Day 8 - New Wheel Rims - 2nd World War Museum, Førdesfjorden - "bauta" stones - Tysvær Sweaters - "Julekantaten" or Christmas Cantata, Avaldsnes Church, Karmøy - Fri., Dec. 21, 2001 -revised

This photo is actually from the night before. It was noticed that the tires were going flat on the old rims on which the the winter studded tires had been recently mounted. Here Einar changes the tire with Keith & Rotraud helping. New wheel rims are needed.

The next morning, before driving the 30 km (usually a 30 minute drive) to Haugesund to buy new rims, Keith pauses after breakfast to take this photo of the Christmas decorations in the window above the breakfast table. This shape of star is often seen in holiday windows.

On our way to Haugesund, Einar must stop to talk to a fellow about business. While waiting, Keith takes this photo of the southern edges of the community of Grinde with the north end of Fugla Lake showing.

Arriving at the tire shop in Haugesund, the Slogvik car is soon outfitted with attractive new rims, as well as new studded tires. Einar is on the far right, with his relative Alex, part of the tire crew, on the far left. 

The wheel mission accomplished and Peg's shopping finished, we now drive to Fødesfjorden to the seasonally closed "Arquebus Krigshistoriske Museum" (WW II Museum).

Here Einar & Keith stand next to the WW II tank which sits just outside the entrance to the museum. This museum is nationally recognized for displaying life under Nazi occupation

The main mission here this day was to photograph this "bauta" stone. This photo could then be used as an example of how these monument stones are utilized and how a bauta might look at Jakob Slogvik's grave site in California.*

Next to the museum and at the very north end of the fjord was a row of new private homes.  Peg thought the striking colors, which  are so representative of the Norwegian palette for houses, along with their reflection in the water, made an interesting composition for a photo.

A sight we saw many times, but were seldom able to photograph, was children playing in the snow - skiing and sledding. Here Keith spotted some kids on a neighborhood slope but several had left before Keith got into a position to get this picture taken in Frakkagjrerd.

Stopping by the Tysvær municipality maintenance yard, Einar looks over some snow covered "bauta" stones trying to calculate their size and weight. He and Keith continue to scheme on how to get one of these stones to the Slooper grave site in California.*

Our next stop was at this private home in Førland, Tysvær, and Einar goes up the drive to see if anyone is home.  We had been here on our previous trip to purchase sweaters. The lady here has a nice cottage industry of knitting attractive Norwegian style sweaters.

Here sweater maker, Anna Nora Baug, poses in the room of her home devoted to selling her handicraft. Of course we bought several and at a very reasonable price.  We learned later that Anna Nora and Einar were not only long-term friends, but they had been confirmed in the same group.

Looping back to Aksdal before returning home, Einar stops so Keith can try to get a photo of the Helgeland farm just west of Aksdal. The afternoon lighting did not cooperate here, but at least we got one shot that we could send to some folks in England with whom Keith had been corresponding and trying to help learn more of their Norwegian connections.

This night we all drive to the Avaldsnes Church on the north end of the large island of Karmøy south of Haugesund. This Avaldsnes area is known as the oldest "royal seat in Norway." King Harald Fairhair chose Avaldsnes as his main royal estate in about year 870 AD. Much fascinating history here!

St. Olav's Church was built here by King Håkon Håkonson in 1250 AD and is considered "the most important monument to this great period of Norwegian history. At the left rear of this church a tall Viking stone leans near the church wall. Legend has it that when this "Virgin Mary's Sewing Needle" stone touches the wall, the world will end.

Inside this awesome 750 year old church, we are able to take a few photos before the program begins. Here we look toward the front of the Church with its traditionally decorated tree. In addition to being an historical site that is well preserved, this is also an active church for the local community. 

Looking back to the main entrance we see the pipes for the organ and the balcony where the musician are playing a beautiful prelude - or maybe they were just practicing - either way it was most enjoyable.

The wonderful Christmas Cantata was performed by 2 choral groups, "Keryx" and the Avaldsnes Church Choir. They were accompanied by coronets, flute and piano. The spoken parts were eloquently rendered by a woman standing at the pulpit on the right. We took this photo at the end during the standing ovation.

Peg was intrigued by this portrait  in an alcove. We forget the subject of this painting. 

Peg was also interested in the windows. This shot not only shows some interesting lines but indicated the thickness of the walls in this old church.

Peg and Keith pause outside in the freezing cold in front of these copper clad church doors.

As we were leaving, Peg captured this photograph of the interesting side door to this ancient, but still functioning, church.

After the Cantata we go to Haugesund to the home of Andreas Tofte and Margun Salvanes, shown here on the right. This couple and the Slogviks have been long term friends, Andreas designing the Slogvik home.

In this warm and comfortable home, we are treated to the famous hot Christmas drink of gløgg and a nice variety of  cookies.  Conversation evolved to include the strong interests Andreas and Keith share with heart problems and computers.  Andreas has a very fine, impressive drafting and computer room. 

*Please check out our "Slooper Monument Project" page - Our project to obtain some sort of Slooper memorial at the graves of Jacob Anderson Slogvig and his wife Serena Tormodsdatter Madland, Tulocay Cemetery, Napa California - The Sloopers who settled farther west than any of the others on the "Norwegian Mayflower," the Sloop Restoration.

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