Skjálfandafljót - the shivering bridge Traditional Cache
Skjálfandafljót - the shivering bridge
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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This is a drive by cache for those who happen to pass by ! Take the opportunity and have a look at the construction while at site. People living in the farmhouse nearby are informed about the cache.
The river Skjálfandafljót starts at the glaciers Vatnajökull and Tugnafellsjökull. It is still preserved in its natural shape but plans exist to build hydropower stations along it.
It might just be a question of time before the last major glacier rivers are transformed to artificial lakes like the Tugnaá and the dam project at Kárahnjúkar.
There are three major waterfalls in the river starting with Gjallandi and ending with Goðafoss. In between there is the beautiful small waterfall Aldeyjarfoss embedded in lava artwork.
The more spectacular eastern riverside approach and view of Aldeyjarfoss holds a cache too.
There are three bridges over the river where this is the southernmost. It is a lifeline for the farmers in the area not only since trucks fetching the milk need a connection over the river but also for keeping the Barðardalur valley united.
The maximum permitted load of 12 tons is an obstacle in this respect.
Before the bridge was built a steel rope construction with a seat was used to transport people over the river. It was situated opposite to Lundarbrekka where there used to be four farmhouses active.
Since the river changed its path from year to year this was hard to maintain in operation and when the bridge was built it became redundant.
This is a steel bridge with charm enhancing the character of the valley. In hard wind you can feel it is shivering and swaying but also if you stand on it when a car is driving on it. By the way, Skjálfandi actually means shivering in Icelandic !
PLEASE NOTE !
EVEN IF THIS IS A F MARKED TRACK IT IS POSSIBLE TO DRIVE HERE AT ALL SNOW FREE TIMES WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A 4X4 VEHICLE. THE MOUNTAIN TRACKS START AFTER THE FARM MÝRI ON THE WESTERN RIVERSIDE AND SVARTÁRKOT ON THE EASTERN SIDE.
To honor this nice piece of engineering art a cache has been put on it. It is a small PET tube holding only a RITR log strip.
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN PEN !! Photo logs are not accepted under normal conditions.
BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN APPROACHING THE CACHE !!!
The cache itself is not intended for trading items due to its size.
For the cache to survive you are requested to put it back in exactly the same way again, tightly squeezed but do not break it. Weather conditions are harsh here !
Happy hunting !
Ingabo & Heimdall
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
CRG ghor fdhrrmrq orgjrra zrzoref bs gur zrgny pbafgehpgvba.