Monday 18 July 2011

Courage or stupidity?


I'm home from my weekend trip at Eikern! A little sunburned, but happy! On Saturday, on our way back from the grocery store in Vestfossen, we spotted these three guys on the bridge over the strait where Eikern and Fiskumvannet meet. They were climbing over the fence, getting ready to let go. They hesitated.. When we got close enough, one of them jumped! He seemed to land pretty flat on his tummy. I guess they were thinking they had courage, I think it's stupidity.

Friday 15 July 2011

3322 Fiskum


Fiskum is the name of this little area between Vestfossen, Øvre Eiker and the city Kongsberg. The little village in Fiskum is called Darbu. The school and train station are called Darbu, whilst the church and local clubs and organisations are called Fiskum. If you come from west, the road sign says Darbu, if you come from east, it says Fiskum. Complete confusion! A discussion to change the village's name from Darbu to Fiskum got a blank no from locals, so since then there has been an ongoing debate to whether the place name in the zip code, 3322 Darbu, should be changed to 3322 Fiskum. About six months ago, after a local referendum, the politicians spoke: From now on, it's 3322 Fiskum.

Thursday 14 July 2011

Neste stopp: Eikern!!


The lake Eikern stretches almost 20 kilometres, from Vestfossen in Øvre Eiker to Eidsfoss in the municipality Hof. Eikern is known as one of the least contaminated lakes in the south east of Norway, where raw water can be used untreated as drinking water for the citizens in Øvre Eiker. The lake's maximum depth is measured at 156 metres, whereas intake of the raw water is at 45 meters. I am so lucky to have a good friend who's family own a holiday home along the very steep shore of the lake. This weekend we are a group of friends who are going there for food, drinks and fun, swimming, water ski competitions and sun!

Tuesday 12 July 2011

Nedre Eiker kirkegård


For the first time in ages, I have gone with my grandmother to the cemetery to plant flowers on the graves of her and my grandfather's parents. When I was there I thought a bit about what happens when there is not room for more graves. A few days later, when I read the local newspaper, I noticed an article about this: the long-term problem of space in the two cemeteries in Nedre Eiker. In cooperation with Statistics Norway (to calculate statistics on mortality) and politicians (who allocate money), the municipality have already begun to plan the acquisition of land that can be graveyards in a few years.

Monday 11 July 2011

Transhumance


This old, abandoned and dilapidated house belongs to an old transhumance, called "Hansaseter." Before Hansaseter was abandoned several years ago, the owners who lived there during the summer had cows grazing in the area. Today it is just a little opening in the forest you have to cross on your way to the dirt road Sirikjerkeveien which brings you along to several little lakes good for fishing.