Warm summer memories from Norway
My regular readers know I am on Lifecruiser Cyber Cruise for the time being (see links below). Today’s challenge for the A-Team Cruisers is to put up a memorable photo from a place we have strong memories of. It’s hard to choose, but since my blog is about Norway, our culture, traditions and habits and also the significant four seasons, I’ll take one from a summer holiday at a cottage by the North Sea:
This is from the stairs of a cottage we rented at Risør (200 km south of Oslo) at the beginning of august 2003. We’d heard from the local fishermen that mackerel had invaded the fjord and of course we had to try our luck at fishing. We used fishing equipment called a ‘harpe’ with 6 hooks in a row and there were three of us fishing with these at the time. In less than an hour we had around 30 fish (mackerel, cod and coalfish). Sometimes we got 4 or 5 fishes on each harpe and your might say it was very lively in the small rowboat. At one point my wife said: ‘If any more fish want to come in this boat, they will have to take a number!’
In the last post, I told you about the Norwegian tradition of going to the mountains at Easter to enjoy the last of the ski season. In the summer time, most Norwegian families travel to the shore of our extremely long coastline, to enjoy the beaches, boating and the summer sun. Many families have or rent simple cottages near the ocean to spend their vacation.
This kind of experiences really takes me down the memory line. I’ve been boating (I build my own small sailing boat when I was 10) and fishing since I was a little boy and made my own equipment, experimented with hooks and bait both for salt and fresh water fishing. Very soon I learned to clean the fish (feeling like a surgeon) and often we built a bonfire on the shore to grill the fish.
The areas around the cottages are usually quite private, so it is not unusual to simply go skinny dipping. It saves us the trouble of changing, and why fuss with all those wet bathing suits anyway:-) But you have to watch out when you are doing your skinny dipping, as you can see above, fish isn’t the only thing to be caught in these waters!! Fortunately this fellow is rather shy around swimmers.
Happy Easter!
Wow! Great fishrmen here!
What a wonderful lifestyle you lead in Norway. It sounds so idyllic and connected to sea and earth.
Catching all those wonderful fish and those wonderful little holiday cottages reminded me of my childhood in the South of New Zealand.
Private, peaceful seaside havens are such a luxury in today’s world.
Just found your blog good stuff!
Nothing better than smoked mackerel, but being a wee bit bias from Loch Fyne here in Scotland.
WOO-HOO! What a catch!
Happy Easter to you and yours, Renny – don´t forget to walk soft and carry a huge carrot!
xoXOxo,
Sanni-Bunny
Sounds like a great time!
It is amazing you built your own little sailboat and much of your own fishing equipment when you ere that young! That’s a LOT of fish for an hour!!! I’m coming over there to fish in the fjords!
I have this weird feeling I’ve been here before… Can’t remember much though (a little too much wine and rum does that too ya).
Do have a comment for Markthough… You really should go skinny dipping in Norway – in July or August, when it’s warm enough. Only thing you need to worry about is the eals. They crawl up the weirdest places.
Wow what a catch!
I wouldn’t go skinny dipping in Norway. The waters are way too freezing! Wait, it’s not as if I wear a sweater and jeans when I go swimming. Well, the waters in Norway are just way too cold. Even in the summer!
Hum…I like to eat fresh fish! I don’t fish! My father practiced the underwater fishing and my husband prefers the fishing rod!
but on the cyber cruise ship I want to learn all the fishing’s technics of the world!
Is it hard to be a vegetarian in Norway?
The article is about women. It’s talking about how men should choose women;) Kinda male-chauvinist. Hehehe. Anyway, thanks for your visit Sir and glad that you are fine.
life in norway is quite idlylic
the one that made me fall in love of your country are both the sea and the mountains.
HAPPY EASTER RENNY
@MrsLifecruiser: Yes, hold on to what you have – the grass isn’t always greener on the other side you know:-)
I should have been fishing more in Vänern!
@Lime: Thanks – and glad I could share those memories with you:-)
@Shionge: No, not cold in the summer times (above 20C – 70F)! and that’s good enough for a Viking you know.
We eat raw fish but then preserved as salted, smoked or fermented (check my posts from December!)
@IrishChurcLady: Yes, the very best and relaxing kind!
@Teena: Sorry to have upset you – it’s a bit colder here in Sweden today if that makes you feel better LoL
@Ginnie: I can’t think of any better, no:-)
@OldOldLady Of The Hills: Check the ‘Cyber Cruise Calendar 2007′ at the end of every post!
Norway has a long cost line and some of the riches fishing waters in the world you know. Our people have lived on fish for thousands of years.
If you come and visit us for dinner we sometimes have chicken too and since married to an American we have turkey on Thanksgiving you know!
Hey Renny…Yes, I do like fish, but not every day! Or even every other day! It seems as if Fish is a staple in the Norwegian diet…At least from the posts I have seen of yours where you have described some special meals…I am not a big meat eater, at all….It is rare that I have Red meat or any meat…I am A Chicken, Turkey and Fish person….but Chicken and Turkey more….as well as Vegetarian meals, too!
This Cruis Ship thing seems to be going on quite a long time…How long will it continue?
It occurred to me Renny, if one did not like fish, you would be in trouble in Norway! (lol)…Well I guess that is true for all the scandanavian country’s, isn’t it?
You all caught a lot of fish! Congratulations!! (lol)
Warm summer memories, indeed, Renny! It doesn’t get much better than swimming and fishing!
Renny … you are making me very angry!!!! You are showing pix of swimmers while we are getting some snow flurries and freezing temperatures!! It’s a good thing you’re my pal
Enjoy!!
Great fishing story and a pic to prove it! I like what your wife said about the fish having to take a number he he ha ha
Looks like a great relaxing vacation! The best kind!
Thanks for your kind comments about my favourite vacation picture!!
Toodles~
Oh Wow! Isn’t it freezing cold to swim Renny? I’m amazed and what a wonderful catch indeed.
When I was in the fishing port (Amsterdam), I saw them eating raw fish (whole) straight after their catch, do you do that too Renny?
Have a wonderful weekend Renny.
oh it all sounds wonderful. fresh caught fish grilled right on shore! yum! and a little dip afterwards…..perfect! no wonder you have such fond memories.
Oooops! I’d better hold on to Mr Lifecruiser…..s! *LMAO*
Very nice memories as it sounds. Vey much like here in Sweden of course.
@Charles: Glad you’ve tried – practice makes perfect:-)
@Melli: Good to know you like fishing too – come to Norway and let’s have fish fun!
Steam him; well we Norwegians might be more barbaric?
@Gattina: Nothing compares with sun rise or set at the ocean you know!
@A Decent Man: I’m fine – thanks!
@Ghee: Glad to have you on baord:)
I feel honored – Everyone go visit and wish her Happy Anniversary!!
@Regina: It’s almost twice that price in Norway ;-(
@TorAa: Thanks for sharing – I have the same lovely memories!
Hope your back gets better soon. Happy Easter to you and Anna too:-)
Catching fish in the sea, lakes and rivers are among my best memories as well. Up before sunrise with my father and grandad. Comming home proud with the catch. Unfortunaly all those pictures are not here…
Great entry.
btw. Har fått noen helt forferdelige ryggsmerter. Sitte gjør vond som f. Gå er nesten umulig… Skulle vært på hytta, men er utsatt… derfor har jeg heller ikke vært på blog i det siste..
… skal gjennom en omfattende sjekk over påske…
Ha en fin påske. hugs fra Anna og meg til dere alle.
How fun! The last time I saw a crab that large, I paid 80 kr for it at the ICA!
woww!!happy faces,with nice catches of fishes!!
and the crab!!i love crabs!! LOL!
i enjoyed to sail with you
btw,your pic is on my blog,Renny,hope you wouldnt mind it.its for my blog anniv entry.
thanx!!regards!!
ghee
Hello Mr Terella, how’re you?
Wow that’s really a big crab. Hehehe
What nice souvenirs ! I saw the sea for the first time in my life when I was 15 ! Bonn is far from the sea and I had to wait until we moved to Belgium. But I will never forget when I looked out of the window during the night and saw the moon shining over the black see !
WHOOO! Looks like you guys REALLY had some fun! I haven’t been fishing in yeeeeeeears! And I love to fish! Can’t believe you BOILED that crab though! no no no… STEAM him! He’s a good size one too!
That is so lovely Renny! I really wanted to try catch some fish. I had my chance of doing it with Odd in Fredrikstad but the only thing I caught was some garbage but no fish