Lögberg-Heimskringla - 17.03.1995, Page 6

Lögberg-Heimskringla - 17.03.1995, Page 6
6 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 17. mars 1995 Touring lceland on horseback Continued from p. 4 PHONE (204) 772-5503 1575 Logan Ave., Wpg., IVIB R3E 1S5 ing stampede down the main street. We changed horses twice sometimes three times in a day and were thus able to try a wide variety of mounts and trável up to 40 km a day. Whenever we could tear our eyes away from the drive, the country sur- rounding us was magnificent and dra- matic in its variance. J.R.R. Tolkein’s middle earth seems to have its closest reality in Iceland. Here are the tree- less greasy moors of Rohan: his land of tall fierce horsemen. Beyond, the highlands rise sharply and to pass through them is to come upon a bar- ren boulder strewn Morðor. The author of these fantastic visions is, however, still very much present and active. Before us always on the hori- zon was Iceland’s largest volcano: Hekla. Our longest day took us into the highlands to the base of one of the enormous glaciers that cover the interior of the country. We lunched and lounged very comfortably at a mountain hut built to shelter farmers chasing down their far ranging flocks of sheep. These make ideal camps for riding tours, and it’s possible to ride deep into this awe inspiring wilder- ness riding from one hut to the next. As enticing a prospect as glacier travel might be, we were content to retum to the warm roomy farmhouses that served us for room and board. Thanks to Hekla, steaming reserves of hot water are never very far under- ground, and every house has plenty for showers and a vast hot tub! Aside from that initial stinging sensation, The first delightful discovery was that our tour was to be made up of 13 guests, four guides and 70 horses. Each of us could have a 3.887 share of the available horsepower. This was as challenging as it was generous in that not only did we have to accus- tom ourselves to 'riding one horse over rough terrain but to driving our reserve along with us. Once mastered, however, it is unquestionably the best aspect of a great adventure. Highlights included the fording of mighty salmon infested rivers with our 70 horse paddlers, chasing a run- away group up the sheer side of a gorge and rousing the inhabitants of a country village with a Sunday morn- SWEATER & WOOL SHOP SWEATERS $125 - $150. ACCESSORIES AS LOW AS $15. WHITE BUFFALO & ICELANDIC LOPI SWEATERS HATS, MITTS & SCARVES 4- SLIPPERS WOOLSOCKS& GLOVE LINERS ASK ABOUT OUR WOOL CLUB YARN SALE — ALAFOSS & LOPI $5.20 PER BALL TILL APRIL 8TH Ministry of Culture & Education Scholarship North American students of Icelandic descent are invited to apply for two scholarships to study Icelandic language and literature at the University of Iceland in Reykjavík for the 1995- 96 term. The scholarships are valued at 416.000 Icelandic kro- nur, or approximately $8500.00 CAD, and cover University tuition fees, room and board. For application forms and further information please contact: Icelandic National League Head Office 699 Carter Avenue, Winnipeg, MB Canada R3M 2C3 Telephone: (204) 284-3402 or Fax: (204) 284-3870 Deadline for applications: Monday April 24,1995. $ Winnipeg Sun., Mar. 19 Edmonton Sat., Mar. 18 Sat., Mar. 25 Saskatchewan Sat., Mar. 25 Arborg Tues., Mar. 28 Toronto Mon., Apr. 10 Brandon Thurs., Apr. 13 Vancouver Tues., Apr. 18 Toronto Thurs., Apr. 20 Wínnipeg Sun., Apr. 23 Edmonton May 5 - 7 Sat., May 6 Vancouver Annual Bridge & Whíst Luncheon - by Jón Sigurðsson Chapter IODE at Betelstaöur, Lunch 12 noon, followed by card playing. Adm. $6. □ □ □ Sledding Party - at Grandin Park Plaza Hills, St. Albert. (Alternate date Mar. 26). Afterwards hot dogs and hot chocolate at Lion’s Park. Directíons & further detaíls contact Judith or Sarajonsson 459-2291. □ ■ □ □ Vatnabyggð Þorrablót - Cocktails 6pm, Icelandic Buffet 7pm. Wynyard Civic Ctre. Entertainment & dancíng. Contact Eric Stephanson 328- 2077. Adults $12., students $5., famíly $30., pre-school free. □ □ □ Þorrablót Dinner & Dance - doors open 6pm, dinner 7pm. Sponsored by Esjan Chapter INL at Arborg Community Hall. Music by 4D’s, Alice Catering. Adults $22., children under 12 $10. □ □ □ I.C.C.T. Meeting - "The Víking Regíment’’ - 8pm. Joe Martin talks about the 1,000 Icelandic-Canadians who served during World War I; he focuses specifically on those who enlisted from the Lögberg settlement. Pleasant Víew Library, 575 Van Home Ave., North York. □ □ □ Iceland Day - at World Curling '95. Icelandic food and entertainment featured all day. For more info. call Bob Isleifson 727-6441. □ □ □ Sólskin Easter Party - 2:00 p.m. at Höfn, Icelandíc Care Home, Vancouver, B.C. □ □ □ I.C.C.T. Meeting - “Organíc Iceland’’ - 8pm - Donna Messer, State of Illinois Dept. of Agriculture will talk about something new coming to Iceland - by the year 2000 the production of food will be exclusively organíc - at Pleasant View Library, 575 Van Horne Ave., N. York. □ □ □ Sumardagurínn Fyrsti - 7pm. Help Frón and the Scandinavian Choír welcome in summer at the Scandinavian Cult. Ctre., 764 Erin St. □ □ - □ Sumardagurinn Fyrsti - 2pm at McKernan Hall, 114 St. & 78 Ave. Further details later. Hope to see you there! □ □ □ Annual INL Conventíon - ín Toronto 0 □ □ Spring Luncheon & Bake Sale - 1 lam - lpm at the Oakrídge Luther- an Church, 585 West 41st Ave., Van. by the Women's Auxiliary. □ □ □ Thurs., May 11 Frón Annual General Meeting - Everyone Welcome. At Wínnípeg the Scandinavian Cultural Centre, 764 Erin St. □ □ □ May 19, 20 & 21 Námskeið - Icelandic Language Camp - Family Weekend Language Edmonton Camp at the Parker cabin right on Sandy Lake. AIl ages welcome. Modest fee. ContactJune Parker 459-8624 or Judith Jonsson 459- 2291. What's happeníng in vour area? We want to hear from you before and after the events... just send us a few lines... or a lot. Please enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope if material and photos are to be returned. Be sure to send your notices to: Lögberg-Heimskríngla, 699 Carter Ave., Wpg., Man., Canada R3M 2C3 nothing could be more therapeutic to a saddle blistered backside than a long poaching, and there is always plenty of anaesthetic to be had. Our tour leader’s special brew was some- thing called “electric soup” - a mild sort of tonic which led from comfort- able numbness to oblivion in rapid stages. It’s just as well some of our group could not remember the details of their first encounter with this potion. They bravely appeared to ride the next morning wearing dark glass- es and “Les Miserables” t-shirts! Our hosts, between cooking delicious fish stews and barbecued lamb with native herbs, found time to become great friends. After dinner, they joined us for toasts, stories and songs long into the night, and as the night of an Arctic summer is somewhat hard to discern from day to day, this could be very late indeed. In appreciation for all they did for us, I would recommend Einar Bollinson’s íshestar riding tours as an excellent way to discover Iceland and its horses. Mr. Bollinson, a former Minnist í ERFÐASKRÁM YÐAR basketball player of 6’6” elevation is himself mute testimony to the capa- bilities of the horses and is a charm- ing and endlessly resourceful leader. Should you wish to change tomor- row’s itinerary, or should it occur to him that a case of beer would be nice to have waiting at the end of the day, he merely unholsters his cellular phone, and it is done. In Canada: Susan Hodgeson of Magnifaxi Farms should be your first call. A veteran importer of Icelandics, last year was her first go at equine travel promotion but not her last. Already she and most of last year’s group have held various reunions at her farm and talked about the future. It is not a question of if it will go again, but who will join us next year! Practical: Although, as I men- tioned, Iceland is strict on the subject of foreign used riding equipment, it is an idea to BYOBB; that is bring your own boiled boots. As you will no doubt ford icy rivers, make sure they are rubber or something equally waterproof. A lightweight, plastic hel- met is more comfortable than the tra- ditional hunt caps available in Iceland. Pack in preparation for near- ly all kinds of weather. We were very fortunate in having almost every day sunny and 25 °C, but drenching rains are common and snow a possibility!

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