Hiking-trip to Eika

It was nice to go for a hike the other day, between all the rain showers we`ve had here lately it was a nice break from all the cycling. It was only an hour or so hiking, but it was fun.

My brother Terje and I.






















My mom found a nice ride :)

Rafting in Valldal

This summer we held a bachelor party for one of my best friends, Syver. We decided to take him rafting, and he was totally unaware what was going on when we woke him up 7am on a Saturday :)

A little later he looked like this:











Getting ready for some action!!!















Here we are all prepared for getting really soaked!











We had many cheers for Syver!











Team Syver











Some random pictures of a random dude challenging the elements...









































We had a great weekend with lots of fun. Oh, and I think the bachelor enjoyed it too :)

My little country (mitt lille land)

A beautiful song that makes even more sense in this difficult time.



My little country, a small place where a handful of peace thrown out among the plains and the sea.
My little country, where high mountains are planted between the house and people and words.
Where silence and dreams grow. As an echo in the barren soil.


My little country, where the sea gently stroking the back, who caress from coast to coast.
My little country, where the stars slip by and become a landscape when it is light, while at night, is pale and silent.

A nation in sorrow

There are no words that can escribe what I feel right now.

Watching the pictures from this link makes me sad, but also gives me comfort and an assurance that the strength in people will prevail over the evil that has happened.

http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article4182489.ece




Til Ungdommen (To The Youth)



Faced by your enemies
On every hand
Battle is menacing,
Now make your stand

Fearful your question,
Defenceless, open
What shall I fight with?
Where is my weapon?

Here is your battle plan,
Here is your shield
Faith in this life of ours,
The common weal

For all our children’s sake,
Save it, defend it,
Pay any price you must,
They shall not end it

Neat stacks of cannon shells,
Row upon row
Death to the life you love,
All that you know

War is contempt for life,
Peace is creation
Death’s march is halted
By determination

We all deserve the world,
Harvest and seed
Hunger and poverty
Are born of greed

Don’t turn your face away
From needs of others
Reach out a helping hand
To all your brothers

Here is our solemn vow,
From land to land
We will protect our world
From tyrants’ hand

Defend the beautiful,
Gentle and innocent
Like any mother would
Care for her infant.

Terror strikes Oslo

When I saw the live recording from the bombing in Oslo it was difficult to understand that something like this could happen in peaceful Norway.
The Norwegian TV-channels broadcasted live from the streets, it looked unreal....
A government building in downtown Oslo severely damaged by a car-bomb, people screaming in pain and fear. Reports came in of casualties.









An hour later the report came of a shooting-incident at Utøya, where the Labour Party held their annual youth camp. At first they reported 9-10 dead.
Then reports came from surviving youths...it was a massacre. One man, disguised as a police officer had shot and massacred innocent youths, not stopping until at least 68 youths were dead.








This quote from one of the survivors of Utøya, Stine Renate Håheim, gives me strength and comfort in this troubled time: "If one man can show so much hate, think how much love we all can show together".

I am thankful that my family are safe and unharmed. My heart ache for those who lost their life because of this tragic cowardly terror-act, and for those who have lost their loved ones.

I pray that they will find strength to make it through this difficult time.

Hemsedal

This weekend I travelled to Hemsedal to go skiing with colleagues from work. It was awesome, but I came home with a couple of bruised ribs and hurt muscles :/

The weather was really good. On Saturday there was a concert by the cafeteria, so we had live entertainment while skiing...really cool. I went to the after-ski, and although the atmosphere was good it was not exactly to my liking.

The drive home was about 5 hours. Bruised ribs and bad road conditions was not an ideal combination to say the least...











More pictures will follow....

Hello/Goodbye

On Thursday I attended a musical held by the students at the local college. They had based it on the music by the Beatles, a band that I really like!

The story was pretty good, the acting and singing was way better than I expected, and the band was really tight and groovy. All in all I had a blast, and it was it was the third sold-out show, so hopefully they can at least cover the costs.

They also had a cafeteria where one could buy all sorts of food and beverages, it really showed that they had put a lof of effort into making it a great experience for the audience :)

They played about 25 songs, and a lot of my favorites; While my guitar gently weeps, Something, Get back, Strawberry fields forever...just to mention some.

"Skinning"

This invention amazes me! Just a thin fabric under the ski, and you can walk uphill without slipping at all.











Do I look like a happy ski-bum or what ?

Vallahornet 0218

I took the day off on Friday. I was getting tired of work, so I decided I wanted to go skiing instead :)











Beautiful view of the surrounding mountains. In the back, Saudehornet (1303m.)











I was on my own, so I had to hold the camera while taking the picture (!) Result...not too good.














Unique wind-measurement device?

What`s not to like

I live in a beautiful area of Norway with great opportunities to go hiking in the mountains, both in the summer and in the winter.
I want to share some of my experiences (when I have remembered to take my camera)

View towards Ørsta. You can see the Ørstafjord and the tallest peak around my hometown Ørsta, Saudehornet (1303m.)












The long ridge in the back is Nivane with Saudehornet to the right. Further to the right is Vassdalstinden.











The tallest peak in this picture is Kolåstinden, a very popular destination for off-piste skiing. There is a small glacier there, so you can go skiing at least until June. In the horizon, you can see towards Ålesund (the biggest city in the region with around 50.000 people).












This is the fantastic view to the east. You can see a tiny glimpse of the Hjørundfjord that runs to Geiranger, a popular tourist-destination (on UNESCO`s World Heritage List).











If you study the area in front of where I`m standing, you can easily see how the snow has been building up. When I came home I was told that some areas where I had been walking, I was standing on nothing but snow (with a vertical drop of hundreds of meter underneath me). I am going back up there later this year to see how it REALLY looks there.
The mountain in the back, Blåtinden, is the neighbouring mountain to Veirahaldet, and is also very popular for opp-piste skiing, but has a steeper drop, avalanches and you need to be quite skilled to go there (I don`t see myself going there in the near future) !












A nice view to the South. Bjørdalen to the right, also with excellent terrain to go skiing, both cross-country and off-piste.












In this picture you can see the ski-lift, and the track I followed up to the summit of Veirahaldet. To the right you can see lake Vatnevatnet, where my dads family-farm was until the mid 50`s and my surname comes from (Vatne).












Here`s another picture with Vatnevatnet, further in the back you can see the Voldafjord. The mountain to the right is Melshornet, between the two neighbouring cities Ørsta and Volda.

So proud

Woke up this morning...decided to go skiing, hoping to reach Veirahaldet (1207 m.).












Despite some issues with the new ski-bindings I did it without too much hassle, and felt very proud of myself :)
The weather was awesome and the sun was shining (hence the weird eyes)..

Melshornet on Boxing Day

I had originally planned on starting early, but I kinda overslept :) It was a cold day, -16 or so, but still it was a nice trip.









































I got home just in time to go to grandma`s surprise Boxing Day dinner-party with lots of family. It was fun too (no pics I`m afraid) !

Christmas Eve 2010 - at my parents house

My mom likes decorations









































What`s cooking? It smells DELICIOUS :)



























My plate (first serving that is (!))












My favorite dessert...cream-porridge with raspberry sauce












My dear family

Christmas Eve 2010 - beautiful and cold outside

View of the Ørsta-fjord











yes..it is that cold here! Temperature has been dropping to -16 so I have not been skiing so far this holiday....

A cozy picture from downtown Ørsta














View of the mountains from my parents driveway

P.O.W.D.E.R.

Oh yes...today it has been snowing like crazy all day, so I just had to go to Bondalseidet! I kinda knew what to expect, but 40-50 cm is a lot in just 12 hours. I thought my skis could handle it, but it was kinda limited experience as they kept steering down in the huge amounts of fresh powder..so I had 3 ugly falls. I landed in soft snow, so I didn`t hurt myself or anything, but on one occasion I had to dig deep for one of my skis :)

I wish I could have a video from today..but I don`t have the equipment to video so....

Tomorrow I have to take a break from skiing, as I have been skiing 3 days in a row. My grandparents have invited me over for sourcream-porridge, one of my favorites..so I couldn`t say no of course! Some of my cousins who are studying in various places are now home for Christmas, so it will be fun to see them there! (Oh, how I envy students for their long vacations!!!!!!).

I have found a couple of "new" bands that I have listened a lot too lately...and I like having music on my ear when I am skiing and exercise in general. If you are interested in expanding your music-library, check out The Low Frequency in Stereo, Kasabian and Muse (the latter is kinda famous already, I know, it just took me a while to find out how good they are :))

December...and it is freeeezing cold....

Brrr...for the past ten days it has been freezing cold here with temperatures as low as -17! It hasn`t snowed in this period, so I hope it will change soon so we get lots of snow for Christmas!







I did go skiing on Saturday and Sunday, and it was a refreshing experience :)
I`ll have to decide whether or not to go tonight, but it is so much fun, so I`ll probably go skiing for an hour or two.

I`m planning on taking a day or two off this coming weekend, so I can make it a "mini-vacation". It has been really hard to get up in the morning and go to work this week. So, hopefully a couple of extra days off will give me some extra energy!
Also, I have to buy Christmas-gifts... I am not looking forward to go shopping!

Happy birthday Neil!

Neil Young, who is my #1 musical inspiration, celebrates his 65th birthday today. When I listen to his newest record it is impossible to tell that is the work of an "old man"!!
Neil Young is a musical chameleon, it is impossible to know what direction he will take next, and I find this to be one of many great attributions to him besides him being a great composer, fantastic guitar, harmonica, pump-organ AND banjo-player..you mention it, he masters it!

Neil Young - Le Noise

It’s fantastic. It’s his best in decades, at least since Ragged Glory, one of my absolute favorites!
Le Noise is solo electric—just Young and his crushing guitar. Crank up the volume!!!

The opening songs, “Walk with Me” and “Sign of Love” are perhaps the record’s least successful, but they are still really good!
“Someone’s Gonna Rescue You”... now the album truly kicks into high gear!
“Angry World”, ambiguous lyrics that are either a howl of frustration or a condemnation of bitterness and cynicism to a brutally heavy riff. It’s awesome!
But then comes “Hitchhiker”... It’s as nakedly personal as anything Young has written since the Ditch Trilogy. The first several verses are straight autobiography, a laundry list of Youngs flaws and other transgressions since his career started in the mid 60`ies.
“Love and War”. In short, it’s exactly the sort of song you’d hope to hear from an elder statesman of rock and roll!
“Peaceful Valley Boulevard” is the most traditional Neil Young-type song on here, about westward expansion.
“Rumblin’” ends proceedings on an ominous note, combining imagery both natural and personal. A fitting song to end a unique album!















Kudos Mr. Young!