Norway - 28 June, 2004

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Travel Distance

Total (BMW 330CiC)

10,289 km

Total (other):

4,485 km

Total:

14,774 km

After breakfast down at the farm, it is time for us to head off to Oslo.  We load up our car and drive straight down to Oslo.  We decide not to take any time to see any sights, but just to get there.  We leave at around 11 Am and it takes us almost four hours to get there.  The toughest part about the drive is finding a place to park our car.  There are not many spots available on the streets of Norway.  After a while, however, we are able to find a nice spot not too far from the apartment where we are staying.

Soon we are settled into Tante Berit's nice, cozy apartment.  She is a great lady who is Lars' mother's best friend.  She is kind enough to put us up whenever we come to Oslo.  The rest of the afternoon is spent taking it easy, settling into our room, checking our emails and having a shower.

We discover that Tante Berit's son and our good friend  Jorgen (and his wife Lise) are in the process of moving house - from their old apartment up to a house on a hill overlooking Oslo.  We have offered to help him move out the last of their stuff that they have in their apartment.  They need to hand over the keys tomorrow, so all the stuff must be out tonight.

We arrive there at around 7 PM and the place looks pretty empty, but first impressions can be deceiving.  But first comes dinner.  Jorgen has been kind enough to grab a bunch of pizzas and feed his workers.  Once we have filled our tummies, it is time to get to work.  Lise's father has brought his truck - and it is quite large.  No problem, we think, it has plenty of space.  Soon we are emptying out the apartment of the last remaining things.  It takes many trips up and down the elevators.

Then we are told that there is still the store room to be emptied.  This had almost been forgotten about.  It was amazing how much was stored in this small room.  It took us a few hours to carry up all the many skis, boxes, sailing and outdoor equipment, books and even old phonograph records.  It was all loaded into the truck - and by the time we were done, not much else could be fitted in there.

Then we drove off to their new house.  We got there shortly before midnight and unloaded everything.  Some went into the garage, the rest into the house.  It was easier to unload than it was to load up.  We got back to Tante Berit's apartment shortly after 1 AM.  The job was done.