A Beachy Day

We had a plan for today, but sometimes, plans just don’t always work out. Paula came with me to school again today. The plan was she would stay for the first two hours because we were going to see a touristy type film that highlights all the different areas of Norway, and she wanted to see it. So that part went well and even though she didn’t understand the words, the pictures said it all. The next part of the plan was that after the break she would go down to the ferry dock and take a walk-on ferry across the fjord to Kory’s home town of Langevaag to go shopping at the sweater factory there, then take the ferry back and meet me after school. But the problem was I didn’t go with her and she missed the boat. (Which wasn’t as bad as the agony she felt realizing her blunder would end up in my blog!) When she got to the ferry dock, she stood right by the boat as it took off because she thought “it was someone’s personal yacht.” I forgot to tell her that some ferries here don’t really look like ferries. She called me to ask about Plan B, which didn’t exist. I left class and met her at the ferry dock and we took the next “yacht” together across the fjord (it was way more fun than the last hour of my class, I’m sure). Paula didn’t find any sweaters at the factory she liked well enough to spend hundreds of dollars on, but it was fun to look anyway.

Kory came and picked us up in Langevaag after he got the snow tires taken off our van. We all ate a quick lunch at home, packed up some food for dinner, Kory loaded the BBQ grill in the back of the van, threw in some tables and chairs and we were off to the beach. We stopped to pick up a pal of Kaleb’s from school so Kaleb had someone to run around with. The day was just too nice to sit at home and the Island of Alnes was calling. Alnes has the best sandy beach in this entire area (and a great lighthouse which frames all photos very nicely) and we thought it was a good destination point to end this sunny day. Kory set up the table and chairs (in the photo it’s the little white spot on the beach just under the lighthouse) and he BBQ’d chicken and potatoes while Paula and I went for a long walk looking for beach treasures. We all ate dinner to the sound of the waves lapping against the shore, an occasional seagull overhead, and bit of a cold breeze blowing in off the ocean. There wasn’t another soul around, which surprised me. How could a day like today not draw more people to the beach? Maybe the fact we had to go through four tunnels and over one bridge to get there, and then take a ferry back because two of the tunnels were closed, was the deterrent. Or maybe the timing was the key – since most people just got back from Easter vacation. Either way, it worked well for us as I loved the solitude.

When the wind turned downright chilly, we packed up our stuff and headed to the other side of the island, which wasn’t nearly as windy or cold. Monstrous boulders line the north shore and the boys enjoyed jumping from one rock to the other and playing hide and seek among them. A gigantic ring of stones was set next to the parking area, and it was clear that people had been burning all kinds of trash there. And sure enough, while we were hanging out, an older couple pulled up in their car, got out a trunk load of cardboard boxes and other burnables, doused them with lighter fluid and lit them on fire. Kory asked them about what they were doing and they said that place was the island’s incinerator – that everyone goes to that spot to burn their paper. It was obvious from the “ashes” that more than paper ends up there, as many metal items were sticking out of the ash heap, as was an unbroken china cup, a marble, a beautiful clay vase, aluminum fishing floats, rusted springs and various other non-inflammable pieces of trash and household goods. The couple left as soon as the fire was roaring, which left the boys with some new entertainment. It made my heart glad that Kaleb really IS able to find ways to kill time without being in front of a piece of electronics.

Paula didn’t buy a sweater today but she did manage to do a little shopping prior to me meeting her at the ferry – she bought me some walking poles. It’s the kind of gift that Kory would be in big trouble if he bought for me, because it would be acknowledging that I’m not as steady on my feet (i.e., not as young) as I used to be, but Paula, being the “old” friend that she is, got away with it (mostly because we both know we are still 17 on the inside.) She was being very thoughtful and is trying to keep me from falling and really hurting myself when I’m up hiking in the mountains (or perhaps, just walking down the sidewalk.) Kory had a good laugh when I showed him my gift. I guess it takes the pressure off him now (literally) when we are out for a walk and I must maneuver over uneven surfaces (my knees just don’t hold up like they used to.) It’s nice to get a good gift from the RIGHT person, but funny too, that it would make a difference who I get it from. It’s good to have friends.