Lots of stimulation here in Heimaey. Conversations with local people. Baked goods at the coffee shop. Electric scooted in the rain.
It turns out the laundry place, we imagined washers and driers, was a dry cleaner. He could tell the way we looked and maybe smelt that we needed him. He agreed to do the wash if we came back and folded at 2pm. We were not late.
In the meantime James and Larry made the boat spic and span. Nooks and crannies were not safe from the vinegar spray and putty knife.
Water tanks were filled. Turns out the water on the island all come from the main island oif Iceland.
We made it back in time to be “put to work” by the laundromat owner. He had us at a folding table in back while regaling us with how he made enough money helping out with the Free Wiley Orca that was here to buy the laundramatt.
We learned about the island’s penchant for rescuing whales from Sea World like places. Two beluga whales live in a tank, large, inside what looks life a regular office building. I am told they rehab puffins who wander the halls while in recovery. It as a treat to see their white bulbous heads swimming by the tank window.
At some point we became anxious about the propane supply, propane is what we cook with, make coffee. As it turned out the guy that owned a part of the metal shop we had visited earlier in the day was our savior. It began with a walk across the street and ended up with him coming to the boat to show us how to attach the gas tank. In between that were car rides to 4 different shops/hardware places. We ended up on the opposite side of the harbor at a shop where a guy fitted us up with a hose that would adapt the Iceland gas tank to ours. It was the metal shop brother hood!
We could write a book about all the times local people help us. I enjoyed this chapter as much as any as I got to commiserate with another metal shop guy.
Charlie and James ended up at the “sweater lady’s” house where the got some amazing local craft. Pics with the coming soon.
We are getting rested. Tomorrow we get provisions, take a mountain bike ride, rest some and head in the evening. Let’s see how we go.
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