Italy – Iceland
Discovering Iceland by motorcycle
A Suzuki V-Strom 1000, a tent, and a couple of adventurous travelers. For them, passion runs on the road. And one summer, in mid-August, it takes them far away, to live 24 incredible days, to encounter 7,500 kilometers of experiences never seen before. Traveling in the unpredictable, shimmering nature of places with unpronounceable names, but so beautiful that they really leave you… at a loss for words!
Trip Through “the Land of Ice”
We start from home, in Ciano del Montello in the province of Treviso. We ride quickly through Germany and arrive in Denmark. At Hirtshals we embark on the Norrona, which takes us to the Seyđisfjörđur fjord. Here is the “Land of Ice”: we’re in Iceland! We immediately start to travel it by bike. It’s an emotional experience to arrive at the Glacier Iceberg full of icebergs, and even the motorcycle stops to look. We pitch our tent to sleep at the foot of the Jökulsárlón glacier. In the morning we leave for Selfoss to take the F35 track connecting the north and south of the island. We come to the beach of black sand at Vík, the majestic Gullfoss, queen of the Icelandic waterfalls, and the oldest known geyser Geysir. The bike and gear resist even along the difficult unpaved dirt stretch, until the magnificent red evening sunset. Another morning, another road, this time asphalted, to Ísafjörđur, flanked by fjords, and the home of Icelandic sheep, artic wolves, and seals. The rain doesn’t worry us at all: we’re waterproof, with our heat-welded waterproof GIVI bag.
We’ll never forget the rainbow of colors of the murals of Reykjavík: a visit to the capital city and its environs for a few days is highly recommended. Among the strangest and most exciting attractions: the local dish consisting of fermented shark meat, the Thingvellir National Park, located at the meeting point between the two tectonic continental plates (North American and European), and the gorgeous Blue Lagoon. At this point Chiara has to return home and I continue the trip alone. I finish the tour of the island by bike by visiting Akureyri and its environs, including Húsavík Bay, where I experience the fantastic encounter with a whale, and I make sure I don’t miss the volcanic zone of Krafla: a 10 km caldera with boiling mud and sulfur fumaroles: landscapes you don’t even see in your dreams! My solo return trip, amidst magnificent wildernesses, green mosses, and waterfalls, takes me back onto the road for Seyđisfjörđur where, in the evening, I set sail with the Norrona… and with a sea of emotions to carry back home!
The protagonists
Giorgio and Chiara
The protagonists
Giorgio and Chiara
GIORGIO POLEGATO
Riding his Suzuki V-Strom 1000
A great sportsman: motocross, downhill, skateboarding, and Pit Beirer. He loves rock ’n’ roll, but his favorite music is engines: those of the MRT – Montello Racing Team. His favorite bikers: Cyril Despres and Carlos Checa. He’s officially engaged to Chiara.
CHIARA PIAZZA
Riding with Giorgio
Giorgio’s life and travel companion, every once in a while she doesn’t disdain taking the lead in the couple and their shared adventures. Favorite activity: Aprilia RSV Mille. Her biking heroes: Valentino Rossi VR46 and Marc Màrquez.
Motorcycle equipment
long motorcycle journeys
Iceland is the country of ice and unpredictable weather. The weather is almost always bad, and you must not let the beauty of the landscapes distract you too much as you ride. You also have to take great care in choosing the gear for your bike, which must be rigorously waterproof and suitable for the most rigid temperatures.
Iceland is the country of ice and unpredictable weather. The weather is almost always bad, and you must not let the beauty of the landscapes distract you too much as you ride. You also have to take great care in choosing the gear for your bike, which must be rigorously waterproof and suitable for the most rigid temperatures.
Videos
