Standby status:

Santa Ana – Minneapolis 19 open seats

Minneapolis- Reykjavik 32 open seats

   Always Bring Coats. That’s what the title of today’s blog stands for. By design, Carol and I choose to travel in what the tourist industry calls the “shoulder” season – not off-peak, but as close as possible without getting ridiculous about it. The idea is that the tourist numbers are down during this time, so accommodations are more readily available, making our preferred travel-by-the-seat-of-our-pants method more obtainable.

   We don’t really know what the shoulder season is in Iceland, if there even is one. The wind can blow the door off your car any day of the year (car rental agreements include coverage for turning in the vehicle with one door less than you left with). Weather can change abruptly, so even a bright sunny morning can turn brutal in a matter of minutes. Hence, the ABC’s of Iceland should be considered to be in force year-round. (My view of our preparations is that if the cold and wind exceeds what we’ve packed for, we should just stay in our room and sip aquavit anyway.)

   Judging by the comments on the Iceland tips for travelers Facebook page, however, the weather seems to be of little concern. Almost all extol the physical beauty of the place, and the only disappointment appears to be they didn’t stay longer. That’s especially reassuring to me, as it suggests these travelers found ample dining alternatives to rotted shark and pickled herring.

  Since my usual travel pattern of sitting by a train window, and watching the world go by, or sitting in a sidewalk cafe and doing the same with people won’t be an option on this trip, Iceland will be the true adventure in the way most normal people experience one. A simple review of car rental insurance provides some clues as to how adventurous.

  Since my usual travel pattern of sitting by a train window, and watching the world go by, or sitting in a sidewalk cafe and doing the same with people won’t be an option on this trip, Iceland will be the true adventure in the way most normal people experience one.

   I’ve mentioned the coverage for having a car door blow off in a sudden wind gust. Damage from windblown sand, gravel and volcanic ash are other items you can be insured against. There is apparently no coverage available for water damage in the event you try and fail to ford a river, or presumably a flash flood should suddenly appear where the Ring Road was just a moment ago.

   There is, however, coverage available for animal damage that can occur. Animals include horses, sheep and even birds such as geese. The coverage is highly recommended.

   The main drag around Iceland – the Ring Road – is 800 miles around, and has built-in adventures of its own, regardless of any encounters with wind, sand, gravel, sheep or suddenly appearing rivers. In some of the more rural areas of the Road, there occur, according to one article on the subject, “narrow passes, blind summits and single lane bridges. There are also long stretches where there are no towns, much less gas stations. Forgetting to check your gas gauge regularly might jump start an adventure all its own, reason enough to adhere to the Icelandic ABC’s.

   Add to the mix that flying standby precludes making any reservations prior to getting a seat assignment at the gate on the day of departure, and the biggest Icelandic adventure of all might just be not getting there in the first place.