Norway - Gusse

Leaving Malmo on a beautiful day!

Our flight was good and coming into Kristiansand was beautiful you could already see some of the waterways, green pastures and green bush, with red, white and mustard coloured houses scattered about the river edges and in the hills.  From Kristiansand airport, we had to high tail it into the city to met the train to carry on to Storekvina.  We only had 30 mins, we caught a taxi and paid through the nose for it – but as we stepped on the train they closed the door behind us, so we were lucky.  The train ride was good and the 2 hours passed quickly.

Lill our helpx host met us at the station and took us back to the farm at Gusse, near to Kvinesdal.  Everything was painted either white or red; the main house and little cabin were white and all the farm buildings were red.  We were shown to our room and around the bottom floor of the house.  There was another helpx there from UK, Harriet, she turned out to be a great help to us settling in.

The next morning we were out and about by 8am, feeding hens, ducks, geese, turkeys, chicks, peacocks, and trying to control the uncontrollable sheep that kept jumping over fences.  Murray started to reclad the cabin. The farm was spread out a little and had a boundary right on the fjord.  That afternoon after all the jobs were done, we three helpxes and the two dogs headed off for a walk, it was not a track so we did a bit of bush bashing and made it to the top, to find a fantastic view over the rocks, and nearby bush/farmland.  We headed back down a little and then eventually came back out onto the road and walked back up the hill and then down to the farm.  On the way we saw a snake – not a poisonous one, but a snake none the less.

Box of 40 chickens

The naughty sheep who jumps every fence.

Murray being a softie and carrying Tuva,
who has legs about four inches above the ground up the steep rocks
and through the dense scrub

The view from the top

A moss filled river

we came down here somewhere

our friendly snake

little beauties

Our days were filled with farmyard duties, carpentry and painting and of course dodging the rain. We both got to go out and see the llamas and their sheep which were away from the house.  It rained 12 out of the 14 we were there – not constantly but every day.

Tina our hosts daughter kindly took us on a bush walk to the lookout over the fjord.  It was simply beautiful, you could see right out into the Atlantic and back in towards Kvinesdal.  The sides of the fjord were shear rock face and every now and again there would be a hut or boat shed or maybe even a small beach. There was some bush on the rocks as well.  It was very deep looking and was dark blue in color.  The vegetation on our way up to the lookout was really great, green, health y looking bush and when we got to the top there was lots of mosses and lichens.

Looking up the fjord

Tina, Harriet and Murray with the Fjord

another glimpse of the Fjord
and the only bridge that crosses it.

Pretty little riverside village

nice sunset

The llama

The next outing was with Kai, Lill and Tina.  It was a Saturday night and they decided to take us out crab collecting in the fjord.  We had dinner and headed down to the water about 11pm ish, got the boat and Murray and I went with Kai and Lill while the others stayed at the fire on the beach.  We looked for ages before catching a glimpse of them a couple of metres under the waterline – too far away to reach.  The idea is that around 12pm they come out and climb to the rocks on the waters edge to feed on the barnacle looking things at the water level.  We tried several different spots along the fjord, before turning back with our tails between our legs.   We weren’t so lucky maybe because it had been raining so much and the water was actually quite muddy or maybe we were too early, either way there didn’t seem to be many even down at 2m.  Never mind it was nice to sit on the beach with a fire and a beer.  The others went out on their way to take the boat back but didn’t find any either.

Another afternoon we went for a walk to a cave on top of a hill were a witch used to live.  She was the last surviving witch in Norway.  Her cave was in the rocks and apparently was huge.  She was well known for providing people with magic potions to make then well.  -  So she was a good witch!

the witches cave

on the ay back down from the witches cave

Ship cat, with an extra two claws on its 'thumb'
 - apparently they come in handy when on boat for balance.

Ghost ship, started by a Russian and then left to rust.

another nice spot

cool house

the main house

the little cabin that Murray worked on

Morning........

these ones were so silky to touch

A mixture of colors

little duck getting a telling off

The morning before Harriet left, we three all got up and borrowed the work van and went moose hunting – well not hunting exactly more looking!  And looking is about all we did.  We drove t o a spot were a cow and calf had been seen only a few days before, and along a bit further and to another spot as well but no one poked their heads out.  We did see plenty of deer, they seemed to be everywhere.    We went back for breakfast with long faces and got on with our daily jobs.  That night Kai and Lill took us moose looking again and after about 30 mins of driving there she was!  A medium size moose, a wee way away, but she did walk a little closer, Kai was moose calling her, but she wasn’t sure about him.  The light had changed, so we didn’t get a clear look, but it was awesome to see such a big animal in the wild.

Not quite how we saw it,
but this is a Norwegian moose!

The next afternoon Harriet left, it was sad to see her go as she was good company. We survived another week after she left, but then a couple of days before we left a girl from Germany arrived, so that was nice.  And by now I guess a girl from Whangarei will be there.  A busy helpx  place. Thanks for having us to stay.

Next stop will be Bergen for two nights, via Stavenger.