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ICLD = Iceland journey
Friday October 15, 2021
ICLD day 3B Reykjavik city am, Blue Lagoon aft, Springs list
ICLD = Iceland journey
Friday October 15, 2021 afternoon
Day 3... Afternoon after seeing Reykjavik city downtown. Then head out Hwy 42 west... same road from Keflavek airport coming inland. Hwy 6 south for 5 miles, past the steam plumes coming from the geothermal plant.
The Blue Lagoon, Iceland... may be the best Hot Springs- of all time. Moving The Blue Lagoon to the #1 slot.
No, I am NOT a hot springs groupie, or aficionado.... but... I am a Hot Springs critic!
My Hot Springs ratings would be/ are:...
1. Moved into the #1 slot, THE BLUE LAGOON, Iceland. About 25 miles west from Reykjavik. Same road from Keflavik.
Ride 25 miles from Reykjavik out to The Blue Lagoon. The road goes through the miles of Lava fields covered in light green moss and lichens.
Hwy 43south for 6 miles and pass by the steam plume clouds from the geothermal plant.
Another mile down to the entrance... A path through the walls of Lava rock from previous volcanoes. 
Check in... a modern European architecture lobby... with your wristband for your clothes locker. Shower, then out to The Blue Lagoon...about a 4 acre man made Hot Spring lagoon/ pond/ lake runoff of hot water from the nearby geothermal power station.
And the water is really a light blue... a milky blue shade from the silica white mud that settles on the bottom of the lagoon. Water also has mineral salts and some type of algae.
Steam fog rising up... water about 102*F/ 38*C, chest high,... you wade around and just enjoy. There is white crystal silica paste around edge... this is the silica from the natural spring, you can go over to a stand and get a cup/ plastic shot glass of white crystal silica to spread on your face, crows feet, as a facial massage supplement whole soaking in the springs. ?Is this a great country or what? Wandering around in the Blue Lagoon... enjoying the warm water...
?Is this not the best Hot Spring in the world? !!!
You wander around in the warm 102* water,... the steam fog blocks the sunlight... you run into friends, talk, and enjoy the day... sip some Cav.
About 90 minutes in The Blue Lagoon... and you're not quite ready to get out. Or you wish you could do this a couple times a week.
it's a really goooooood day!
Enjoy... this may be the most wonderful Hot Springs in the world!
Now... my critique of some other Hot Springs...
2. Saratoga, Wyoming City of Saratoga operated. Bath house modern building w/ showers & lockers. 40'X40' concrete walled, fine sand rock floor. There are spots where bubbles percolate up and you can't stand the heat but a few seconds. it's that hot in 3 or 4 places. My guess is 108*... 115*? It's hot! You can't stand on the thermals/ bubbles from the floor. The "Loster Pot" end of the spring is ~120*~
Main pool has a runoff to a 2nd pool, temp is ~100*~ 102*, cooler than the main heat source but tolerable and enjoyable. Then the runoff goes to the 3rd pool,... a 15' rock circle called the Hobos pool. It is on the edge of the North Platt River so you can literally have one foot in a hot springs runoff, and the other foot in the N Platt River.
3. Liard -pronounced "Lee-ard" Hot Springs, Liard River Community, British Columbia on the ALaska Highway between Fort Nelson and Watson Lake. 108* to 126* near the source of the spring. Boardwalk walkways to the spring. Bathhouse, lockers for gear. Oh,... and there may be Bears nearby.
3. Thermopolis, Wyoming, State of Wyoming Hot springs. ... compliments of the Shoshoni Tribe that negotiated the treaty over 100 years ago that provided "a designated Hot Springs will be available to The PUBLIC at NO CHARGE"; Way to go Shoshoni Tribe; THANK YOU!!! Three other springs nearby charged ~$15+~.
4. Thermopolis, Wyoming, Fountain of Youth Hot Springs- private company owned RV camp/ park. IN the hot springs,... listening to Rick and his band... slow danced w/ T-bird while wading IN the hot springs. That was a 1st. really good. Rick was a good guy too!
5. El Centro, Calif, at night in the CA desert, near Holtville, CA... on a visit from Camp Pendleton watched the stars in the black western desert sky. Small tiny pool, more the size of a hot tub ~?12'x12'?~. raw concrete, No lights, flashlight to walk 50 yards to. Great for looking at the western black sky w/ great star gazing. Water was burning hot!
6. Hot Springs, Arkansas Several bathhouses built in the late 1,800s to 1,920s had the look of institutional healing bath springs, indoor swimming pool size- tile walls looked like a 1950s BA hospital. These springs were used as healing facilities as the mineral content of the water supposedly cured some conditions.
7. Radium Hot Springs near Invermere, BC- British Columbia. Beautiful Olympic sized pool facility, outdoor with rock mountain on the side opposite the bathhouse. Chaise lounge and deck chairs, tables on one side for relaxing in the sun... only one thing wrong; the water was not hot. it was luke warm at best. The bathhouse shower water was more hot. This place was a disappointment.
Natures bounty of hot springs is a gift! Thank you for these blessings!
You never drink twice from the same stream.
Just because you wander doesn't mean you're lost.
Uncle Hargus: Last of the Independents
Have Bear,
Will Travel
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