Kay and Sylvia's Norwegian Adventure 2015: Halsnoy and Uskedalen

Halsnoy and Uskedalen

Another day in 'paradise' - where we have the most beautiful views everywhere we go. When I see the the views our ancestors enjoyed in daily life, it's almost hard to imagine how they could leave their homeland and never return. However, it highlights how difficult the times were to try to make a living and raise a family that they were forced to find a new life in America.

Kjellrun Eik picked us up at Margunn's at 12:30 and drove us to the island of Halsnoy, which is south and west of Rosendal. Kjellrun is married to Harald Arnevik, the son of our hosts, Johannes and Ingebjorg Arnevik. (Harald farms the Saetre farm near Saebovik on Halsnoy.) Grandpa Alfred and Grandma Anna visited them on their trip to Norway in 1962. Mother and Dad visited them in 1970. I visited them in 2001 when I was establishing the student teaching program in Kvinnherad. At that time, Ingebjorg told me, "There have been many relatives who have visited, but no one like Alfred. He spoke the dialect of his Grandmother Madela." She told me what he said in the 1862 dialect of Madela and how they would say the same phrase in the Norwegian language of 'today.' Grandpa made an effort to speak the Norwegian he had learned from his Grandmother throughout his trip to Norway.

Ingebjorg prepared a wonderful meal (middag) with pork roast, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, and potatoes. For dessert we had strawberries (from Sweden!) and ice cream. Then we had a good time talking and sharing. Johannes and Ingebjorg travelled on the Hurtigruten coastal voyage about 10 years ago with some of our other cousins. Johannes showed us the book they purchased about the rich history of Norway throughout every town along the trip. Mother and I hope there is such a book in English! We saw photos of their four daughters and one son and their extended families. In 2001 I visited Marit (oldest daughter of Johannes and Ingebjorg who is a nurse at Haukeland Hospital in Bergen) and her husband, Torstein; their daughter Maria was married in 2013 and there were many wonderful photos of the entire family. They had already explored the almanac and found where I was living in Utah after they received my letter requesting a visit.

After our visit, we had more desserts (see photos below) and coffee/tea including the perfect cake for someone with a 4th of July birthday: a "sponge' cake with strawberries, blueberries, and white icing. Kjellrun drove us to the Eid kirke (on Halsnoy) and then to Uskedal to the home of her parents where we enjoyed more desserts and coffee/tea. (We are definitely 'eating our way' through Norway and enjoying every minute of it!) Her parents, Margaret and Bjorgulv Eik, have the most beautiful rhododendron is an amazing array of colors. We had a great time visiting with the Eiks and with Kjellrun's sister Solbjorg and her husband Atle.

We made a final stop at Donhaug in Uskedalen, the home of Grandpa Alfred's grandfather, Ole, and Ole's brother Abraham. We saw the home of Magrethe Donhaug as the original home is no longer there. Magrethe was no relation to us as her husband's family took the Donhaug name when they bought the farm from Abraham. She was a noted weaver in Norway. Gradnpa and Grandma bought one of Magrethe's remarkable weavings for Mother and Dad. Rick now has M & D's weaving and I have a klukestrand woven by Magrethe. Magrethe used the loom of our Great-Great-Gradmother who was unable to bring her loom on the trip to America. It is now located in a museum in Uskedal along with many other artifacts collected by Magrethe and her husband.

Uskedal kirke, built in 1914

Halsnoy tunnel - 4.1 km in length; note the 8% downhill grade - the tunnel goes beneath the fjord!

view on the island of Halsnoy - often referred to as "the pearl"

Johannes Arnevik, Mother, Ingebjorg Saetre Arnevik (cousin from Grandpa Alfred's Grandmother Madela)

this is an example of why we refer to a 'picture window' - the amazing view from the Arnevik's window

strawberries from Sweden (!) and ice cream

Middag at the Arnevik's

potato cakes, Vestland's lefse, potato lefse

cheesecake

this is the ultimate dessert for someone with a 4th of July birthday!

view from the Arnevik's window showing the baling of hay by their son, Harald, and the Eid kirke in the distance

view from the Eid kirke to the Hardangerfjorden, which is seen in the distance from the Arnevik's window

Eid kirke on Halsnoy

desserts at the home of Margaret and Bjorgulv Johan Eik who live in Uskedal; they are the parents of Kjellrun Eik,
the wife of Harald Arnevik and our excellent chauffeur from Rosendal to Halsnoy and back