Photo on Sunday 2014-5

It was difficult to find the photo of this week. Yes, I had so many nice photos, but I had already shown you several of them! But, I found this photo that I really liked. It was taken during the first walk to Visnes and from inside the copper melting barn. I can just imagine what that same view must be like in the height of summer with the sun setting! I hope I get to see it some time. And if I do, I will take my camera along!!

Avaldsnes

Avaldsnes Church

The main road on the island of Karmøy is called the 47. A poetic name I think. A name to ponder about. Anyway, when you come from the North, the second roundabout will give you four options. The first one is going back to where you came from. The second is going straight ahead towards Kopervik and Skudenes. Your third choice could be turning right towards Visnes (which we did on Monday and Tuesday) and your last choice is a left turn towards Avaldsnes.

The boathouse. Named thus because boats were built here!
I think. If I remember correctly...

Avaldsnes is actually the first royal seat of Norway, but to be honest, it doesn't really advertise the fact. You may have heard about Harald Fairhair (I posted about him here), and apparently he and his fellow Vikings set up home on the island of Bukkøy, just of the main island. It is situated in the middle of the Sound of Karm and it was a great spot to control all traffic coming through. 

Pithouses. A small house built over a pit. Used for home industry, not home living.

The walk I did yesterday was nowhere near as challenging. The path is gravel all the way, the Viking village was closed, although not too hard to enter since quite a lot of fencing was severely damaged during the storms in December and January. But, being a good girl, I stayed outside the fence. I am like that. I wouldn't want anybody to come into my house, just because the door wasn't locked!

View to Karmøy-bridge which connects the mainland with the island.
See the bus?

And there were still many fine photos to be taken, especially since the weather was even better than yesterday. The sun even made an appearance, although please don't read that aloud. It might get scared of and stay away for long! I think I will have to go back there many times though, since the path is just perfect to be training on: gravel and quite steep. The day I will manage to get up in one go and without losing my breath will be good.

As you may have guessed, this is pre-posted, since I will be working the rest of the week, all the way up to Sunday. So, there will not be too much chance to go walking again. Although, there is, but then there are the Olympics. And I want to see the Olympics as well!

Visnes 2

Going on hikes or walks in the area with somebody who actual knows the area is great. My friend was able to give me lots of information about the place. Which I like, because I am one of those people who like history. 

Visnes was at some point in history bigger than Haugesund. Three thousand people lived in Visnes, double as many as in Haugesund. That has since changed very much and today there is a small village only. But the reason it was so much bigger was the copper mine. The mine needed people to work in it, so the place grew. 

The mine is now closed, but there are quite a few reminders of the past. Yesterday I showed you the melting barn. A huge structure now in the process of being partially renovated. There is still a museum (open during the summer only) and you can still see some of the machines used and a pit. 

The people who worked there needed to have somewhere to spend their free time. So, the surrounding area was turned into gardens. There were horse riding trails and just basically a lovely area to spend your time. The miners and their families were only partly allowed to use it. Mostly it was used by the owners and their friends. 

You live over that way! See!!

Nowadays it's open to the public. I certainly felt a lot more important after having been there!

Visnes 1

Since I only had to work until midday today, I thought it would be a good idea to say yes to the invitation of my friend to go for a walk in Visnes, which is quite close to where I live. Now, this is the same friend who invited me to Preikestolen last July, so I think I should have known some of what was probably about to come. I think I might be too optimistic at times!

The German occupation built lots of bunkers and other concrete thingies

Anyway, it started off fine: the rain stopped just as I was picking her up and we drove for about two kilometers to where we would start. The path was good (tarmac) and then even better (gravel). We saw lots of trees that had gone down in the storms we have had lately and the path was great. 

The copper melting barn. Now being partially restored

We then got off the path and went down a route with a lot of water and eventually rocks. And as you know: rocks are my favourite while walking!! Anyway, some great views, some great routes and yes, a great work-out! 

Of course, none of my hikes would be complete without a fall. Since the path was on occasion a pond, we had to skirt around a couple of times. Until there was a real pond (or stream, water anyway) and instead of skirting around, we had to use the bridge. Now, did I tell you already that wet paths can be slippery? So, as I tried to put my right foot on the bridge, my left foot went skidding underneath the bridge and I managed (just) to fling myself onto the bridge. And yes, I do now have a lovely bruise on my left leg. Ah well, that's life!

Photo on Sunday 2013-21

Did you know about how the Lamborghini cars came into being? No? I will tell you then...

Mr Lamborghini was an Italian who had made his fortune making and selling tractors. But just having a fortune and not being able to show it off, was not in his nature. So, he went to Mr Ferrari and told him he wanted a car. A nice car! Mr Ferrari was obliging and soon the deal was done. Mr Lamborghini drove a lovely Ferrari home. Very soon however, the car developed problems. And more problems. In the end Mr Lamborghini was so fed up with all those problems he vowed he could make a better car. 

I don't know whether a Lamborghini or a Ferrari is the better car. I doubt they come in shocking pink and I loose all interest then. However, the photo at the top is a Lamborghini tractor. The fortune-maker!

Fresh air

Now, you know I live in a cottage in the Norwegian countryside. I have shown you photos of said cottage, both inside and outside and even showed you my garden! I haven't however, shown you anything else. Nothing from the neighbourhood. And the reason is that I hadn't seen anything of it! Of course that isn't quite true, since I do drive to and from work and even on the job I drive past my home on occasion. But unless there are cows in the road and I manage to grab my camera, I haven't taken any photographs. 

Yesterday I was feeling a bit ucky and decided fresh air was needed. I donned my walking shoes and a coat, grabbed my camera and headed out. And here are some of the photos I took. Let's start with the top one shall we? This is the road I drive to work every day. It's 3,5 meters wide (about 12 feet) and it's not very busy. The second photo is of a little house that my sister might actually recognise. It was the one I pointed out as 'would like to live there if only there were glass in the windows and good insulation'. It is one of several empty and decaying houses in the neighbourhood. 

The third and fourth photo are of Torvastad Church and part of its cemetery. I have not yet visited the church, although I do believe it has regular Sunday services. The cemetery is massive. Especially considering the fact that there are not that many people living in the area. It did look lovely and peaceful though and I wouldn't mind spending eternity there. Once I am dead that is of course. Which I hope will not happen for a good many years to come!!

The last photo is of another small dwelling that has been left to its own devices. I was able to look inside and there were upturned beds, an old sink, paint pots and lots of other junk. It is such a shame and I wouldn't mind owning that little one. I would turn it into a small guest home for friends and family I think. I can just picture it in my head. I wonder what I would have to do to get that done??

I took lots more photos and will be posting them over the coming few days. I will also be making my way outside a bit more often. And of course I will bring my camera with me!!!

'Abundance'

This one had me stumped for quite a while. It bugged me before going to sleep and while I was at work, but I do think I finally found a photo that shows abundance. To some degree anyway!

The photo was taken in Skudenes a few weeks ago and shows a so-called antiques shop's wares. Basically a lot of old junk that was sold, but since I love looking at old junk, it was fantastic for me!

This is my 58th entry for Photo Theme on Thursday. Why not join?

Photo on Sunday 2013-15

Last week we were in Skudenes (me and the parentals) and one of the many lovely sights we saw was this bow head. Fixed to the rock! I wonder whether that piece of rock will ever sail somewhere? 

Anyway, she was taken from a sailing ship called Concordi and placed here in 1925!

'Machines'

After a little lull I thought to get back to Photo Theme for Thursday. This week's theme is machines and I had to look in my archive a bit. However, the last set of photos I took last week when my parents were here, showed that I didn't have to look very far. I give you: a barometer!

Barometers were used to help predict the weather. It uses the air pressure and can then help you determine whether the weather will be nice or rainy or what. This one was hanging on an outside wall in Skudenes. And if ustadigt means unsteady weather I don't think this barometer is a good one. Since the weather was lovely the whole weekend!

Anyway, this is my 57th entry for Photo Theme for Thursday. Why not join?

Last day

 

Yesterday was the last day my parents were here and the weather was beautiful. So, we decided we would go and visit Skudenes on the southern-most tip of the island of Karmøy where I live. Because there was a festival going on there, we didn't really think the car would be a good idea, so we took the bus. Giving my parents the time to enjoy the surroundings and the smell of stale alcohol (the men sitting behind them).

Skudenes was filled with market stalls, big and small boats and a lot of people. After we had strolled through that part, entering every single antiques shop (and I use that term quite loosely), we sat down to enjoy some waffles, fish soup and bacalao. The last one is not native to Norway, hailing from the Mediterranean, but I like it. And so did my dad when he tasted it. 

After the sit-down we strolled a bit further, this time through the old 'town'. And a lovely quaint part of town that was! With more antique shops, so me and my mother were happy. There were lovely houses, lovely gardens and lovely other things as well. We made our way to the view point which gave us a lovely view over both Skudenes and the North Sea. And then we walked down to the quay where a bus was waiting already that could take us home again. 

A lovely day!