Bridges on a Odd Shot Monday

As my regular visitors are well informed about, I spent some days on Flem Island a week ago. The arrival to "Eidet" and our good friends Asbjørn and Anne Katharina (their house can be seen upper right if you click on the photo), has to be done by passing the bridge over "Ullasundet" as seen on the photo above.
The small island behind the bridge is called "Ullaholmen" and is only occupied by "wild" sheep that are living out there the year around.
The second Bridge today is the tiny walking bridge to Ulla Lighthouse on Kvernholmen only a few hundred meters to the west from the first bridge. You may rent the house on the island, and do fishing (granted result) from the shores around. Yesterday I mentioned I planned to visit Kistefos Museum which we did in continuous rainy weather. A fantastic exhibition with 54 oil/tempera paintings by Thore Heramb cannot be recommended high enough. No camera accepted in the gallery, but in the park you may se some fantastic sculptures well fitted for Monday Odd Shots.

The first is Bjarne Melgaard´s "Octopus" from 1997 and the second Petroc Sesti´s "Energy/Matter/Space/Time" from 2006 Turn the next 180 gr around to see the correct versionThere is a bridge at Kistefos Træsliperi too, controlling "Randelva" and the waterfall for the old Pulp mill and the hydroelectric power plant. For more Bridges go to RuneE´s Blogroll and for Odd Shots visit Katneys site

Sunday Gallery visits and something more.

Yesterday the weather changed dramatically within minutes. From 30 C sunshine and almost no clothes to fleece jacket, tropical storm, thunder, lightening and heavy rain making troubles to communication and fires in the city.
The backside of our cottage was almost covered with Flammentanz roses prior to the storm, so I was lucky to catch this photo when the clouds started to gather and became darker. Today the temperature is down to 12 C and we have to make some changes in daily activities. No sun-bathing possible.
Visiting Hadeland Glassverk and Kistefos museum are put on the agenda and we look forward to meet Thore Herambs colorful paintings again.This is called "the Wincdow"Will return with other photos later.
However, I have for some time now promised my wife to present one of Norway´s most spectacular "Landhandleri" (shop) in my blog. I have done it earlier, but when we midsummer this year once more visited Eidsdal on the other side of the Eagle Road from Geiranger, I took the time and shot some photos of this "Brustadbu".From my blog in Norwegian I copy

Her drives ekspeditering på gamlemåten, og regningen settes sammen manuelt av den nå ca. 90 år gamle innehaveren. Butikken har vært i virksomhet fra før 1885 da hans bestefar drev stedet. Deretter var onkelen ansvarlig før han selv tok over. Fortidsminneforeningens avdeling på Sunnmøre i 2002 ga Godt vern-prisen til Tore og Mary Ytterdal for deres arbeid med å holde vedlike landhandelen i Eidsdal. Ekteparet får ros for godt vern av både eksteriør og interiør.

Saturday Urban Life - Postcards from Oslo

With some postcards from summer Oslo I send all the best to every visitors to my blog this Saturday where the temperature now, 10 am, is 26C. The photos are taken yesterday on our city strolling on our queen Sonja´s 71 years birthday. Click on the photos and see H.M. smiling with her Harald.
The first photo of the fountain is taken outside the National Theatre Subway station.
At Eger square the police has a stand to inform about all the pickpockets in the town at present, and make police more visible at Karl Johan street.
At Aker Brygge we had lunch with Rikke at D/S Louise and can recommend the Moule frites (Mussels)
Outside the restaurant peoples are relaxing or taking a beer at Lektern.
Summer is always SALE in our town as all other summer cities. "Stortingsgaten" must be rehabilitated once more and the shops find accurate ways to increase revenue.
On the top of Cafe Christiaia at Folketinget (close to "Løvebakken" and "Grand Hotel") on the way to the subway station at the Parliament it is always time to relax some time with a single beer or glass of white wine before returning to our garden at Solvang.
A warm and lovely weekend to you all wherever you are.

Greetings to GAWO

GAWO made a presentation of "Valdresflya" on her SWF today. That made me no chance but uploading my experience from the same area last Monday when we returned from Geiranger to Oslo.
After the steep (6%) hills from Lom we were met by the high mountains to the west. The mountains are up to 2300 m
Behind "Besshø" we have Norway´s two highest mountains, Glittertind and Galhøpiggen (not seen), and in front to the right Besseggen.
Coming nearer to the top of Valdresflya the mountains are just beautiful.
and if anybody locals know, please give me the name of the summits.
This photo is shot on the top; ab. 1400 meter, before we start on the way down to Beitostølen.
Thank you GAWO for the opportunity to join your visual MC journey.

Friday sunsets

In a district of Norway where it is four seasons during a week and even sometimes during a day, catching the sun when it touch the horizon is really difficult.
However I made some attempts and the result is presented here on my version of the Sky Watch Friday.
First the sunset on the 22nd when the stormy and rainy weather was coming from the southwest at half past eleven that night:Next evening the sun at the Island of Flems a quarter to nine gave us a spectacular view:with sunbeams through the wet clouds far out in the west, but no red colors tonight.
The weather last Friday night was better for colorful sunset:and a cruise liner heading north had a beautiful view at sea
11.40 some clouds covered the sun touching the horizon, but the sunset was paintable.

Photo Safari - Animal connections

Based upon my photos from last week I will present some of the animals and birds we met during our stay at the NorthWest part of Norway.

In Norddal we met Goats and at Flem island we met calves (male and female) and saw lots of birds. I have only a small camera, and am not a bird watcher / catcher. I even do not know the English names of all birds, but nevertheless here are some of my shots during this Photo Safari.
One of the photos are taken on board the ferry from Hellesylt to Geiranger when a man fed the Seagulls with bread.

First photo is two goats measuring strengthand of course Dr. Dyregod had to give the looser some comfortNext day the rumor about Tullen followed her up to Herdalsæter where the goats family wanted to say helloDuring our stay at Sykkylven we only met some cats, but the local citizens gave a warm welcomeArriving Eidet the one year calves was relaxing in the field, but immediately started to dance and wanted to get our attention.
I am nor so fond of animals as my wife, and I think some of them seems already clear for the bullfight in Spain.But as usual Tullen like the close contact.Above the Seagulls secured the area for their small ones and that was the same for the "Tjeld"
The "Hegre" was watching the tide for some food, and at the stone the "Skarv" was resting between their trips to the fishing field away from the shore.
The journey back to Oslo went through the Geiranger Fjord where the Seagulls was fed by passengers and as a special greetings to RuneE I have to end this Safari with "Måser i Masta" onboard the ferry:

ABC Wednesday - X

This must be the most difficult letter in the alphabet.
Of course I can use the
X is for X (=10, as ten years since my combined organ transplantation: TX-cor and TX-renis), or just accept that my body is moving from XL to XXL during the summer beer consumption.
But to fill this week´s requirement for photo coverage, I had to dig deep in my files and the special X-File.

X is for X-file.

First it just appeared. The sound and view of a Space Ship:An intense blitz or explosion was seen above the horizon.
Then an UFO appeared very close to my neighborhood :
And after seconds the Alien show up in a wooden goat.
I have to call Dana Scully.

Tuesday Facts - Norddal, Møre og Romsdal, Norway

Just returned to Oslo after a lovely week in the wonderful Møre og Romsdal at the north west of Norway.
The picture shows the Altar Table of the church of Norddal built in 1782. The Altar dates from the late middle ages (1510-20). The church is an octagonal church with seats for more than 350 persons. The church steeple is build in classic baroque style.
At the churchyard many of the 40 dead from the Tafjord Tragedy April 7. 1934 are buried.
3 mill cubic of the mountain fell down in the fjord creating a tsunami of 64 meters. The people living in the Tafjord fjord knew about the danger, but nothing was done prior tho the tragedy.
These flowers may be in memory to all the victims.Today we face a similar challenge at Åkneset. and the local population are worried but still celebrates the annual market including veteran boat parade.The background picture is taken from the Norddal shore towards Valldal anf Tafjord.