AN ICELANDIC ROAD TRIP
You may remember these ukuleles having stopped off to announce the great freezing #GoingNorth trip in Reykjavik, Iceland. Well, after the harsh winds and kind hearts of Canada, Ukulele Road Trips is back where it all started!
Back by the shore in the Icelandic capital
Going North some more, this time, not in the land of maple syrup and traditional tap-dancing, but in the land of volcanoes, ice, and ruthless Norse Gods.
The idea is a crazy, non-thought-through one: to go all around the mystical island in the Winter months and, with a bit of luck, survive. And with even more luck, let the road and frozen mountains inspire songs and poems fitting of their drama. If I can catch a bit of the fleeting sunlight during these short winter days, you might even get to see some of it!!
THE 'KUKU' IN 'KUKU CAMPERS'
If you don't have brains, to survive, you at least need a great ride. That ride can become your house, shelter, and your all round Awesome Road Trip Survival Machine. That's where Kuku Campers come in:
Kuku (short for 'kuku-town banana pants') means mad. And the Kuku Team of the Kuku Campers company, it seems, are Kuku enough to not mind seeing me drive one of their vans!
At the kuku counter with friendly Hölly, just outside Reykjavik
As I was first communicating with the Kukus, it was pretty clear to them I didn't have a clue about what I was throwing myself into. So their helpful verdict was quite clear: you won't get a better deal to see the island close up than with one of their ride. Plus, you know, freedom !!
And blessedly, because I'm travelling with 'kukuleles', they are giving me a discount which makes it possible for me to rent a spacious (and heated!) van. Because, who knew backpacking and writing original melodies didn't make you a gazillionaire ? Weird, right? Also, they did mention keeping warm in Iceland, in Winter, was important.
A tour of the homey living room/bed/kitchen of the van with Hölly striking a cool pose
So with a drivable and robust palace, two ukuleles on the passenger's front seat, everything is in place for some serious Musical-Road-Trip-ing !
The modified Kuku Renault Master, on the parking lot, eager to get going ! "Dont Worry, be Sexy!!" is it's motto, there on the left. The Other side says "Don't Stink and Drive!"
ODSSON HOTEL, KEEPING ME WARM
Another stroke of luck/Icelandic kindness was from the staff over at my only port of call in Reykjavik: the ODSSON Hostel.
Here pictured, the kind Scotsman from the front desk, whose lunch I'm interrupting so I can ask questions about weather, roads, and survival on an icelandic road trip.
They are located on top and underneath of the 'Myndlistaskólinn' , the school of arts which I visited just before landing in Canada. That the ODDSSON shares a building with that school is just another reason for the Backpacker to stop there, as it's also friendly, warm (important!), and they do a good price, relative to Iceland obviously.
My level of preparation for the Nordic Winter was this one: a very light summer sleeping bag tucked at the bottom of my backpack. Having had the most comfy blankets and pillows in the whole world at the ODDSSON (not an exaggeration) I have pleaded to borrow some of theirs while on my adventure. The fact they've agreed makes me so very grateful, and indebted to them for my comfy rests in a dream of softness.
Inside the van, in the soft clouds of ODDSSON blankets, already writing down a few lyrics.
So it's with the help and services of both ODDSSON and Kuku Campers that my survival seems like a possible achievment. The Northern Road beckons.
The Adventure #GoingNorth in Iceland is made possible with the contribution of CloudMusic Ukuleles, and also, as you've just read, with the kool kuku help of Kuku Campers !
Feel free to sponsor warm beverages here on the website, or over on the Patreon of Ukulele Road Trips.
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