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Mike Morris
John Hobday
Margit Karkela
Lynn Keillor
Alanna Simone Tyler
THE TRIP
April 22-23 - Days 1-2
April 24 - Day 3
April 25 - Day 4
April 26 - Day 5
April 27 - Day 6
April 28 - Day 7
April 29 - Day 8
April 30 - Day 9
May 1 - Day 10
May 2 - Day 11
May 3 - Day 12
May 4 - Day 13
May 5 - Day 14
May 6 - Day 15
May 7 - Day 16
May 8 - Day 17
May 9 - Day 18
May 10 - Day 19
May 11 - Day 20
May 12 - Day 21
May 13 - Day 22
May 14 - Day 23
May 15 - Day 24
May 16 - Day 25
May 17 - Day 26
May 18 - Day 27
May 19 - Day 28
May 20 - Day 29
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Saturday, May 10
Margit Karkela
Today was our first full day in Hønefoss, located in the Ringerike
area. It was a day of site seeing and we quickly learned that this area
of Ringerike has played a large role in many historical events in Norway.
 The
team and all of our hosts met downtown in the morning and were treated
to a tour bus ride of the area. This isn’t your regular tour bus. This
bus is used at my host’s, Øivind Jørgensen, school for training.
We learned in Norway, to drive a tour bus you can not start your training
until age 21. The training takes 19 weeks. However, you can start training
for semi-trailers can start at age 16. You need two years of theoretical
training. At age 18 you can get your regular drivers license and at that
time you can also take a 10 week in an actual semi-trailer.
(Photo right: St. Olav, credited with bringing widespread Christianity
to Norway, was raised in Hole, a small community adjacent to Hønefoss.
After asking God to save him from drowning in the nearby fjord, Olav built
a church here to thank God for saving him. Olav the Holy One later died
in battle at Stiklestad in 1030 and lies buried beneath the cathedral
in Trondheim, Norway.)
Along the drive we learned that many of Norway’s battles have been fought
in the Ringerike area. The area’s prominent church was the sight of a
famous Swedish/Norwegian battle in 1718. The story is that the priest’s
wife, AnnaColbjørnsdatter, greeted the Swedes with food and lots
of alcohol. While the soldiers drank a messenger was sent to the Norwegians
who were able to attack the Swedes at their weakest moment and keep the
Swedes from entering Oslo. (Photo below right: Knut plays folk music
on a natural horn at the opening of an art exhibition at the Hadeland
Glassverk center in Jevnaker.)
 Next
we rode up Dronningveien road and we stopped at Kronprins (the crown prince
view). There we were treated to a great view of the area of Ringerinke.
From that elevation, we had a good view of two of the fjords, Steinsfjorden
and Tyrifjorden. Both were originally connected to the Oslo fjord, but
now are no longer connected. Oslo still has a connection however, most
of the drinking water for Oslo comes from the Tyrifjorden which is over
300 meters deep.
We next headed off to Bønsnes Kirkne. This church was build by
King Olav Haraldson who nearly drown in the Tyrifjorden. During his battle
for his life he prayed to god that if he were saved he would build a church.
He did survive and kept his promise. It is a beautiful stone structure
built around 1100. We also discussed that our very own St. Olaf College
was probably named after King Olav.
We also had a stop at a local farm where our tour guide, Rotarian Carl
August Moen, showed us where many of the most infamous criminals where
hung. The hanging tree, which was used for over 100 years, is almost 500
years old and it is thought that this particular tree was used because
it was so ugly and reflected the ugly crimes. Hangings were eventually
stopped when it was discovered that beheadings were more efficient.
 Next
stop the Hadeland Glassverks. Hadeland Glassverks is known world-wide
and produces some of the finest crystal around. It was the grand opening
for one of the regional artists and we were treated with a show of traditional
Norwegian singing, music and dance. After taking in some of the wonderful
displays and watching some of the artisans make some of the hand-blown
glass, we also had a chance to do a bit more shopping, or as we like to
put it, add to the local economy! (Photo left: Hadeland Glassverk is
Norway's visited by 500,000 people each summer. Visitors can observe skilled
glassblowers, visit special exhibitions, and shop at gift stores and factory
second shops. )
Last main stop for the day was Veien Kulturminnepark. Our host, Rotarian
Einar Throne Holst, told us a bit of the history of the area. There is
so much history in this area. During excavations, they have found Roman
scales, and other objects that are not native to this area. This has lead
many to believe that either Romans may have travelled to this area prior
to the time of the Vikings or people from the area brought this back with
them.
 The
area is also known for its Viking burial grounds. The landscape is dotted
with over 100 mounds where the commoner to the Kings were buried. The
wealthier and more influential individuals were buried with much of their
possessions. It was believed that in your after life you would need all
of your possessions, as a result they have found full ships, house goods,
pets, slaves, money, etc. buried with the kings and others. For historical
purposes this that provided a very good picture of life during the Viking
time. Currently at the site, they are also building a structure that is
based on the findings of a Viking building. They hope to have this completed
in the year 2005.
 Well,
it was a long day, but very educational and interesting. It was a great
start to learn more about our host community and we look forward to our
future days here in Hønefoss. On a side note, our hosts commented
that they learned a lot and enjoyed the day as well. As they say, you
learn something new each day! (Photo above right: Remains of a "longhouse"
found at this site, scientifically dating to the early bronze age settlers
at approximately 200 yrs BC. Being reconstructed with cooperation between
the regional and local government along with private support. Photo left:
Mike's host Margit Henriksen leads a visit to the Ringerike Historical
Museum which tells the story of the priest's wife who managed to distract
invading Swedish soldiers in 1716 by feeding them heartily (including
much alcohol) while a servant summoned the nearby Norwegian troops. In
the battle that followed, 200 Norwegian soldiers successfully fought more
than 600 Swedes, a tactic that eventually led to the withdraw of Swedish
forces from Norway.)
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