The Lee Farm, the Talc Mill, and the Ferry to Bergen
Stopping ti take some photos along the Sognefjord with Gunnar and Lily
A waterfall above the fish hatchery near Arnefjord
Randeen is related to Gunnar through her mother. Her mom was a Gårder; Gunnar is a Lee, Randeen’s great grandmother was a Lee. Got it? There will be a quiz (open book of course). The Lee’s may have come to this area of the Sognefjord in the mid 1400’s from Scotland (I think there is some kind of Norwegian law that make you Norwegian after a few hundred years). They were farmers, and the farm still exists. Gunnar is not a farmer; his grandfather discovered a vein of talc that he started to mine. He built a mill to crush the talc into powder. Gunnar’s father and then Gunnar ran the talc mill. He sold the mill and it was closed about 5 years ago.
This is the talc mill in Framfjord
Gunnar's boats moored near the talc mill
He rows the small boat to go fishing. He sets the nets at night and collects his catch in the morning. It was not the season for salmon netting when we were there. We drove to the Arnfjord (also spelled Arnafjord in some English language information) parish church. This is where most of the Lee ancestors have been laid to rest. The church was originally built in the 15th century. But, due to the Norwegian penchant for building with wood, it burned to the ground several times. The latest version was built in about 1880.
Arnefjord parish church
Arnefjord church from the cemetery side
Grave markers stacked near the caretaker's shed
In Norway, one must pay rent to have a gravestone on a grave site. If the rent is not paid, the stone is remove and piled in various places around the cemetery. Often, as families move or pass away, there is no one left to pay the rent.
The Lee farm is in Gunnar’s family. His cousins are the ones who inherited it. They are getting up there in age, approaching 80. Gunnar took us to the family church just down the road in Arnefjord. We saw where the deceased relatives were resting. Then on to the Lee farm for some vittles.
The Lee farm is on the side of the mountain above Framfjord
Lunch was ready when we arrived
Another typical Norwegian meal, it consisted of mainly white or near white food. Rommegrot, hard boiled egg and salted fish open-faced sandwiches, cured meats (ham, salami, etc), cheese, flat bread, regular bread, lefsa, special lefsa, lots of coffee, and orange soda. Our hosts were Sigurd and Svanhild (pronounced swan-ee). Sigurd and Svanhild are cousins, and both are cousins to Gunnar. The conversation during lunch quickly turned to Norwegian. Sigurd and Svanhild don’t speak a word of English, and Gunnar needed a break from English. We just ate.
Gunnar, Lily, Sigurd and Svanhild (remember, it's pronounced swan-ee)
Rommegrot, it wasn't like Mom used to make in Iowa
A special cheese made in Vik. It might double as luffa
After lunch, we took a short hike to the “view” of Framfjorden from a cliff on the farm.
It is a long way down to Gunnar's house (right) and the talk mill (left)
Gunnar and Svanhild (remember, it's pronounced swan-ee)
Looking over the roof tops in Vik
Posing in front of the Dampen
The Fjord 1 Express Boat
Leaving Vik
Watching the wake
Sognefjord as we head toward Bergen
More on Bergen in the next episode.
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