posted on 25th February 2009 under Nature, Travel Norway, Winter
In the middle of the winter time with temp below freezing and a lot of ice and snow, some might wonder where we store our recreational boats. Well most of them are laid-up in winter storage locations, but some are still at their ordinary jetty. Each day I pass some of them on my way to the office in Oslo. So today I stopped by at Frognerkilen Boat Association’s (founded in 1860) harbour to take some pics so I could share this winter scenery with you (I had my Nokia N82 at hand of course). It’s also a part of my ‘significant four seasons in Norway’ theme, but let me get back to that later. An example first (click all pics to enlarge and enjoy):
As I’ve told you before; We have more snow in the Oslo area then we’ve had for many, many years and from mid Jan. until now we’ve had quite a few periods of cold weather (around -5 to -15C = 23 to 5F) so there is thick layer of ice on the Oslo Fjord. Let me remind you that this is a fjord of the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, so we are talking about real, salt water here. So how can they leave the boats at the regular jetty in that winter conditions? Lets take a look at a picture that might illustrate:
They simply pump water from the bottom of the fjord and lead it to the water surface in pipes. That prevents the water around the boats from freezing. Let me give you a couple of more examples:
I don’t have a boat and I don’t know a lot about this, so I was lucky to meet the Boat Association manger to ask some questions about this phenomena. I love to learn when blogging and share with others you know: He told me the reason why they do this is that it can cost a lot to put the boats in dry storage too and especially the sailing boats where they have to rig down the masts. Besides he said; if you lay-up your boat, it takes a longer time to get it on water when the first opportunity comes along to use you boat some time in April. You might say he was a boat enthusiast
Let me end the story with some information about this harbour close to Oslo (only 15 minutes walk!): They can take boats up to 40 feet and the gates at this floating jetty with outriggers are locked, guarded and provide security service 24 hours. There is access to water and electricity and they provide toilets and showers. Even more (I just love this one!);
Wireless Internet Zone and of course kiosk and cafeteria.
I don’t have pics of all these great services, besides; the wireless zone is hard to capture you know
, but I guess you take my word for it. Let me show you some more pics however, even if the lighting conditions weren’t the best; it was quite cloudy and a bit foggy today:
Then back to
Norway’s significant four seasons; In some months from now, the ice and snow will be gone, we will have wonderful, sunny and warm weather – all you need for enjoyable adventures in a boat on the fjord. Besides; you will have the long summer nights when you can sit on the deck tanning in your bikini with a refreshing margarita until at least 10PM. So do I see you this summer? You can even stay over as they provide parking with full services for motor caravans. Check
their website and don’t panic about the Norwegian language; there is an ‘Info in English’ button to click on!
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posted on 22nd February 2009 under Habits
My regular readers know I call myself a network evangelist and am actively involved in social media and network. I’m also registered at different communities (just check the box on my side bar) – some for fun, some to promote my blog and some just to meet others and make new friends all over the world. One of those I stumbled upon a while ago was: Mel’s SlogBite as his slogan hit me; ‘Meet the BEST before the rest‘. Once I registered (which is very easy!) and looked around, I found a lot of good old friends from Blogsphere too – or Slogesphere as Mel likes to call it
So what is the advantage of SlogBite?
• Specializes in promoting member sites, both on SB and through unique & dynamic widgets
• SB members can, and are encouraged to, join multiple categories for maximum exposure
• SB’s categories are very granular
• SB can create custom categories upon request
• SB accepts both Blogs and Sites
• SB is a growing social network where members are treated like family
• SB’s service is free to members
• SB is quickly becoming a force in the “Slogesphere”
Now I’ve had the honour to be featured at SlogBite. Just click the widget to hop over and see for yourself:
It’s really a privilege to be listed among all these wonderful blogger’s, especially since this is how they introduces my blog:
“
I don’t know about you, but I love to travel. However, I can’t always pick up and actually go to each country that I want to see. So the next best thing is to see that country through the eyes of someone who lives there and loves it there……a private tour guide, so to speak. Well Norway is one of those countries, and I know of no better tour guide than RennyBA. He loves showing off his beloved country, so let’s all take a trip to Norway via RennyBA’s Terella.”
To me it is an encouragement to keep on blogging about Norway and the Nordic countries; our culture, traditions and habits. Thanks to all who follow, read my ramblings and leave their comments so I can learn from your thoughts, reactions and questions!
Since the subject is now social networks and being featured at other sites, it would be neglectful for me not to mention that I was recently interviewed at BlogInterviewer.com. If you would like to drop in and see how the interview went they would be pleased to have you, and so would I of course (just click the widget):
Listen to this article
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posted on 21st February 2009 under Habits
My regular readers know my saying: ‘Blogging connecting People’ and one of my first connections in Blogsphere more than three years ago was Charles; The Queer Chef. When I was a newbie, he was very supportive, guided me into this wonderful social community and introduced me to a lot of other bloggers around the world with whom I’ve made friends. So this is an exceptional post about an extraordinary Birthday Boy. Having hundred of blog friends, I normally don’t do this as it would have filled a blog in itself.
Charles is a young, caring, creative and witty blogger with excellent artistic designer skills. He constantly changes and improves his blog home which always is candy for the eye:
Regards Blogging connecting People, Charles was also the first blog friend I met in real life. It was in Bergen together with his fiancé, Odd. We had a real good chat at the fishing square and I was finally able to express my gratitude for his efforts and excellent work as my blog designer (click the pic to see my post about it!):
Charles is celebrating on his own blog of course.
Go visit and greet this very special blog friend of mine!
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posted on 20th February 2009 under History, Sports, Winter
A new milestone in Ski Sport was made today; The first time ever that women ski jumping has been included in the Ski World Championship in Nordic Events taking place at Liberec, Czech Republic. Lindsey Van from the United States won first place, Ulrike Grässler from Germany won second and Annette Sagen from our own Norway won 3rd. There was 39 competitors drawn from 13 nations, including French 13-year-old Coline Mattel, who recently finished in third place in the World Junior Championships.
Annette Sagen has been one of the forerunners in fighting for the right for women’s competition in ski jump, so we are especially glad that she took a medal in this historic event. Women’s ski jumping is long over due, and it is a shame that the old men in the International committee have kept women out of the sport for so long, arguing that ski jumping is too dangerous for women.
Anne Sagen Flying. Photo: Leonhard Foeger, Reuters/Scanpix
I also hope and believe that an American winner will create a greater international interest so that new women ski jumpers will be recruited and many will follow the Olympic Games next year. See you in Vancouver Feb. 2010, there will be a lot of Norwegian women there too!
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posted on 15th February 2009 under History, Sports, Winter
Norway’s biathlon legend Ole Einar Bjørndalen made winter sports history today as he won World Championship in 12.5 KM Pursuit. This was his 12th world title of his career, besides five Olympic golds, three silver and one bronze and even more; This was his 86th World Cup race. Only the Swedish alpine skier, Ingemar Stenmark has won the same amount of Cup races. However Stenmark retired in the 80s and Bjørndalen has just started his career. Here you see him edging out his Norwegian compatriot Lars Berger yesterday in 10 KM Sprint:
Photo: Heiko Junge / SCANPIX
I know some of my readers aren’t that familiar with Biathlon, and that this might sound a bit like bragging, however in keeping with my theme of Norwegian culture, I can assure you that biathlon, or
Ski Shooting as it is called here is a National interest. Besides, it’s my blog and of course I’ll give it to you with a personal twist:
My regular readers know I met my American wife on the net more than 10 years ago. Of course we exchanged mail before she came over and sometimes I had to tell her about important sports events. At that time I didn’t know it was called biathlon in English, and I described it as ski shooting. Some years later
Diane told me that when I described it to her she had a sort of image of James Bond in one of his films skiing down the alps shooting at the bad guys with an automatic weapon hehehe!! Well just to set the record straight, they do shoot at targets, not at each other!!
Since I write about scandinavia and the nordic countries, I would like to congratulate the Swedish women’s team for their win in the Ski Shooting World Championship today too: Helena Jonsson won the 10 km Pursuit!
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