Travel Pivots

I rarely sign up for tours but I saw one for the northern islands of the Faroes and my interest was piqued. As soon as the van picked me up I started to have doubts. I guess I did not process that we would be driving around all day, 9 hours. I like to roam free and be active. I honestly opted for the tour because of my fear of driving through the one lane dark tunnel out on Bordoy. When we got out there, even that, had a stoplight added allowing cars from one side to drive freely and then the other side. The tour was a way for me to make it north without being behind the wheel. Our first stop was Viðareiði, the most northern town in the Faroes and man is that place beautiful. We got back on the van and started heading for lunch when our guide Irdi and I started chatting. I tried to casually ask how long the tour was and sniff out an exit plan without causing a fuss. I came to learn she is a hiking guide (and was the CFO for for one of the major fish companies, for most of her life) and this was a one-off tour she was leading. In conversation, I got my point across and she got the drift - she was cut from the same adventurous cloth. We sat down for fish and chips at noon, the tour was slated until 6pm. After a few bites, Irdi slipped me her phone and quietly said “Here is the bus schedule, there’s a bus stop just down the street, a bus will come in 25 minutes, ride is 1.5 hrs and drops you back in Torshavn”. That was it. I dipped fast and never looked back. One of the best audibles pulled in a while. Shout out to Irdi, we should all sign up for her mountainguides.fo hiking tours!