Mountain Esjan, over looking Reykjavik. Ever since I’ve seen it I wanted to climb it, to look at Reykjavik, the ocean and the course of the sun from the top. I get off the bus and take the wrong path. I realize there’s a high barbed wire fence that prevents me from climbing the mountain. I’m alone in the field and don’t feel like cutting myself or get into trouble. I walk along the fence a few kilometers; the sun is out, beautiful day and no one around, just two farm houses. Then she arrives, coming slowly towards me from the farm house. She slows down, a bit hesitating and I know she means well. I sit down and wait for her, we kiss and become friends.
She takes me for a walk, just me and her, my new best friend and guide to mount Esjan. It’s clear she knows the area very well. I let her lead and remove any wishes or directions on my part. I stop as she plays with a little mouse, and wait for her as she swims in the little pool trying to catch the duck. We share my lunch, the dried fish. After an hour I tell her I want to climb the mountain. She leads me along the fence until we get to the almost hidden open cut, she crosses and I follow immediately. She leads happily as we climb together. It’s a very steep climb on a mixture of gravel, sand and stones. We breathe heavily but continue enthusiastically, both of us on four. At maybe 300 meters it gets too scary and there’s a real cozy point to park. We lie there together for a few hours, amused by the hundreds of curious seagulls hovering around us, the sun and the view.
In the evening we climb down. On the way to the bus station I thank her and try to say goodbye. She insists on coming with me and I’m worried, don’t want her to get too far from home. She insists. We arrive; I put down my bag and sit down. When I turn to say goodbye again she’s gone.