Baltasound School Norway Tour 2008!
Posted: Monday, 26 May 2008 |
Tomorrow afternoon at 3pm 8 young folk will sail from Baltasound to Norway on board the Shetland Sail Training vessel Swan. Of course, we wouldn't let them do it alone, so Ian (techy teacher) and I are accompanying them. And as our sailing skills are a bit rough, we thought we'd better take a crew as well. So altogether we will be 15 folk.
It will take between a day and a day and a half to get to ³Õæ°ù±ô²¹²Ô»å±ð³Ù, our first port of call. This is a really bonny island just north of Sognefjorden. From there we will make our way south, stopping at Hardbakka, Alverstraumen, Bergen, Baldersheim, Stavanger, possibly getting as far south as Dirdal (if this is a familiar name to you it's because Dag, our regular Norski commentor, comes from there) before heading back to Unst, hopefully via Utsire. This is rather a lot to fit into our 11 day charter, so a few night sails between ports may be in order.
We will be meeting up with 3 schools in Norway, as well as doing the more 'touristy' stuff in Bergen and Stavanger. We hope that our time will allow us to meet Dag and his pupils, if not on their home turf, then we will take a hike together to Preikestolen, which is not so far from Dirdal.
The last month or two have been hectic, with last minute fundraising and planning. As a result I've been neglecting the hoosewark rather too much and although I'm still not packed, my house is a bit more in order after my massive cleaning frenzy yesterday. So when I come off the boat exhausted I can come straight home, have a shower, and go to sleep for as long as I want! A luxury after doing watches on the return journey.
This will be a new experience for the kids, and some of them are a bit apprehensive. Sea sickness patches have been ordered from the surgery, and I managed to get some spewy bags from a friendly Northlink security guard. (Thanks Northlink!) However, the weather looks fairly calm for the next couple of days, which will probably mean calm seas and a lot of engine noise.
The local Chocolate factory here in Unst has helped us out with some boxes of choccies to give to the schools we visit, and the Unst brewery is giving us some beer to give to some of the adults we come across on the trip. Thanks to Aaron and Sonny for that!
Here's a few pics of some of the places we will visit, these were taken 2 years ago on a previous school trip.
³Õæ°ù±ô²¹²Ô»å±ð³Ù had a festival last time we were there.
The Swan in Alverstraumen
Bergen
Baldersheim
Preikestolen. (Yes we've done a Risk Assesment purely for this hike!)
It will take between a day and a day and a half to get to ³Õæ°ù±ô²¹²Ô»å±ð³Ù, our first port of call. This is a really bonny island just north of Sognefjorden. From there we will make our way south, stopping at Hardbakka, Alverstraumen, Bergen, Baldersheim, Stavanger, possibly getting as far south as Dirdal (if this is a familiar name to you it's because Dag, our regular Norski commentor, comes from there) before heading back to Unst, hopefully via Utsire. This is rather a lot to fit into our 11 day charter, so a few night sails between ports may be in order.
We will be meeting up with 3 schools in Norway, as well as doing the more 'touristy' stuff in Bergen and Stavanger. We hope that our time will allow us to meet Dag and his pupils, if not on their home turf, then we will take a hike together to Preikestolen, which is not so far from Dirdal.
The last month or two have been hectic, with last minute fundraising and planning. As a result I've been neglecting the hoosewark rather too much and although I'm still not packed, my house is a bit more in order after my massive cleaning frenzy yesterday. So when I come off the boat exhausted I can come straight home, have a shower, and go to sleep for as long as I want! A luxury after doing watches on the return journey.
This will be a new experience for the kids, and some of them are a bit apprehensive. Sea sickness patches have been ordered from the surgery, and I managed to get some spewy bags from a friendly Northlink security guard. (Thanks Northlink!) However, the weather looks fairly calm for the next couple of days, which will probably mean calm seas and a lot of engine noise.
The local Chocolate factory here in Unst has helped us out with some boxes of choccies to give to the schools we visit, and the Unst brewery is giving us some beer to give to some of the adults we come across on the trip. Thanks to Aaron and Sonny for that!
Here's a few pics of some of the places we will visit, these were taken 2 years ago on a previous school trip.
³Õæ°ù±ô²¹²Ô»å±ð³Ù had a festival last time we were there.
The Swan in Alverstraumen
Bergen
Baldersheim
Preikestolen. (Yes we've done a Risk Assesment purely for this hike!)
Comments
have a great time and i'm sure the kids are going to okay-no need for spewy bags
carol from over here and feeling jealous
Ah, yes. Risk Assessments. All safely filed away now. Phew!!!
FetlarSchool from Safely back in Fetlar
I look forward to meeting you in Stavanger. Stavanger is Norway's oil capital, much nicer than Bergen ( but not as good in football) Let's hope the North Sea is calm. Have a nice journey.
Dag from Norway
I look forward to meeting you in Stavanger. Stavanger is Norway's oil capital, much nicer than Bergen ( but not as good in football) Let's hope the North Sea is calm. Have a nice journey.
Dag from Norway
School trips were never so adventurous when I was at school though I do remember the sick bags. If that doesn't work, tell them to keep an eye on the horizon and they'll be fine. It works!
Carol from IBHQ
Looks like a cracking idea. Hope it all goes well and the seas are relativly calm for the sail. Regards john
John Cooper from London
Last photo looks like an ideal lets-get-rid-of-any-teachers-we-don't-like situation...but of course there won't be any on the trip! Stavanger's nicer than Bergen ? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...
Flying Cat from being polite to Dag, but...
and I - yes I - played a very VERY important part in all this tooo.....
scallowawife from shetland
Oh do tell scallowawife...
Flying Cat from all agog
Lykke til. Hope the winds are kind. Just one thought; is it not a bit mean to take a tetchy teacher? Wouldn't a happy one be better?
Hyper-Borean from The green (with envy) corner
What a lovely voyage! And Norway and Norwegians are great. When you are in Stavanger, try to get to the Flore island. It's fascinating: a family have turned a bleak, rocky skerry into a marvellously flowering garden thanks to ingeniously creating and using micro-climates. Grapes in Stavanger? No problems! Apply this to the Shetlands adn you'll beat the Azores into a cocked hat. Have a good time!
¨µþ²¹°ù²Ô±ð²â from Swithiod full of envy
North Utsire, South Utsire... Good luck Ruth and crew, hope the weather is kind.
Jill from EK
HB, I was wondering who wid be the first to pick up on that! Barney, soonds interesting, maybe we'll find the time..... Jill, that's the reason we're goin there.. our tetchy teacher has always wanted to see what it's like after a lifetime of shipping forecasts! Dag, see you soon, give me a call sometime and we'll make arrangements. Perhaps on Monday we'll have an idea of how our time is going. Weather - Easterly wind, so not so good, but maybe not much of it, so could be worse! We'll have the phut-phut of the engine all the way over, I think.
Ruthodanort from Unst still, but only just!
tell us ,scallow don't keep us in supspense: ruthie:-bon voyage
carol from where its still pelting down
welll if you musssst ask - I was delegated to fetch the sweatshirts from the Post Office just before closing on Friday.... and very nice they were too.... now who was the main sponsor, who's name was on the sweat shirt.... gosh... I nearly forgot.... oooh ... lets wait for the photos.... all will be revealed....
scallowawife from at the post office
"island blogging"??
carol from over here
Have great time and dont do any base jumping off that cliff without a parachute
ian from south now
Well, we arrived in ³Õæ°ù±ô²¹²Ô»å±ð³Ù after a 30 hour sail and a fairly substantial amount of spewing (all hail Norhlink). Weather is great so far, tho I'm told Bergen has rain just noo. We get there by Saturday, hopefully the rain will have moved on. The kids have visited the local school in Bulandet, played football, and taken part in a PE and music lesson. Right now they're playing cards in the boat together. Hopefully our school website will have some pix up soon. www.baltasound.shetland.sch.uk
Ruthodanort from ³Õæ°ù±ô²¹²Ô»å±ð³Ù
Hi Ruth & co Good fir you. How's da crew? If he has a chance tell him to give his mum & dad a call. Du might need tae tell him da code fae Norway.
Katrine from Unst
Spewing is not good, especially substantial spewing!! Looking forward to seeing the photos (not necessarily of the spewing!!) and hearing about your trip. I'm sure you've had a fantastic time.
Magsie from NOT on a coorse trip on the Swan!!
Can't activate the photo link in News...
Flying Cat from not purrusing pics of Norge
Great photos on the website ruth,thnks for sharing them with us all--have fun and i hope the weather will stay good for your stay
carol from scared of the thunderstorm
I am not exactly envious of the spewing, but the trip sounds absolutely fantastic! I wish we trips like that when I was at the school. You should come around the corner and head north towards Oslofjord - the weather is really good here - 27 degrees and sunny. I hope the bairns get over their seasickness long enough for them to enjoy an unforgettable experience.
Envious from the aist side o' Norge
Dammit Carol, how did you do that...
Flying Cat from flying back to the website
easy,peasy,fc,-look up www.baltasound.shetland.sch.uk the click under "swan" et voila!!
carol from admiring a ray of sunlight
I did later and it was working by then. Damn good time being had by all, they'll all be jumping ship. Reindeer steaks, mountains of prawns, whale meat again don't know where don't know when...
Flying Cat from getting a bit carried away
I know if I say this again it will become a BOGOF...its okay Carol, I got in second time of trying and have seen the pics thank you.
Flying Cat from grimly re-commenting
Hi everybody, just spent a very hot day in Stavanger, then we sailed doon Høgsfjorden to Dirdal, and have just had a very pleasant evening with Dag and family. Lots o fotees to come.
Ruthodanort from Dag's hoose and Dag's computer
glad to hear your'e enjoying your trip ruth and that the weather is good! would you like some rain???( i believe in sharing) no i wouldn't send it to you--have fun!
carol from in a dirty grey south of france
It'll be raining nicely by the time you get back...
Flying Cat from a Calvinist stance
Ok Ruth, whaurs da photos? Is dee sore foot haadin' dee back?
Alex from da sooth mainland
alex--ruth is too busy just now-the lucky girl is now taking part in the "shetland-bergen boat race"!!
carol from over here
Time and tide wait for no woman...
Flying Cat from FC's Lille Vis Ordbook
Blogs fae a thirty-something mum of 4 born in Fife, brought up in Orkney, and living in Unst.
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