I know I’m not half as funny as I think I am. Well, that is until John and I get together. Then Ann says we are a non-stop riot. On my own, I probably fall into that category of dad humor where most people just roll their eyes at me. Sometimes my ideas are just humorously stupid and annoying. I blame it on being a younger brother. Annoying is just something that comes naturally. Especially when it involves my brother.

Early on in our trip to Iceland, I mentioned to Ann how odd it was that we would come across picnic tables in the strangest of places. After laughing about it a few times I came up with a brilliant idea. How about I take photographs of picnic tables in interesting places and WhatsApp them to Len, just to let him keep track of where we were at in Iceland. Not pictures of the beautiful places we’re visiting, just the picnic tables. Thus, the beginning of my brilliant idea starting at Dettifoss.

Lazy person that I was, I never sent out the WhatsApp image. But I kept making them as we rounded the peninsula towards Húsavik.

*Picnic Table, Nor∂austurvegur, Viewpoint at Hringsbjarg*

And as we were leaving Húsavik.

It was odd. I’d see a picnic table and pull off the side of the road to photograph it. Ann would inevitably ask, “Well, have you sent Len any of the pictures yet?” And I’d reply “No. . . .”

That went on for a couple of more days. I then came up with a plan that I’d send him a flood of my artistic “Picnic Table” shots all in rapid succession. Ann agreed that might be the way to catch up on the growing number of pictures I had to send to Len

*Picnic Table, Myvatn Viewpoint by Bjarnaflag Geothermal Power Station*

Then, my dreams of having even a single creative bone in my body came crashing down in Akuryeri. When walking along the fjörd I came across a . . . well, see for yourself.

*A picture of Dan taking a picture of a picture of a picnic table, Akuryeri*

I guess I wasn’t the first one to come up with that idea. I was crushed.

*Dan’s picture of a picture of a Picnic Table, Akureyri*

Thing is, for some reason, I just couldn’t stop. You might say I’m a bit stubborn, others might say too stupid to stop. Who am I to disagree?

*Picnic Table, Siglufjar∂akvegur (Road 76), pull-out overlooking Skagafjör∂ur*

So I kept at it.

*Picnic Table at Minnisvar∂I um, Varmahli∂*

Even driving down F208 in the pouring rain, I had to stop to take a picture of the picnic table sitting in the middle of nowhere (really, there is nothing within 10 miles of this picnic table other than the river and the mountains).

I’d see a picnic table and . . . at the least, pull out my phone. It didn’t matter where I was.

Ann would even occasionally help me, “Hey Dan, here’s a picnic table!” I like to think she wasn’t making fun of me when she’d say that.

And you have to admit, they’re in some rather lovely locations.

But it was a bit odd. Sometimes I’d take a shot of the table, and not even bother walking around it to get a shot of the scenery by itself.

You do have to admit though, what’s wrong with having a picnic table with a view?

*Picnic Table, Holt Rest Stop, Westfjörds*

Even if the “view” is the inside of a long extinct volcanic crater?

*Picnic Table Hólahólar Crater, Snaefellsnes Peninsula*

So call me nuts, but I kept on taking my picnic table shots.

*Picnic Table, Rau∂hóll Parking Area (F575), Snaefellsnes Peninsula*

And as I revisited them for this post, I realized that they pretty much amount to an interesting, albeit odd, tour of Iceland.

A tongue-in-cheek reminder of just how beautiful Iceland is, pretty much everywhere you go.

*Picnic Table, Raudhafell View Point, Eastfjörds*

I wouldn’t call it art. I wasn’t serious enough (meaning careful enough) in my image-making. It was more a grab as you go approach.

*Picnic Table, Rey∂arfjör∂ur, Eastfjörds*

But in the end, it’s a nice documentary record.

But then again, this last shot might have just given me an idea. How about traveling around and putting a red chair in the landscape and then photographing it? Now that’s an artistic concept!

*Picnic Table and red chair, Jökulasá á Brú, northern Iceland*

So Len, this series is for you! Happy New Year Bro!

Iceland - Now for something completely different!

Iceland Trip Part 2 - Beginnings