100km
Trip Start
May 26, 2007
1
7
Trip End
Jun 09, 2007
Akureyri, Iceland
Friday, June 8, 2007
I walked to the road and what I saw then, I just couldn´t believe. There was a guy standing on a hilltop further down the road. ´There is competition, this can´t be true´ I thought. He was a hitchhiker alright - an American fellow going to Akureryi as well. I didn´t feel like hitchhiking together as this would not increase our chances in getting a ride. I obeyed to the hitchhiker rule - who comes first, who goes first - and took place in second position downstream of the American. So I sat down in the grassy side of the road, watching him from a distance and working on my tan to get all colours on my face back in balance. I was quite comfortable sitting there and at some point I even fell asleep. The American seemed to struggle to get himself a ride anyway. When after 2 hours and 40 minutes he finally did, it was my turn. I had more than 2 hours left before plan B (the bus) would take action. But luck was back on my side. The next car that came, a heavy white 4WD truck, pulled over to take me directly to Akureryi. I noticed some children seats in the back and asked Carli, my driver, about it. He explained that in Iceland, couples start having children at an early age, much sooner than in rest of Europe. I guess he was right - I have seen a lot of young mothers on my way. Carli was a young father himself, being 29 years and having two children of 5 years and 7 months. His wife was only 22.
And so the last kilometers ticked away and on a slow beat of Icelandic house music, I entered Akureyri just behind the American guy. I made it - I succeeded in my goal: hitchhiking from Reykjavik to Akureyri, the long way.
With about 48 hours to kill in Akureyri, I had plenty of time to rest, relax and recover to a more human-like condition. And then ... then it was time to go home.
