OSAmag80

My first excursion to Norway was prompted by my sister,
Bethan deciding she was going there to look for a new venture
abroad. From living in the district of Jesmond, a more affluent
area of Newcastle upon Tyne in those days and working in the
Teaching Profession in the new town of Killingworth, it was
an easy crossing embarking on the 'Leda' from Tyne
Commissioners Quay. So I followed her route by boat to
Bergen at Easter 1971 for my first visit in the snow and ice
and had my first taste of this Scandinavian country. Three
years later after an initial taste I returned again in the summer
of 1974. This time, my sister and I had a plan to travel in an
Austin 1300, to once again take the same crossing to Bergen
across the North Sea, but this time to drive to the North
Cape, the most northerly point in Norway, by travelling
hopefully! Travelling the Fjord Coast by using numerous
ferries and moving north to the Svartisen Glacier and passing
the Arctic Circle at 66.5 degrees North we arrived at the
North Cape after motoring for ten days and just under 2000
miles, were all part of the experience.
Forty years on, no longer is it possible to take the ferry from
Newcastle on Tyne any more as it has not been available for a
number of years. The chosen route was the Channel Tunnel
and travel through France, Belgium, Netherlands and to
Germany on the first day for a weekend sojourn in Eime, near
Hanover. After the short stay, the route was now north to
Hamburg and skirting Lubeck, a delightful city, before pulling
up for the crossing to Denmark, from Puttgarden to
Rodbyhavn. There was a twenty minute wait and a forty five
minute crossing which made it a very efficient crossing from
Fehmarn to the island of Lolland in Denmark, probably the
most efficient and shortest link from Germany to Denmark's
capital, Copenhagen. However, the journey continued to the
next island, Falster and then across another stretch of water by
bridge to Vordingborg on Sjaelland (Zealand) the main island
of Denmark. Skirting Naestved, the overnight stop was at the
hotel Sorup Herregard, near the hamlet of Vetterslev just off
the main road to Ringsted. The journey was 324 miles.
The next day of the journey included a short visit to Ringsted
and then to Roskilde before a walk through the baroque
gardens and fountains of the Castle (slot) of Fredericksborg
before making for the ferry from Helsingor (Elsinore) in
Denmark and arriving in Halsingborg in Sweden. Again the
ferry crossing with Scandlines was very efficient and one is
also rewarded with a clear view of Hamlet's Cronburg Castle.
Our main route was now the E6 North. One detour was made
T h e O l d S t a t i o n e r - N o 8 0
NORWAY REVISITED 40 YEARS ON
to the coast to see the town of Halmstad. The E6 eventually
brings one to Goteborg (Gothenburg), the second city of
Sweden, a journey of 242 miles if you ever consider doing the
drive from Central Sjaelland (Zealand). The accommodation
in Goteborg was the Ibis Hotel on a boat on the quayside
which is not far from the City Centre.
Departure next day was 9.00am with a short drive around
town before continuing north on the E6, with a deviation
planned on the E45, following the Gota River upstream to
visit Trollhattan and the Gota Canal, where there are locks
taking the boats up and downstream. Returning by the E44
westwards to the E6, once more the journey continued north
towards Oslo. Staying in the west of town, it was more
convenient to take the tunnels under the Oslo Fjord to reach
the Scandic Hotel on the site of the former airport at Fornebu.
A meal in the centre near Akersgata not far from the Radhaus
(Town Hall) on a balmy evening was a change from the
driving of the last three days. The evening allowed one time
to drive up to Holmenkollen, the site of the Ski Jumping and
the point of celebration of the National Day in Norway. The
views looking over the City and the Oslo Fjord at dusk were
very rewarding as the sun was setting.
Holmenkollen ski slope
We had the best part of two days to take in some of the sights
of the Norwegian capital not seen since my last visit in 1974.
The area of Bygdoy on the edge of the Oslo Fjord is not far
from the centre and is where there are museums of boats.
Thor Heyerdal's Kontiki is housed here with a vast amount of
information and displays of his achievements in his balsa
wood boat and Ra1 and 2. There is a second museum here of
Viking Ships of Oseberg, Gokstad and Tune and the detail
about these boats. The third of the three museums is the story
of the Fram and the achievement of Amundsen being the first
explorer to reach the South Pole who started his explorations
in Northern Canada, then eventually wanting to go the
Antarctic. There is also much on Scott of the Antarctic here
and his very disappointing and sad attempt to be the first to
reach the South Pole, but beaten by Amundsen.
Another interesting visit is to Frogner Park where there is a
vast array of Gustav Vigeland's work, mainly sculptures and
statues. Vigeland lived from 1869-1943 and from the main
gate take a walk up the wide path between the statues and
end up at the centre piece on the lower terrace. Then climb up
the steps to the twenty metre high obelisk, the Monolith
between the 200 figures in bronze, granite and cast iron,
depicting every emotion of humanity with the 'The Angry
Child' being a popular photograph! Gustav Vigeland started
his work as a wood carver but fell under the spell of Rodin and
switched to stone, iron and bronze, starting work in the Park
in 1924. and continuing till his death.
During this visit there was an opportunity to go into the
centre of Oslo, entering in front of the Palace and parking in
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