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GAZETTE

August 2012

THE ORSEN FARM AT ISFJORDEN

Viks took us on tour of local fjords, rushing waterfalls, mountains, and canyons, one landscape more breathtaking than another, arriving ultimately at our destination -- the Orsen farm at a small town named Isfjorden, which is located on the inland point next to the flower shop town of Aandelsnes on a fjord named Romsdalsfjord.

Karin arranged for us to meet there, at the foot of a mountain, with Liv Aasen (Orsen) who owns the ancestral home of the Orsens but she is not related to Allan. Her ancestors bought the farm from Allan's ancestors in 1874. And then we met Rigmor Malones, who is Allan's closest relative in Norway, and Rigmor's youngest son Frederick.

The seven of us walked single file up a hill (Aas means "hill" and is pronounced like "oas" which rhymes with oats) through long grasses to a clearing that is the original site of the first Orsen home. It sort of put a lump in throats. And then we walked a short distance down the hill to the second site of the Orsen home that is intact along with the barn and outbuildings. It is located at the bottom of a large and looming round-topped mountain which some call Orsen's Mountain. Liv said there is an offer to purchase the farm site and turn it into a museum because it also housed a shoe factory, obviously a novel combination of work.

Then we drove to Cousin Rigmor's home at Isfjorden where she served a sitdown dinner for all of us plus her husband Leif, and it featured a variety of Norwegian food including the familiar lefse! Delicious. She also had "shrimps," meatballs (we think elk), smoked meat (we think reindeer), brown cheese (sweet and good), flat bread, tunnbakels (thin baked cookie bread), dark cake, and coffee. The meal included lots of conversation and I took many photos. It was all good and wonderful.

Also at the table was Maria Hatlen, 86, the gracious widow of Lars, who also happens to be the sister of Martinus Sylte, father of Karin Vik. We visited Maria in her home next door to the home of Rigmor and Leif Malones. By the way, Rigmor and Leif live in the former home of Lars and Maria, which was originally a log home with the walls more than a foot thick, said Leif. Rigmor was related to Lars; Karin was related to Maria. In Norway, things seem to stay in the family.

DRIVING SOUTH

On Tuesday, July 10th, at 8:30 a.m., we left the Fjellstova cabin where we lodged two nights and caught a ferry at Linge at 11 a.m. to begin our southern trek to Tyinholmen to look for Opdahls.

For the next hour we witnessed again the most spectacular scenery that elicited unabashed awe. We found fog at the Geiringer Fjord and yet we experienced the famous fjord from top to bottom and back to the top. Hairpin curves on the very edge of mountain walls indeed made the hair on our arms stand up. Allan, becoming an expert with the 5-speed stick shift, deftly maneuvered the terrain but couldn't quell my oft spilled gasps.

At a mountain top stop called Gatli, it was fun to find a Touch of Bavaria. It's a large ski resort and chalet hotel run by Germans with a German menu. We inhaled the sausage soup and then continued our travel, now driving even higher in the mountains, above the tree line and above the fog, which made everything again new and spectacular. The sky is very blue at the mountain tops above the fog. I was reminded of our helicopter ride in the mountains and glaciers of Alaska. I suggest you can't get much closer to heaven on earth than this.

Click here to continue Feast of Family and Fjords.

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