Iceland

2  degrees max - 4 hours of daylight - now erupting volcanoes........oh yeah!

Odds and ends

I'm running out of things to do to fill the time. This week I got my International Drivers Licence. Not convinced I need it but when I add it to the rapidly growing mountain of paperwork I now have I'm beginning to think I'll need another backpack and possibly a Sherpa to carry it.   I've also stocked up on souvenier badges, magnets and Koalas to give to friends and fellow travellers. I have changed the pick up point for the van from San Francisco to Los Angeles - don't want to miss any of the sights heading north from LA.  52 days till I leave Adelaide :)

Vehicle

After much difficulty trying to overcome the issue of registering & insuring a vehicle to buy in USA as a foreginer I have given up. At great expense I have hired a camper van.  It costs a lot more but has the advantage of 24 hour road service, if the engine blows up or something rotten happens to the workins' then it's not at my expense. Even flat tires and windscreens will be covered. Includes registration and insurance. There is also the added advantage that I wont have to try and sell a vehicle before flying to Iceland...that will be a major pain got rid of.   When you factor in that it is our accommodation as well it comes in at $59 a day for the 2 of us - transport and bed -  then that's not so bad.  It includes 13500 miles free but of course you pay for your petrol (cheaper there than in Oz). Anyway - that's a biggie resolved. The registration / insurance issue is a catch 22 if you buy a vehicle - can't register it unless it's insured - can't get it insured because you are a foreigner and you haven't a fixed address. Also the premiums are huge because you aren't a resident. Lonely Planet suggests the only way around this is to get a friend who is a  US citizen to register and insure it but that's asking a lot. Anyway....happy that this is now resolved.