Following Hópferðir Hjartar HY 840 over Sprengisandur in central Iceland – 24 July 2002 (500-14A)

The route across the central highlands of Iceland via Sprengisandur links the south to the north of Iceland. The terrain is rugged and only passable for a few short weeks in the summer months. The dirt road is renewed at the beginning of the short season and renewed once more before the weather closes in. No facilities exist over the 250 km route other than at Nýidalur where there are three buildings, two accommodation cabins and one toilet/shower cabin. Everyone must bring their own food as no public catering exists over the route. Despite this it is a popular tourist route regularly traversed by the coaches based on 4 x 4 truck chassis. There is a camaraderie between the drivers who stick together over the remote route. Travelling on Kolbeinn Erlendsson's R 364 we can see Hópferðir Hjartar HY 840 up ahead. The latter was already across the river which we had yet to ford. Both have Mercedes-Benz truck based chassis.