Hvítserkur, the troll of Vatsnes by Gerry van Roosmalen

About "Hvítserkur, the troll of Vatsnes"

by Gerry van Roosmalen

About the artwork

The many water-filled potholes, or rather mud-filled potholes, are the first obstacle to getting to the troll rock Hvítserkur. Despite maneuvering carefully between the potholes, there is no way to avoid covering the car up to the roof with the orange mud. The windshield wipers work overtime and nothing can be seen through the side windows.
The last part of the road dives down steeply, not very steep, but enough to be thankful we are driving a 4x4 car. From the parking lot I have two options. One is the safe but longer walk down, the other is the short but almost perpendicular walk to the beach about twenty feet below. A beach that almost disappears completely at high tide, but at low tide conjures up the most fantastic patterns in the sand.
I choose the second variant, if only because from the beginning of the steep part you have a nice view of the dinosaur rock. The rock that folklore says was a troll of the Vatnsnes peninsula. Trolls are terrified of Christianity, and this troll was determined to destroy the bells of the monastery þingeyraklaustur. In all his rage to destroy the bells, the troll noticed too late that the sun was about to rise. The troll tried to find a safe haven, but was transformed into stone by the first rays of the sun.
Meanwhile, I am standing at the foot of Hvítserkur and enjoy this 15 meter high rock that today, in combination with the setting sun, offers a beautiful spectacle.