces in the campervan's head unit. But that's OK, the silence was good to have considering the overwhelming views.
While we were there we saw a screening of Sigur Ros' Heima in a Reykjavik theater.
Seriously the best vacation over, and we're not exactly inexperienced. Eating in Iceland sure is expensive though.
posted by intermod at 3:24 PM on June 20, 2016 [14 favorites]
We had very little music along the way, thanks to sparse radio station coverage and non-functional audio interfaces in the campervan's head unit. But that's OK, the silence was good to have considering the overwhelming views.
While we were there we saw a screening of Sigur Ros' Heima in a Reykjavik theater.
Seriously the best vacation over, and we're not exactly inexperienced. Eating in Iceland sure is expensive though.
posted by intermod at 3:24 PM on June 20, 2016 [14 favorites]
We did this part of the circle. The not-fun part was the one-lane bridges. The fun part was EVERYTHING ELSE.
We didn't have music. Instead, I read aloud at intervals from Njal's Saga, much of which took place in the vicinity.
posted by praemunire at 3:25 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
We didn't have music. Instead, I read aloud at intervals from Njal's Saga, much of which took place in the vicinity.
posted by praemunire at 3:25 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
SO and I are going in two weeks, it's a place neither of us have been and we're hoping to find some lupins still blooming or at least some nice geothermal fog to get hitched by.
Can hardly wait.
posted by a halcyon day at 3:25 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
Can hardly wait.
posted by a halcyon day at 3:25 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
For those keeping score, the vehicle just left the town of Hella at the time of this posting, headed eastbound.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 3:35 PM on June 20, 2016
posted by Mister Fabulous at 3:35 PM on June 20, 2016
I like the occasional people waving by the side of the road! It looks friendly. I waved back.
posted by The otter lady at 3:37 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by The otter lady at 3:37 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
What a world this is, with cars and cameras and satellites and real-time maps and internets and music and lands and grasses and puddles and lakes and glaciers and mountains and clouds and sunrises and sunsets.
posted by tel3path at 3:46 PM on June 20, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by tel3path at 3:46 PM on June 20, 2016 [11 favorites]
And here I am in this world, watching someone drive around Iceland and talking to you fine people about it while it's happening. And I've never met a one of you.
posted by tel3path at 3:47 PM on June 20, 2016 [15 favorites]
posted by tel3path at 3:47 PM on June 20, 2016 [15 favorites]
My (newly pregnant) wife and I traveled this exact route in March of last year and it is hands down one of the most awe inspiring and humbling trips I have ever been on. My favorite, bar none. This is bringing back a lot of wonderful memories.
For the full replay, I've muted the Sigur Ros and put on some Russian Circles. GY!BE is on deck. Highly recommended.
I sincerely hope RUV is recording this at a ludicrous bit rate in the car and, like NRK did with the ferry footage, make it available to the public via a torrent or some such.
I also have an undying love for Slow TV. I have watched and subjected others to this gem a frankly embarrassing number of times.
This made my day so friggin much. SO much.
posted by quite unimportant at 3:49 PM on June 20, 2016 [5 favorites]
For the full replay, I've muted the Sigur Ros and put on some Russian Circles. GY!BE is on deck. Highly recommended.
I sincerely hope RUV is recording this at a ludicrous bit rate in the car and, like NRK did with the ferry footage, make it available to the public via a torrent or some such.
I also have an undying love for Slow TV. I have watched and subjected others to this gem a frankly embarrassing number of times.
This made my day so friggin much. SO much.
posted by quite unimportant at 3:49 PM on June 20, 2016 [5 favorites]
This is cool, but, how can you tell a 24-hour procedural remix of Sigur Rós from any other normal Sigur Rós song?
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 3:55 PM on June 20, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 3:55 PM on June 20, 2016 [11 favorites]
Metafilter: Instead, I read aloud at intervals from Njal's Saga, much of which took place in the vicinity.
posted by howfar at 4:02 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by howfar at 4:02 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
It's like 90 degrees here in sunny southern California, and watching this person drive through a seemingly cool misty rain is really necessary to me right now.
posted by yasaman at 4:07 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by yasaman at 4:07 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
Just passed some cheering fans who came out in the rain. This must be getting pretty good ratings in Iceland.
posted by fitnr at 4:13 PM on June 20, 2016
posted by fitnr at 4:13 PM on June 20, 2016
I want this to be in VR real bad.
posted by soren_lorensen at 4:18 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 4:18 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's quite nice with whatever that terrible sound is muted.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:32 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:32 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ring road that goes all the way around the island? Sounds awesome! Maybe I should do this one da—
Iceland is not for Sunday drivers. Weather conditions are erratic; roads are winding and narrow, with no guardrails and many blind spots; and most routes are unpaved. We cannot emphasize enough how important it is not to speed; a majority of fatal car accidents in Iceland involve foreigners unfamiliar with the country's driving hazards.
(...)
Most roads are steeply sided and do not have shoulders -- two seconds of inattention and you could topple off the road into great danger.
(...)
Slow down whenever pavement transitions to gravel; tourists often skid off gravel roads, unaware of how poor traction can be on loose dirt and stones. Flying stones launched by oncoming traffic are another hazard on gravel roads, often cracking car windows; slow down and move to the side, especially if a larger vehicle is approaching. For traction, it's often safer to slow down by lowering the gears instead of using the brakes.
As someone who had to fight sleepiness after only a few hours of driving on a road trip across the States (and someone who can't drive stick, to boot), I should not take this trip. I will surely die.
posted by chrominance at 4:41 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Iceland is not for Sunday drivers. Weather conditions are erratic; roads are winding and narrow, with no guardrails and many blind spots; and most routes are unpaved. We cannot emphasize enough how important it is not to speed; a majority of fatal car accidents in Iceland involve foreigners unfamiliar with the country's driving hazards.
(...)
Most roads are steeply sided and do not have shoulders -- two seconds of inattention and you could topple off the road into great danger.
(...)
Slow down whenever pavement transitions to gravel; tourists often skid off gravel roads, unaware of how poor traction can be on loose dirt and stones. Flying stones launched by oncoming traffic are another hazard on gravel roads, often cracking car windows; slow down and move to the side, especially if a larger vehicle is approaching. For traction, it's often safer to slow down by lowering the gears instead of using the brakes.
As someone who had to fight sleepiness after only a few hours of driving on a road trip across the States (and someone who can't drive stick, to boot), I should not take this trip. I will surely die.
posted by chrominance at 4:41 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
The car just pulled into a N1 service station. I think it's the one near Vík; in any case, I've been there, and remember the Icewear shop in front of the car.
posted by acb at 4:48 PM on June 20, 2016
posted by acb at 4:48 PM on June 20, 2016
I was wondering if we were going to stop for gas...
posted by MtDewd at 4:49 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by MtDewd at 4:49 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ha. I was wondering if they (the silver SUV) stopped there on purpose.
Given the little wave I assume so.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:56 PM on June 20, 2016
Given the little wave I assume so.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 4:56 PM on June 20, 2016
Iceland is not for Sunday drivers. Weather conditions are erratic; roads are winding and narrow, with no guardrails and many blind spots; and most routes are unpaved. We cannot emphasize enough how important it is not to speed; a majority of fatal car accidents in Iceland involve foreigners unfamiliar with the country's driving hazards.
I and my then girlfriend did Reykjavík->Höfn and back (along the south coast) in a rental car (Hyundai, not rated for F roads/off-road use) in November a few years ago and survived it. We split the driving about 50/50, despite neither of us having driven recently (and my not having driven regularly since the late 1990s in Australia). The main road is pretty good, and most of the time, traffic is pretty light.
The only hair-raising part of the drive was on the home stretch from Hveragerði to Reykjavík, when a sudden blizzard hit. There was next to no visibility and slippery roads, and the cars on the (by now partly busy) road could do little but inch forward blindly, windscreen wipers going at full speed. That was a bit scary, but the Icelanders around us seemed to take it in their stride.
posted by acb at 4:58 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
I and my then girlfriend did Reykjavík->Höfn and back (along the south coast) in a rental car (Hyundai, not rated for F roads/off-road use) in November a few years ago and survived it. We split the driving about 50/50, despite neither of us having driven recently (and my not having driven regularly since the late 1990s in Australia). The main road is pretty good, and most of the time, traffic is pretty light.
The only hair-raising part of the drive was on the home stretch from Hveragerði to Reykjavík, when a sudden blizzard hit. There was next to no visibility and slippery roads, and the cars on the (by now partly busy) road could do little but inch forward blindly, windscreen wipers going at full speed. That was a bit scary, but the Icelanders around us seemed to take it in their stride.
posted by acb at 4:58 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
This must be a really excellent service station.
posted by obfuscation at 5:00 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by obfuscation at 5:00 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Though the sun does technically set for three hours tonight, the answer for anyone who is curious is no, it does not get completely dark. It will be bright enough to read a newspaper outside all night.
Also, this is great.
posted by Nothing at 5:04 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also, this is great.
posted by Nothing at 5:04 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
This must be a really excellent service station.
My mom was complaining a bit about this too but I said probably the driver had to poop.
posted by The otter lady at 5:06 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
My mom was complaining a bit about this too but I said probably the driver had to poop.
posted by The otter lady at 5:06 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Hi! Yes! Hello to you too!
posted by obfuscation at 5:18 PM on June 20, 2016
posted by obfuscation at 5:18 PM on June 20, 2016
Always wanted to do this. Got a speeding ticket on that route, on the way out to see icebergs (can't remember the name of the place now.) weirdly the police person was from Columbia, Maryland (USA), very close to where I live and work.
posted by newdaddy at 5:20 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by newdaddy at 5:20 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yes please, more livestreams of misty, stark, rocky countryside, punctuated by adorable Icelanders waving hello.
posted by chrominance at 5:21 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by chrominance at 5:21 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
You Can't Tip a Buick: hey who's the dude who's gonna be visiting Iceland in a few months?
Hey me too. This is making me even more excited then I already am.
posted by Ashwagandha at 5:24 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Hey me too. This is making me even more excited then I already am.
posted by Ashwagandha at 5:24 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm visiting in a bit over a week, for what was supposed to have been ATP. I probably won't get out of Reykjavík much this time (certainly not for a drive around the Ring Road).
posted by acb at 5:53 PM on June 20, 2016
posted by acb at 5:53 PM on June 20, 2016
Oh god this makes me so nostalgic for that place. I can even smell it through my laptop screen.
posted by joan_holloway at 6:57 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by joan_holloway at 6:57 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Iceland is one of the very few places I've ever truly enjoyed driving in. It was like being in a car commercial; majestic scenery, twisty roads, NO OTHER CARS.
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:12 PM on June 20, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:12 PM on June 20, 2016 [5 favorites]
it looks like they made a wrong turn at the sign that says ⇦ CUTE PONIES | SILENT HILL LEVEL ⇨
posted by theodolite at 7:40 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 7:40 PM on June 20, 2016 [3 favorites]
SHEEP! I SAW A SHEEP!
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 7:46 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 7:46 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
The just drove into the parking lot of the Jökulsárlón ice lake for the folks who wanted to see ice. Quite a few ice bergs floating in the lake.
This is fun.
posted by msjen at 8:09 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
This is fun.
posted by msjen at 8:09 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
glacier break
posted by feckless at 8:10 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by feckless at 8:10 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
I am loving this so much. Next time I'll get farther outside Reykjavik....
posted by jokeefe at 8:11 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by jokeefe at 8:11 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ice lake? This is so awesome.
posted by old_growler at 8:12 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by old_growler at 8:12 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
I got sick of the music, but as soon as I muted it, they stopped driving. I guess I offended them.
posted by moonmilk at 8:15 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by moonmilk at 8:15 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ice lake? This is so awesome.Jökulsárlón - the glacier lagoon
posted by old_growler at 8:12 PM on June 20
posted by msjen at 8:16 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
The generative music on this is reminiscent of Eno's Bloom app, which I have on my iPhone, and got bored of fairly quickly.
I am a huge Sigur Ros fan, but this does drone on somewhat. The scenery is lovely, though.
posted by old_growler at 8:28 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
I am a huge Sigur Ros fan, but this does drone on somewhat. The scenery is lovely, though.
posted by old_growler at 8:28 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
I think I spotted some field maggots.
posted by isopraxis at 8:39 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by isopraxis at 8:39 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
This is extremely my thing - will the recording of this be available to watch again in the future, or is this strictly live only?
posted by Jimbob at 8:48 PM on June 20, 2016
posted by Jimbob at 8:48 PM on June 20, 2016
My cat enjoys watching this, too.
posted by drdanger at 9:01 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by drdanger at 9:01 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
guys guys they just passed some trees actual trees.
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 9:12 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by You Can't Tip a Buick at 9:12 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
You should have seen the live commentary go wild in the Youtube channel when a car passed on the other side of the road.
posted by Jimbob at 9:27 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Jimbob at 9:27 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
They just stopped right on the road for seemingly no reason. Looks like there might be a tunnel ahead.
posted by old_growler at 9:27 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by old_growler at 9:27 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Iceland is one of the very few places I've ever truly enjoyed driving in. It was like being in a car commercial; majestic scenery, twisty roads, NO OTHER CARS
How can this be the case if apparently everyone on Metafilter has been driving there or is about to drive there in the next couple of weeks??
posted by Ender's Friend at 9:29 PM on June 20, 2016 [9 favorites]
How can this be the case if apparently everyone on Metafilter has been driving there or is about to drive there in the next couple of weeks??
posted by Ender's Friend at 9:29 PM on June 20, 2016 [9 favorites]
stargell: Sun sets at 12:03 a.m. and rises at 2:55 a.m. Is that even enough time to get completely dark?
Nothing: Though the sun does technically set for three hours tonight, the answer for anyone who is curious is no, it does not get completely dark. It will be bright enough to read a newspaper outside all night.
From a summer trip to Alaska, that endless day is disorienting. Around 10 or 11 PM, when it was still quite light and none of us were tired, we asked each other "should we be sleeping now?" We agreed we should.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:34 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Nothing: Though the sun does technically set for three hours tonight, the answer for anyone who is curious is no, it does not get completely dark. It will be bright enough to read a newspaper outside all night.
From a summer trip to Alaska, that endless day is disorienting. Around 10 or 11 PM, when it was still quite light and none of us were tired, we asked each other "should we be sleeping now?" We agreed we should.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:34 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
What are those white animals that keep running across the road? I can't tell on my phone.
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:45 PM on June 20, 2016
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:45 PM on June 20, 2016
Those aren't animals; they are elves scurrying back under their rocks.
posted by old_growler at 9:53 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by old_growler at 9:53 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
I just found myself yelling "no, sheep, no!" at a few that made a bad road crossing choice. The sheep are thousands of miles away from me.
Unsurprisingly, my words were ineffective, but I think that would have been the case also had I been right next to them.
posted by Aster at 10:00 PM on June 20, 2016 [4 favorites]
Unsurprisingly, my words were ineffective, but I think that would have been the case also had I been right next to them.
posted by Aster at 10:00 PM on June 20, 2016 [4 favorites]
This is sooooooo relaxing. I am as stressed out as I have ever been right now and this is the first thing I have seen in the last 48 hours that has actually managed to put event a dent in my stressed out state of mind.
posted by prettypretty at 10:04 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by prettypretty at 10:04 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
Anyone who loves this and has not already seen Sigur Ros's documentary Heima should get ahold of it. It followed their tour around Iceland some years back, and there is a lot of beautiful country, and music, in it.
posted by old_growler at 10:07 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by old_growler at 10:07 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
I love road trips. I just wish we could pull over and check some of this stuff out for a while.
Also, I need to use the restroom. Can we stop somewhere?
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:16 PM on June 20, 2016
Also, I need to use the restroom. Can we stop somewhere?
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:16 PM on June 20, 2016
I don't have a computer so my 6S is the only way I can use the Internet. Really wish I could have this on a separate screen and continue browsing with the music playing. I've just gone from some hypomanic stage into a major depression following a huge breakup and this is so calming for my brain.
posted by gucci mane at 10:24 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by gucci mane at 10:24 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh and I've replaced Sigur Ros (who I normally enjoy, but not now, REALLY not now) with the Mahler 5 Adagietto. Perfect!
posted by prettypretty at 10:25 PM on June 20, 2016
posted by prettypretty at 10:25 PM on June 20, 2016
There was some lost-seeming driving around Djúpivogur and now they're stopped in a parking lot. I don't know how one gets lost on this trip.
I'm glad other commenters have already covered the importance of both Njal's saga and Heima.
posted by kiltedtaco at 11:07 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm glad other commenters have already covered the importance of both Njal's saga and Heima.
posted by kiltedtaco at 11:07 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
And I thought I was a special snowflake for having spent a summer driving around Iceland. The next time I'm putting a MeFi sticker on the car.
posted by Harald74 at 11:59 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Harald74 at 11:59 PM on June 20, 2016 [2 favorites]
"too much green, this place needs some democracy"
The live chat is what makes this entertaining. They’ve lost signal and the footage is/was going through a loop apparently. Here’s a selection of the poetry that produced in the chat:
The live chat is what makes this entertaining. They’ve lost signal and the footage is/was going through a loop apparently. Here’s a selection of the poetry that produced in the chat:
They must have lost all signalposted by bitteschoen at 1:29 AM on June 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
this already happened
Loop loop loop is on fire
everything already happened
its all faked filmed in a hollywood studio since the beginning
time doesn't exist
look, i remember that sheep
Hahahahaha
noooooo IT'S FAKE, because the little sheepies
This is purgatory...
iceland is a flat circle
if this keeps going we gonna start naming all the sheeps and cows we see
those looping sheep will stay with me for eternity
Groundsheep day
The sheep were then, the sheep are now, the sheep are smaller than a cow
I thought this should be live
it is all smoke and mirrors here in Iceland
glitch in the matrix
it's only looping cause of technical problems
Welcome to Dharma Initiative
Coming soon Sigur Rós NEW ALBUM "Sheeps & Loop"
Loop is life, loop is love
Can i have a sticker saying I was here before the loop or is it too much to ask ?
We're all stuck in the loop for eternity! That was their evil plan all along!I see it now.
maybe this is a metaphor for how we live our lives
Sigur Rós:
LOOP UPDATE! its caused due to there being no connection to the camera / car. should be back unlooped soon!
thanks for the loopdate
I saw Bjork sitting in a frond knitting a scarf out of dreams and antimatter
the trees were worth the wait
Iceland's strategic reservoir of trees right there.
Trees grew from nothing while the loop occured
there are sheep in the trees, making more sheep
there will be a quiz after this loop
that new sheep is unlooped
Yes, no longer in Loopception, we've broken free
This is like a big spoiler for those who want to travel there
sun!!!
The just drove into the parking lot of the Jökulsárlón ice lake for the folks who wanted to see ice. Quite a few ice bergs floating in the lake.
I went to sleep as the car was making its way southeast of Vík; when I woke, it was somewhere between Höfn and Egilsstaðir, on the east, driving north. I hope they have some kind of replay option, as I imagine Jökulsárlón at sunrise would be sublime.
posted by acb at 1:30 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I went to sleep as the car was making its way southeast of Vík; when I woke, it was somewhere between Höfn and Egilsstaðir, on the east, driving north. I hope they have some kind of replay option, as I imagine Jökulsárlón at sunrise would be sublime.
posted by acb at 1:30 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Right now it's in Egilsstaðir. In fact, it's stopped for gas facing the old farm the town takes its name from. The map seems to lag behind.
posted by Kattullus at 1:37 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by Kattullus at 1:37 AM on June 21, 2016
I was going to drop in and make that remark and seem clever, Kattullus. I even checked Street View to ensure that my memory of the place was correct.
posted by Harald74 at 1:44 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Harald74 at 1:44 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
And they're off again! (Or at least manoeuvring slowly around in the petrol station)
posted by Harald74 at 1:46 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by Harald74 at 1:46 AM on June 21, 2016
And now they've stopped again in the same parking lot. A man who seemed to be the driver was on the phone for a while. Then he walked away. Then another man drove slowly by the camera wearing a horse mask.
posted by Kattullus at 1:53 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by Kattullus at 1:53 AM on June 21, 2016
Pony!
posted by mochapickle at 1:58 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by mochapickle at 1:58 AM on June 21, 2016
It's on the road again! I have all the songs about being on the road again running through my head. Oh wait, it's now going into a different parking lot. A parking lot with a horse!
On preview: I believe the correct English-language term is MAJESTIC HORSE. Note the capitalization, it's important.
posted by Kattullus at 2:00 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
On preview: I believe the correct English-language term is MAJESTIC HORSE. Note the capitalization, it's important.
posted by Kattullus at 2:00 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
So I guess, actually, anyone could go to Iceland, hire a car, and drive around the perimeter until done.
How safe is this overall? Serious question - what's their roadside assistance like if you break down and what's the longest gap between two settlements? Is GPS, cellphone and network coverage consistent all the way round (I most certainly could get lost on this trip)?
And I assume summer is the only time Iceland noobs should be doing it?
posted by tel3path at 2:02 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
How safe is this overall? Serious question - what's their roadside assistance like if you break down and what's the longest gap between two settlements? Is GPS, cellphone and network coverage consistent all the way round (I most certainly could get lost on this trip)?
And I assume summer is the only time Iceland noobs should be doing it?
posted by tel3path at 2:02 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also, I like that when I tuned in this morning they were stopped for gas and I could see the gas station and the chain stores all around. Aside from the whole oasis in a screaming void issue that I have with vast empty northern lands - when I visit new places I really like to do mundane things like look around supermarkets and peek at details like they have on that other thread on the blue right now about city objects.
posted by tel3path at 2:08 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by tel3path at 2:08 AM on June 21, 2016
In summer it's very safe. GPS and cell phone coverage are very good throughout. It always pays to check the weather forecast every evening and morning. And look up road signs, if you're rusty on European standards. Outside of the summertime it's fairly safe, but check the weather at least three times a day, make sure you drive during daylight, and look up road conditions on the excellent Icelandic road authority website.
posted by Kattullus at 2:10 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Kattullus at 2:10 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I did the whole thing a few years back, as a brand new driver. The road isn't particularly treacherous - it's almost all flat and wide with gentle curves. Almost all of it was tarmac rather than gravel - I wouldn't be surprised if it were all tarmac by now.
There are automated gas stations and towns with supermarkets pretty frequently. Accommodation can be a bit sparse - I remember having to plan some stretches around where the one hotel for 100 miles was.
posted by grahamparks at 2:20 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
There are automated gas stations and towns with supermarkets pretty frequently. Accommodation can be a bit sparse - I remember having to plan some stretches around where the one hotel for 100 miles was.
posted by grahamparks at 2:20 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Looks like I could get on a plane to Reykjavik right now for under £150! Hang about while I just quickly teach myself Icelandic.
posted by tel3path at 2:54 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by tel3path at 2:54 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Look, it's probably the cold medication, but this is the BEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN
posted by analoghotdog at 3:10 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by analoghotdog at 3:10 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Maybe we could just issue all long distance truckers with streaming equipment and have a whole website of this stuff.
Actually London Busses all have CCTV on, and many have external cameras. It would be amazing to be able to tap into any single bus feed at any time.
You could do some amazing generative art or even useful machine vision geo dataery stuff I'd bet.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 3:27 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Actually London Busses all have CCTV on, and many have external cameras. It would be amazing to be able to tap into any single bus feed at any time.
You could do some amazing generative art or even useful machine vision geo dataery stuff I'd bet.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 3:27 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
sheep are on truck side of sheep protection fence. hey sheep go back to sheep side of sheep protection fence pls.
posted by ardgedee at 3:42 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ardgedee at 3:42 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
This is mesmerizing.
posted by bendy at 3:44 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by bendy at 3:44 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
> ...make sure you drive during daylight...
I dunno man, going by current evidence that doesn't seem like a problem.
posted by ardgedee at 3:45 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I dunno man, going by current evidence that doesn't seem like a problem.
posted by ardgedee at 3:45 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Incidentally "Eighteen Pounds of Unclean Chitlins" is also a pretty compatible soundtrack.
posted by ardgedee at 4:27 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ardgedee at 4:27 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
From what I understand, the main danger on the roads comes from tourists who don't understand Icelandic and signage which is only in Icelandic. I recall seeing a story a few months ago of a Frenchman who saw a sign across a blocked road reading OFÆRT (“impassable”), interpreted as being related to the French word “ouvert” (“open”), and blundered through to misfortune.
posted by acb at 4:40 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by acb at 4:40 AM on June 21, 2016
Now they're at Lake Myvatn! When we were there 12 years ago there was a cafe that served smoked trout with Icelandic butter on bread that had been cooked in the ground, and an amazing lamb-barley stew...
posted by The Card Cheat at 5:06 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 5:06 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
A bearded dude in sweater and cargo shorts just waved down the truck at an intersection. After a brief pause it seems to have changed course.
Now it's parked at the side of the road outside a village.
posted by ardgedee at 5:06 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Now it's parked at the side of the road outside a village.
posted by ardgedee at 5:06 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
And a bearded guy in a lopapeysa jumped out in front of the car at an intersection and started boxing the air.
posted by acb at 5:07 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by acb at 5:07 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh hey, it's Thing from the Addams Family!
posted by Kattullus at 5:09 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Kattullus at 5:09 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've been camping at Myvatn. When the wind stopped we discovered why the name means "Midge Lake"...
posted by Harald74 at 5:10 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Harald74 at 5:10 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Now an immense and mysterious hand has arisen from below to scrape schmutz off the windscreen with his fingernails.
Thanks, Thing!
posted by ardgedee at 5:10 AM on June 21, 2016
Thanks, Thing!
posted by ardgedee at 5:10 AM on June 21, 2016
All the clearer now to see a nice woman carry a plate of food out to the driver.
posted by ardgedee at 5:11 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ardgedee at 5:11 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Update: a lady is carrying something that looks like food to the truck. Presumably rural hospitality.
posted by acb at 5:12 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by acb at 5:12 AM on June 21, 2016
HI COLONEL SANDERS YES HI!
posted by chrominance at 5:13 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by chrominance at 5:13 AM on June 21, 2016
Some folks in colorful windbreakers have come around to wave "hello" and stare at the driver while he eats.
posted by ardgedee at 5:14 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ardgedee at 5:14 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
As The Card Cheat mention Icelandic fish and mutton dishes are very good. (And horse. But don't tell any Americans that, please...)
posted by Harald74 at 5:14 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by Harald74 at 5:14 AM on June 21, 2016
I think they have been pulled over by an official for filming without an appropriate cinematic license.
posted by ardgedee at 5:19 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by ardgedee at 5:19 AM on June 21, 2016
Looks like it's a nice endless day!
posted by asok at 5:34 AM on June 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by asok at 5:34 AM on June 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
Hang about while I just quickly teach myself Icelandic.
Just take Swedish or Norwegian and bolt on -ir or -ur here and there, and you should be close enough.
posted by effbot at 6:35 AM on June 21, 2016
Just take Swedish or Norwegian and bolt on -ir or -ur here and there, and you should be close enough.
posted by effbot at 6:35 AM on June 21, 2016
Great. I know Icelandic is harder than Swedish or Norwegian so I've blocked out an entire afternoon to learn it.
posted by tel3path at 6:41 AM on June 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by tel3path at 6:41 AM on June 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Just take Swedish or Norwegian and bolt on -ir or -ur here and there, and you should be close enough.
Or learn Swedish/Norwegian and German and bolt the noun genders and grammatical cases from the latter onto the former.
posted by acb at 6:41 AM on June 21, 2016
Or learn Swedish/Norwegian and German and bolt the noun genders and grammatical cases from the latter onto the former.
posted by acb at 6:41 AM on June 21, 2016
Confidential to Swedes: The whole "just add -ur to Swedish words" is a funny joke, but it doesn't actually work. I've run into several Swedes that think this really, actually works. It doesn't. It just sounds like Swedish with -ur added to some random words.
posted by Kattullus at 6:42 AM on June 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by Kattullus at 6:42 AM on June 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
And now we're in Akureyri; it looks different without snow.
posted by acb at 6:43 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by acb at 6:43 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Confidential to Swedes: The whole "just add -ur to Swedish words" is a funny joke, but it doesn't actually work. I've run into several Swedes that think this really, actually works. It doesn't. It just sounds like Swedish with -ur added to some random words.
Having completed the Duolingo Swedish course and currently watching the Icelandic crime series Trapped, I'm finding my spoken Icelandic comprehension to be about on a par with my spoken Swedish comprehension (i.e., almost nonexistent, though when I hear a sentence, the words that sound Swedish enough leap out at me).
posted by acb at 6:44 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Having completed the Duolingo Swedish course and currently watching the Icelandic crime series Trapped, I'm finding my spoken Icelandic comprehension to be about on a par with my spoken Swedish comprehension (i.e., almost nonexistent, though when I hear a sentence, the words that sound Swedish enough leap out at me).
posted by acb at 6:44 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I feel a small stab of pain every time I'm reminded I'm not currently in Iceland. I absolutely love it there.
posted by ga$money at 6:46 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ga$money at 6:46 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm rooting for the orange team.
posted by brokkr at 6:53 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by brokkr at 6:53 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
We are now watching a children's football game, a girl just did a cartwheel in the middle of the game.
posted by lips at 6:54 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by lips at 6:54 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Btw, if anyone wants to see an Icelandic Duolingo course, the discussion thread for requesting it is here.
posted by acb at 6:54 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by acb at 6:54 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Okay, the juxtaposition of kids playing soccer and sigur ros definitely belongs in a horror film.
posted by phooky at 7:04 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by phooky at 7:04 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
We now have people photobombing the soccer game with silly smiley face masks.
posted by lips at 7:13 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by lips at 7:13 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Bonus horror movie points for the paper smiley face masks.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:14 AM on June 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 7:14 AM on June 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
it doesn't actually work.
There's no way you're ever going to convince me that "hafrumoppur" isn't the Icelandic word for horse.
(especially after you pointed out that Hestur wouldn't sound right :-D)
posted by effbot at 7:15 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
There's no way you're ever going to convince me that "hafrumoppur" isn't the Icelandic word for horse.
(especially after you pointed out that Hestur wouldn't sound right :-D)
posted by effbot at 7:15 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
WE HAVE MOVEMENT. Goodbye soccer kids.
posted by chrominance at 8:01 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by chrominance at 8:01 AM on June 21, 2016
I still had the soccer kids till I reloaded the page. Hmm
posted by tel3path at 8:03 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by tel3path at 8:03 AM on June 21, 2016
We're in downtown Akureyri; some guy ran in front of the car holding up a cardboard sign. I didn't get what it read, though.
posted by acb at 8:08 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by acb at 8:08 AM on June 21, 2016
With apologies to Monty Python and Finland, this is the country where I want to be, pony trekking or camping, or just watching a road trip on TV.
posted by Kabanos at 8:14 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Kabanos at 8:14 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I couldn't read it either.
Seems like that city has a population of nearly 19K! I kept thinking it couldn't be that huge, but it is.
posted by tel3path at 8:14 AM on June 21, 2016
Seems like that city has a population of nearly 19K! I kept thinking it couldn't be that huge, but it is.
posted by tel3path at 8:14 AM on June 21, 2016
Hmm, seems like that area has one of the warmest climates in Iceland. I think if not for its northerly position it would be a huge hit with tourists.
posted by tel3path at 8:18 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by tel3path at 8:18 AM on June 21, 2016
It's Iceland's second city, for what it's worth.
Mind you, apparently 2/3 of Iceland's population live in greater Reykjavík.
posted by acb at 8:19 AM on June 21, 2016
Mind you, apparently 2/3 of Iceland's population live in greater Reykjavík.
posted by acb at 8:19 AM on June 21, 2016
Wow, makes you wonder who does the pet sitting when they go on holiday.
posted by tel3path at 8:22 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by tel3path at 8:22 AM on June 21, 2016
Every few kilometers there should someone standing by the road holding out hot dogs for them to grab as they drive by.
posted by Kabanos at 8:24 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Kabanos at 8:24 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Aw, it's a shame they didn't go up along the coast on 82/76. I guess they have to stick to route1 as closely as possible.
posted by Kabanos at 8:27 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by Kabanos at 8:27 AM on June 21, 2016
It's quite alarming when that hand just appears, like it's right in your face!
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 8:31 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 8:31 AM on June 21, 2016
I was wondering how long it'd take to get to Bakki. I turned my back for under 30 minutes and they've already gone past it and are more than halfway to Horgarsveit.
posted by tel3path at 8:54 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by tel3path at 8:54 AM on June 21, 2016
I'm not getting any work done today.
Also: you know what song would work really well with this? That song by the Cars, Drive.
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:10 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also: you know what song would work really well with this? That song by the Cars, Drive.
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:10 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Have they explained what they are using for connectivity from the van?
posted by kiltedtaco at 9:39 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by kiltedtaco at 9:39 AM on June 21, 2016
Someone asked on Twitter if a replay will be available afterwards and the station responded that it would.
posted by asterisk at 9:39 AM on June 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by asterisk at 9:39 AM on June 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Good, we can figure out what it said on that sign the guy was holding up.
posted by tel3path at 9:48 AM on June 21, 2016
posted by tel3path at 9:48 AM on June 21, 2016
He looked kinda angry, so maybe it was something like "down with Sigur Ros and their excessive flaunting of live-stream van privileges".
posted by tel3path at 9:49 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by tel3path at 9:49 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
He looked kinda angry, so maybe it was something like "down with Sigur Ros and their excessive flaunting of live-stream van privileges".
“DEATH TO TOURISTCORE!”
posted by acb at 10:27 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
“DEATH TO TOURISTCORE!”
posted by acb at 10:27 AM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
the eerie fog manposted by bitteschoen at 10:38 AM on June 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
i feel like we are going to drive off the edge of the earth.
very beautiful...
Drive into nowhere
how long it will last transmission / 'm curious whether it will get dark
i drove thru dense cloud in the centre of iceland off road it was like being on the moon
plot twist: this isnt on Earth.
IS IT STILL RUSH HOUR?
is this Icelandic summer?
hedgehog in the fog
Horses in the mist lol
There is only one horse in Iceland confirmed
why is there no ice in iceland
why is there no green in greenland
Because they traded it to Greenland
Iceland should talk to Greenland about switching names
thought this was stupid but now cant stop watching
if everyone just chilled out and watched this then Brexit wouldn't be a thing
I love how we'll be driving along in dark gray with wipers flicking, then suddenly it's all sunlight and blue sky between broken clouds. It's giving me Iceland flashbacks.
I've lost track (and laggy map not very helpful here) -- are we approaching Borgarnes soon?
posted by Quasirandom at 10:49 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I've lost track (and laggy map not very helpful here) -- are we approaching Borgarnes soon?
posted by Quasirandom at 10:49 AM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Teenager mooning just now.
posted by ambrosen at 12:38 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by ambrosen at 12:38 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I see a light at the end of the tunnel.
posted by MtDewd at 1:18 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by MtDewd at 1:18 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
There are sometimes people on the roadside waving. Sweet.
posted by old_growler at 1:30 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by old_growler at 1:30 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Will there be a big welcoming party at the end?
Or will they just get back to the office to find someone has stolen their parking spot.
posted by Kabanos at 1:41 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Or will they just get back to the office to find someone has stolen their parking spot.
posted by Kabanos at 1:41 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Are we there yet? I hope not, or rather I hope they just decide to do it again as we are pulling into Reykjavik now and i don't want it to stop.
posted by lips at 1:44 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by lips at 1:44 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yeah what is with the black dot over the sun? I would guess it's something to do with the camera but I don't know.
posted by Uncle at 1:45 PM on June 21, 2016
posted by Uncle at 1:45 PM on June 21, 2016
I'm guessing the camera sensor can't handle the direct sun. (I've heard you can wreck digital camera sensors by exposing them at the direct sun for too long.)
posted by dnash at 1:47 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by dnash at 1:47 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
This is like careening toward the end of an alphabet thread.
posted by Kabanos at 1:47 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Kabanos at 1:47 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
From the YouTube chat:
Sigur Rós NEW SIGUR RÓS VIDEO - FOR ÓVEÐUR - COMING IN ABOUT 45MINUTES
posted by old_growler at 1:51 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Sigur Rós NEW SIGUR RÓS VIDEO - FOR ÓVEÐUR - COMING IN ABOUT 45MINUTES
posted by old_growler at 1:51 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I'm recognizing things! I'm so happy!
posted by jokeefe at 1:51 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by jokeefe at 1:51 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Hello Reykjavik. It's been too long.
posted by jokeefe at 1:52 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by jokeefe at 1:52 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Now I kind of want to see it done in the winter...
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:53 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:53 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Well at least ONE guy waved a welcome.
posted by Kabanos at 1:55 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Kabanos at 1:55 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Maybe they're driving us right into a live Sigur Rós concert.
posted by Kabanos at 1:57 PM on June 21, 2016
posted by Kabanos at 1:57 PM on June 21, 2016
People are claiming it was Jonsi himself who opened those gates on the street.
posted by old_growler at 1:57 PM on June 21, 2016
posted by old_growler at 1:57 PM on June 21, 2016
People are claiming it was Jonsi himself who opened those gates on the street.
I thought it looked like him.
posted by dnash at 1:58 PM on June 21, 2016
I thought it looked like him.
posted by dnash at 1:58 PM on June 21, 2016
Keep going! Let's do another lap!
Hey maybe this is a way to one-up the @Sweden twitter account. You have teams of locals volunteer to drive the truck around and around Iceland forever... Then they take questions by phone.
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:03 PM on June 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Hey maybe this is a way to one-up the @Sweden twitter account. You have teams of locals volunteer to drive the truck around and around Iceland forever... Then they take questions by phone.
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:03 PM on June 21, 2016 [5 favorites]
Every once in a while, the Internet does not suck.
posted by old_growler at 2:04 PM on June 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by old_growler at 2:04 PM on June 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'm kind of half hoping they just drive straight into the ocean.
posted by phooky at 2:08 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by phooky at 2:08 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Every once in a while, the Internet does not suck.
A radiant, 24 year old memory creaks to life, of the days when I thought that the internet would bring the whole world together...
posted by jokeefe at 2:09 PM on June 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
A radiant, 24 year old memory creaks to life, of the days when I thought that the internet would bring the whole world together...
posted by jokeefe at 2:09 PM on June 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'm curious if that twisting route through the city was pre-planned or if they were, like "we've got 30 extra minutes, let's just cruise around to fill time."
posted by dnash at 2:15 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by dnash at 2:15 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I suddenly realized that it's June, and all these people are wearing coats and jackets.
posted by MexicanYenta at 2:23 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by MexicanYenta at 2:23 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm guessing the latter. (re: extra 30 minutes, let's drive around)
posted by jokeefe at 2:23 PM on June 21, 2016
posted by jokeefe at 2:23 PM on June 21, 2016
Going to a lighthouse?
posted by old_growler at 2:26 PM on June 21, 2016
posted by old_growler at 2:26 PM on June 21, 2016
I have wasted my life.
posted by Kabanos at 2:29 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Kabanos at 2:29 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ah. I missed the beginning. The email telling about it came when it had already been happening for a few hours.
posted by old_growler at 2:30 PM on June 21, 2016
posted by old_growler at 2:30 PM on June 21, 2016
I suddenly realized that it's June, and all these people are wearing coats and jackets.
it's 53F there. Shouldn't that be bathing suit weather for Icelanders?
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:30 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
it's 53F there. Shouldn't that be bathing suit weather for Icelanders?
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:30 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Sigur Rós video has started. I was hoping it would be procedurally generated from the drive, but I'm pretty happy with a video of Erna Ómarsdóttir dancing. She's a great dancer and choreographer.
posted by Kattullus at 2:33 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Kattullus at 2:33 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Is this the music video for the song that was being remixed throughout? Amazing vodka swilling craziness.
posted by knapah at 2:33 PM on June 21, 2016
posted by knapah at 2:33 PM on June 21, 2016
This was so fun to check in with overnight and all day - thanks for posting it.
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:35 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 2:35 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
So, um....this is a tone shift...
posted by quite unimportant at 2:36 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by quite unimportant at 2:36 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ok, this video just got a little NSFW. And I'm at work. So, window minimized while I listen.
posted by dnash at 2:36 PM on June 21, 2016
posted by dnash at 2:36 PM on June 21, 2016
Thank you Iceland. Don't ever change.
Except enjoy your first Canadian First Lady, she's a wonderful woman. (Assuming you don't all change your voting intentions over the next few days).
posted by Kabanos at 2:36 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Except enjoy your first Canadian First Lady, she's a wonderful woman. (Assuming you don't all change your voting intentions over the next few days).
posted by Kabanos at 2:36 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
The new song. The video. Um. Wow.
posted by old_growler at 2:37 PM on June 21, 2016
posted by old_growler at 2:37 PM on June 21, 2016
All done! Thanks for being good road buddies!
posted by Kattullus at 2:39 PM on June 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by Kattullus at 2:39 PM on June 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
Video up now for those who missed the premier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4rf-C_smLs
posted by old_growler at 2:44 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by old_growler at 2:44 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Here you can see video taken of the car driving through Akureyri.
posted by Kattullus at 2:47 PM on June 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Kattullus at 2:47 PM on June 21, 2016 [3 favorites]
I was trying to replay the stream a few hours back, and it went private - I'm guessing this is supposed to be one of those transient things that can never be viewed again? I need some more mellow after that harsh.
posted by MysticMCJ at 2:51 PM on June 21, 2016
posted by MysticMCJ at 2:51 PM on June 21, 2016
The TV station's Twitter claims the video will be up in the future.
Also, that was Jonsi opening the gates. Picture: https://www.instagram.com/p/BG7k_u8Fcp3/
posted by old_growler at 2:56 PM on June 21, 2016
Also, that was Jonsi opening the gates. Picture: https://www.instagram.com/p/BG7k_u8Fcp3/
posted by old_growler at 2:56 PM on June 21, 2016
Dang. I had to stop five minutes before they got to the end.
posted by fimbulvetr at 3:02 PM on June 21, 2016
posted by fimbulvetr at 3:02 PM on June 21, 2016
Wow, that is not at all what I was expecting they were driving around in. That looks like a full-on mobile production unit. I have high hopes that the full-res version is on there somewhere.
posted by quite unimportant at 3:15 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by quite unimportant at 3:15 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I did wonder why it was cornering like a stoned hippopotamus.
posted by angeline at 3:18 PM on June 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by angeline at 3:18 PM on June 21, 2016 [7 favorites]
I really want to watch the stream again. I want to be able to watch it, here and there, forever.
I'm wondering if Sigur Ros partly intended the video to be a corrective aimed at all the people mooning over the pastoral loveliness of the countryside and how utopic Iceland can look (I include myself in this). Look under the surface, and see what else is there.
posted by jokeefe at 3:30 PM on June 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'm wondering if Sigur Ros partly intended the video to be a corrective aimed at all the people mooning over the pastoral loveliness of the countryside and how utopic Iceland can look (I include myself in this). Look under the surface, and see what else is there.
posted by jokeefe at 3:30 PM on June 21, 2016 [4 favorites]
The TV station's Twitter claims the video will be up in the future.
Perhaps they should make it into an app of some sort (web or mobile), which takes you to the appropriate bit of video when you click/tap that particular part of the ribbon that goes around the Icelandic ring road on the map.
posted by acb at 5:15 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Perhaps they should make it into an app of some sort (web or mobile), which takes you to the appropriate bit of video when you click/tap that particular part of the ribbon that goes around the Icelandic ring road on the map.
posted by acb at 5:15 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
Oh hey, I'll be in Iceland in a week's time! We're driving the entire ring-road as well.
I was there the first time in 2014. It is glorious and wonderful and bizarre and my favorite place on earth, pretty much.
posted by Windigo at 6:30 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I was there the first time in 2014. It is glorious and wonderful and bizarre and my favorite place on earth, pretty much.
posted by Windigo at 6:30 PM on June 21, 2016 [2 favorites]
I've been looking at video on YouTube of Erna Ómarsdóttir, the woman in the new video. She's a choreographer and dancer, and though I know bupkis about dance, she is something to watch. I just wish there was more up featuring her.
posted by old_growler at 8:02 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by old_growler at 8:02 PM on June 21, 2016 [1 favorite]
Oh hey, I'll be in Iceland in a week's time! We're driving the entire ring-road as well.
[Sprints up to Windigo's car just as they are moving off, climbs into back seat, buckles self in before they notice]
posted by tel3path at 4:51 AM on June 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
[Sprints up to Windigo's car just as they are moving off, climbs into back seat, buckles self in before they notice]
posted by tel3path at 4:51 AM on June 22, 2016 [1 favorite]
I just want to throw this out there re: Iceland's 2-1 victory over Austria today to advance to the next stage:
Iceland commentator goes nuts
Congratulations Iceland!
posted by dabug at 4:54 PM on June 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
Iceland commentator goes nuts
Congratulations Iceland!
posted by dabug at 4:54 PM on June 22, 2016 [4 favorites]
Iceland Academy: Driving in Iceland
(Bonus — Iceland Academy: How to avoid hot tub awkwardness)
posted by Kabanos at 3:03 PM on July 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
(Bonus — Iceland Academy: How to avoid hot tub awkwardness)
posted by Kabanos at 3:03 PM on July 11, 2016 [3 favorites]
Recordings of the whole journey, both normal and 360 degrees, are now available on the Sigur Rós website.
posted by Kattullus at 9:12 AM on July 19, 2016 [9 favorites]
posted by Kattullus at 9:12 AM on July 19, 2016 [9 favorites]
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posted by The Tensor at 2:02 PM on June 20, 2016 [1 favorite]