Fwd: Trip Log #6: Kristiansund, Norway July 22, 2009

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <JYETKE@aol.com>
Date: Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Subject: Trip Log #6: Kristiansund, Norway July 22, 2009
To: JYETKE@aol.com

 

Forecast: overcast 53F     Sunrise:  5:14am    Sunset:  11:56pm

 

Dear Friends,

 

Norway's western region is laced with breathtaking fjords that cut deeply into the coast.  The channels are lined with fertile farms, and until fairly recently the fjords themselves were the only connection with the outside world for many residents.

 

Built across three linked islands, the charming town of Kristiansund has changed very litle since it was first established. The pier leads into the small town center.  Mountains surround the port.  Known as Norway's dried salted cod capital (klippfisk), the fresh local catch is just as tasty.  Although roads link several of the islands, the northern fjords region is a watery place.  Sundbatene, Kristiansund's municipal ferry system (links the municipality's four main islands), has been operational since 1876. 

 

Today we took an all day tour to Averoy island, the Atlantic Ocean Road, and Haholmen island.  From the town of Kristiansund we took the 20 min. ferry ride across to Averoy island.  They are constructing a tunnel to go there which will open by the end of 2009, at which time they will discontinue the ferry.  About 5500 people live on Averoy, many of whom commute daily to their work in Kristiansund.  The island also has many salmon farms as well as regular land farms.  You will see in one of the photos some white rounded mounds.  These are bales of hay/grass that are covered and just left there to be used during the winter for feed since the ground is all covered with snow.

 

Our first stop was the Kvernes Stave Church built around 1350.  Stave churches are typical to this country - the "staves" being the pillars that are an important part of the construction, as they carry the whole weight of the roof.  This particular stave church is not typical as it has been altered during the centuries.  The state religion in Norway is Lutheran.  In all the churches you will see a ship model hanging from the ceiling.  Being as Norway is a sea-oriented culture historically, this signifies our journey thru life to the hereafter on a ship being driven by and kept safe by God.  Inside this church, the men sat on the right and women on the left.  The new church was constructed next door to the old church. I have included some photos of the new church as well-inside and outside. I especially like the stained glass oval window in the new church above the altar depicting the sea, midnight sun, and seagull.   

 

From here we drove around and over onto Goats Island, where we sailed in a replica Viking ship, like the Saga Siglar, to the small island of Haholmen. (Note that in the photo of Dick next to the captain on the sailing ship, he has his GPS in his hand.)  The old fishing village Haholmen has been a meeting place, home and workplace for fishermen, seamen, traders and travellers formany centuries.  Today, Haholmen is a cosy island with thirty-odd buildings and an idyllic atmosphere.  We watched a film about Ragnar Thorseth's voyages in the three Viking ships he built and saw his old ship that has been reconstructed in a building. We then were treated to a lovely Norwegian buffet lunch.  When walking back to get the boat, we came across Captain Ragnar Thorseth himself.  He was just visiting the island for the day.  He is of course quite a bit older now but very friendly and very nice to chat with.  Twenty five or so years ago one of the voyages he made in his open Viking ship was to the United States, visiting the major east coast cities.  

 

After getting back on the bus, we continued on our drive across the Atlantic Ocean Road which is 8,274 metres lond and was completed in 1989.  Its eight bridges stretch across islands, islets and skerries and are conntected by daring stretches of road solidly anchored to the rock.  It is a beautiful drive along the Atlantic Ocean. 

 

We ended back in Kristiansund by mid afternoon.  It was a beautiful sailaway with many people on their balconies waving as we passed by.

 

On all these cruises, Dick uses his GPS to get fixes and plots them on his World Map on the computer.  So we have a record of our voyage.  I have a Blackberry with the built in GPS and it works really well with Google Maps in always pinpointing exactly where we are!!!  So we each have our "toy".  But, seriously, the technology now a days is awesome!

 

Enjoy!!!

 

Jan and Dick

 

 

 

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