Observations and wanderings in and around Blonduos.
From my window: observing grass bending in the wind. There are mounds of grass big and small (including Annabel’s “grass crack”) and the clouds in the sky. Go a little further, the rocks along the shore, the waves rolling in and the hills covered in wildflowers all repeat similar forms of peaks and valleys.
Walk a little further along a ridge line where a narrow path reveals more of these grassy lumps and bumps. Brief research online revealed that some of these forms may be Þúfur (pronounced thoo-vur), small mounds that are the result of cycles of frost freezing and expanding the soil which does not deflate with the thaw.
I was seeing these forms everywhere, the mountain lines in the distance and in the water, On the way to the grocery store there is a lone patch of taller grass. When I see these forms or even a solitary rock I can’t help but wonder which creatures might live in all of these forms of land and stone, and soil and water? Huldufólk? The hidden people? Ragga was sharing stories of trolls turning into rocks. Maybe they are in there too?
I would take short runs around Blönduós, more of these forms would appear in the landscape. I found them on Hrutey Island and took a moment to greet them.
I found them again just outside of town-they were abundant-as I ran on a path in the direction of the valley between two peaks. I was convinced that if I kept going in a straight line I could reach the foot of the mountains.
This flyover video shows how far I actually am from the mountains. It was a nice goal while it lasted. The little divot in the path out of town was when I met a trio of handsome horses. They had intense stares and stunning hair.
Melanie Garcia