Bømlo, a ruby and emerald island

It took a long time for the spring defeating king Winter this year.
By end of April/beginning of May our beloved princess finally won.



The hiker girls went to visit one of the members' hut (hytte) on this island Bømlo just north of Haugesund. Elbjørg grew up on this farm here, om a small island with no bridge or road over to the main island.
Back then it was hard work on the farm, going by row boat to school, but also lots of precious memories from that close knit community.

Where the old smith house stood, Ebjørg has created a small park.
She's literally cut stone, made stone walls, freighted mold soil and planted.

Liv is thrilled to be back on this paradise on earth.

The hut was set up in 1963 by Elbjørg's husband. Their youngest son has taken over the farm, not to live there, but to have an open house for family and friends.

Sheep from the vicar's farm are keeping the cultivated landscape free from overgrowth. The old barn are not being used for other than storage of sporting equipments.

The barn isn't even painted on all sides. We are walking into the woods to explore Elbjørg's fairytale land.

This shed was kept to boil water for the cattle and clean milking gears.
The roof panes are old raw cut slate plates. This is an 18th century building.

The old, solid made road are now only used by hikers.

Elbjørg left and Torill are thrilled to show us the secrets of the woods.

A wood land full of yellow, smelling primroses, waiting to be picked by old ladies with little girls in their hearts.



Tilly, who also grew up on a farm, 70 years ago, has got that sweet, girlie luck look on her face.

Torill is challenging nature and forces on the edge of a steep cliff.
She's frame by the laces of the not fully sprung trees.

Elbjørg's elder brothers made these table and benches of stone back in another lifetime. The youth used to gather here in the blond nights.

Four lucky ladies with their primrose bouquets. Here was the glen where they once used to dance, helped by a fiddler or an accordeonist.

Elbjørg still is joining a dance group every Wednesday. If you doubleclick, you'll see the happy faces of she and Liv.

As usual on the coast, the weather was changing all day, from wind and gray sky to sun and blue.
Here's a boathouse/ storehouse fro fish and fishing boats. The lift hanging out from the third floor is still in use.

This is how it looks like while resting on the pier belonging to Elbjørg's hut.

Liv is greeting the small crab fishes.

Finally; dinner at the terrace.Menu hot dogs and mashed potatoes, with strawberries and cream for dessert.
God bye to Børøy. Hope we'll see you again soon.

I'm uploading this post now, cause next Tuesday is May 17th. Lots of work to be done before the celebration of the Norwegian Constitution Day.
See you on the 18th.

Visit teach Mary for more Ruby Tuesdays here

April

Rocky waters outside the coastline of Haugesund.
I could hardly hold the camera still, as my squirrel daughter started climbing the stairs in the rough wind.

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now,
It's just a spring clean for the May queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder.

Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.

Jimmy Page and Robert Plant

Visit teach Mary for more Ruby Tuesdays here

April walk in Haugesund

Tonjer Lighthouse can only be reached by boat, and is situated on the south side to guide ships entering the narrow strait leading to the harbor.


The local municipal council has decided that we, the inhabitants of Haugesund, deserve a new walking path along these extraordinary
shores. The beauty of the scenery can be admired and experienced no matter what the weather or the season is like.



The path heads northwards and then west again.
If you are familiar with the four directions of the compass, you easily find your way anywhere in Haugesund.

Serina rarely gets lost. She is a former girl scout and can handle most situations.

Out on the Whale she climbed the stairways up to the beacon light. Far behind the horizon in the west is Scotland and the Shetland Islands.

Turning east on our way home, we spot two church towers in a row.
Nearest, Skaare Church where Serina was confirmed, the green copper tower belongs to the Church of Our Savior, where Gunnar was Christened and confirmed.

Even though it was a cold and windy first Sunday in April, I always connect Pat Boone's sweet voice with this month.


April Love :

April love is for the very young
Every star's a wishing star that shines for you
April love is all the seven wonders
One little kiss can tell you this is true

Sometimes an April day will suddenly bring showers
Rain to grow the flowers for her first bouquet
But April love can slip right through your fingers
So if she's the one, don't let her run away

Sometimes an April day will suddenly bring showers
Rain to grow the flowers for her first bouquet
But April love can slip right through your fingers
So if she's the one, don't let her run away

April love is for the very young
Every star's a wishing star that shines for you
April love is all the seven wonders
One little kiss can tell you this is true

Sometimes an April day will suddenly bring showers
Rain to grow the flowers for her first bouquet
But April love can slip right through your fingers
So if she's the one, don't let her run away

Sometimes an April day will suddenly bring showers
Rain to grow the flowers for her first bouquet
But April love can slip right through your fingers
So if she's the one, don't let her run away.

Ruby March Hikers

Ever seen Sig Hansen in The Deadliest Catch? He's from "our" island, Karmøy, and he's talking the local dialect fluently,even though he himself is born in Seattle. This March day the hiker girls were on a excursion to the most unfriendly, but oh, so impressing parts of the island, called Ferkingstad.
I'm sure you can understand that fishermen coming from these waters are skilled sailors.


Ferkingstad harbor has a long mole to prevent the seahouses and boats
from being blown into the sea when the winter storms are at their worst.

The hiker ladies out to visit the memorial erected by Norwegian/American sailors and fishermen. So many from this island have found a wet grave in American waters.

Torill keeping her balance while shooting. Notice the sky. The weather is changing all the time here on the shore of the island.


Another part of the seaman's memorial. A bell house in the stony landscape. There are two old ship-house sites dated back to the viking area.
The wild landscape is protested from developers.
The big stones have been here since the ice withdrew the end of last Ice Age 10 000 years ago-

The small lighthouse is almost impossible to enter, situated at the utmost edge of the mainland, surrounded by boulders.


Liv is giving it a go.

Tilly is a clever mountain goat as well.

Visit teach Mary for more Ruby Tuesdays here

FEBRUARY ANGEL

Making angels in the snow is perfect exercise for people of 60+. We had a wonderful hike in winter wonderland today. Hikerpal Turid shot this pic of me.

MOUNTAIN FARM

We get to see a lot on our hikes. This mountain farm is still operated, only from a second farm down by sea level.Tractors have made life a lot easier for the farmers. Still they have to fetch water outside and do a little bit of laundry under the open sky as well. The antique sink tub is not for exhibition, but a piece of utility. On the other hand the farmer has installed double glassing!
Homage to Rose. Reflected in the window; an old pit shed where there once was a mica quarry. (We "harvested" quite a lot of mica for our collections)

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

RUBY ISLAND

Our town, Haugesund, is situated at the utmost south-west in Norway, with only a few small islands outside to protect us from the rage of the North Sea.One of these islands, Roevaer, actually is a part of the main city, same mayor, same council e.t.c.

About 100 people have their home here. There's a school, a museum, a couple of painting artists, viking grave sites, a small store and a spa hotel.To keep the small society alive, they are advertising for new inhabitants, preferably with children. Some Dutch people have settle down and are thriving well. Main occupation is fishing combined with minor farming. The men go fishing, their wive tend the handful of sheep and cows. The women are a strong breed. Many a husband have not returned from stormy days at sea. Once 11 men drowned on their way to the mainland (Haugesund)to bury a friend there.
After the last disaster in the 1990ies, a light way was set up to mark all the dangerous under water rocks. The boat trip takes about a quarter of an hour from Haugesund's inner quay. The hiker ladies have been there repeatedly. We enjoy island jumping. These pictures are from early October this year. As you can see there's nothing but the endless sea that meats the eyes. Further west lies Shetland and the North Hebrides. During ww2 brave young men set out in small vessels to join the British Army from places like this.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.

RUBY ROUND VIEW

The inner city of Haugesund is a total disaster. Barrack barons flattening the old buildings for square steel and concrete buildings everywhere.A desert only homeless can thrive in.
The council in some ways compensates by making the rural outskirts of the city inviting and available to young and old. Here; the hut "Round view" with benches and waffle serving on Sundays.
They've made this place a project where young students have practice. There even are a house for rabbits and hens. Wild sheep grass outdoor summer and winter, this way cultivating the landscape. My good hiker friend Liv is riding the newly painted wood horse.
Trees are chopped to logs for both indoor and outdoor fireplaces.The wheel barrows are neatly lined up for the day.
The lavvo is frequently used by kindergarten children. They all have at least one hiker day a week in sun or rain. For a Ruby Tuesdayer its convenient that barns, huts and sheds are commonly painted red all over Norway.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today.