~:[CH5 - Day 344]:~ On the Hunt

~:[CH5 - Day 344]:~ On the Hunt

It was a struggle today. Before I left, I broke my phone so I got a temporary (horrible) phone and my replacement arrived the day I left. Then today, my MARK stopped working properly just as I headed up to the ice caves and before tonight's aurora. I tried using my backup camera in the ice cave to no avail, as I kept getting lens error. What was happening? My GoPro was in the bus. So, what a great day! However, I figured things out a bit. I got a few pictures of out MARK with a sequences of buttons that almost seems like a gaming code, I can't change the settings or review the photos, which made hunting a challenge. Despite all of these missteps, today was a glorious day. Sure I was stressed about it all and will be until I get back, but I saw the Glacier Lagoon again as it was moving, I found "diamonds" at Diamond Beach as you can see the crystal clear chunks of the glacier on a black sand beach. I walked on a glacier and ended up in an ice cave and while my camera may not have captured it all, my mind did and that's what's important. When I got to the new hotel, I was able to sneak out and catch the aurora at its peak for the night (at least until this moment) and before all the clouds rolled in. While it wasn't a clear night, there are those who came for a week or more and didn't see the aurora. For those planning on coming to Iceland, don't just make it about the hunt to find the aurora. It's no guarantee. Actually, out of all the times I've been hunting, I've seen it half the times I've looked. So while it may not have been as glorious as I hoped, I still treasure this moment of capturing the aurora. I sat here in this quiet part of town, void of most light pollution and enjoyed looking up into the sky, searching for something special. I saw the aurora and even if I didn't, the shooting stars, the stars and all the amazing things that surrounded me in this utterly tranquil moment was the greatest catch I had all trip. I'm going to miss Iceland, not for the rain and wind that pelted me with stones, but because of the wonderful people and the beauty of nature that surrounds you around every corner. Iceland is much more than the aurora, I just hope that when you visit, you can see exactly what I am talking about, aurora or not.