Ófeigsfjörður

August 13, 2017

Magnificent isolation.

Lashed year round by wind and rain, the remote fjord Ófeigsfjörður on the Strandir coast of Iceland is as enchanting as it is difficult. Not surprisingly, today the lone farm there is occupied only during Summer and part of Fall.

In the decades past, Ófeigsfjörður was renowned for shark fishing, and for his skill in this métier, the late farmer had earned the sobriquet Hárkarla Pétur (Shark Peter). That title has now been handed down to his grandson, Pétur Guðmundsson, the heir to the farm.

We were welcomed by Pétur and his wife into their home for coffee. Pétur then hopped into his tractor to clear the rocks lining the route behind his farm. He also provided us guidance to what lay ahead. Their dog Æsa followed us all the way.

Our encounters included clear streams, waterfalls, Harlequin Ducks, driftwood washed up from Siberia, and that increasingly precious commodity – quietude. The overcast conditions were a perfect foil to this wistful landscape.

Check out the video short at the end of the post.