All good things...

So, a quarter of a year has flown by and I have officially left the Iceland bubble! Apologies in advance for the more serious tone of this post, it's a time for reflection and all...

Those final weeks were a little scary, as the end was in sight and the real world, along with all of its decisions, choices and responsibilities, was looming ever closer. We all had something to face up to, whether it was job hunting, going to university, or moving to a new city. Conveniently, or not depending on how you look at it, our penultimate week was spent in Skaftafell, where we had internet access again after almost a month of blissful ignorance in remote locations such as Thorsmork, Landmannalaugar and Nyidalur. I must admit that I found it hard at times to cope with working out in the national park all day, pulling up lupin and fixing blocked drains, and then coming back to the hut in the evenings to emails from friends making arrangements to meet up once I got home. It was like trying to exist in two universes at once. My head didn't know where it wanted to be and so I was glad to escape to Eldgja for the final week.

We had a wonderful time in Eldgja (a massive fissure that was formed in AD934, in the highlands between Landmannalaugar and Laki) working with two rangers, building wooden steps in glorious weather. We also did a lot of hiking and spent a night at a fishing hut in the middle of nowhere. It was really quite special and I think that Eldgja and the surrounding area is one of Iceland's hidden gems. Countless people stop for an hour on the bus to Landmannalaugar and take a walk to the waterfall Ofaerufoss, which is beautiful, but then they miss out on experiences such as the views from the top of Gjatindur or Sveinstindur, both short climbs that we did after work. We had a clear sky on both evenings and could see an incredible distance, as far as Myrdallsjokull to the south, Laki to the east, Vatnajokull to the north-east, Hofsjokull to the north and Hekla to the west. That's a pretty huge chunk of Iceland. I remember Carmel sitting on one of the summits and saying something along the lines of, "whenever I feel stressed during the coming weeks back home, I will close my eyes and try and come back to this place." I do find it comforting to know that Iceland, and those special places, will always be there to escape to, now that I know they are there.

Eldgja

Arriving back in London, the first thing I noticed was how well dressed people were. I found myself strangely attached to my hiking boots and fleeces. A week later I am still trying to wean myself back into trainers (my poor ankles are unsupported and have a mind of their own!) and you can forget about high heels. My make up bag sits there untouched and I have thrown away or donated countless possessions that I didn't miss and don't need. And having got used to only spending money at a petrol station shop once a week, I haven't been tempted to buy things just for the sake of buying them, which is so easy to do at home with online shopping and 24 hour supermarkets and 'convenience stores' everywhere. Convenient for whom? I have definitely come back with a fresh perspective on what is really important in life and I hope it stays with me as I venture back out into the big wide world.

A final thought: I am so proud to have been a part of the Wilderness Management team - it was a privilege to have spent time with such an easygoing, mature group of people who were unfailingly tolerant and respectful of each others' likes, dislikes, moods and habits. Holiday week, when nine of us hired a van and hit the road with only a vague plan of where to go, was a case in point: there was no tension, no arguments over what to do and when, just a couple of guidebooks and a relaxed attitude. When we were hungry, we stopped to eat, when we were tired, we found a place to camp, taking a vote on whether to wild camp or find a campsite. Sometimes we did group walks, sometimes people went off on their own, no problem. Some drove, some navigated, some sorted out hostels, some cooked, some washed up. It sounds so simple, and for once it actually was. So, thanks to all of you, and to everyone else I worked with, for such a great summer. See you all again next year...?