L'Anse aux MeadowsMore
than 621 mil across Newfoundland are felled and we are
finally arrived two hours before the opening ceremony. I
lose quickly Arne and Inger in the the crowd, consisting of
15 000 people who are waiting for the Vikings.
No ship or Vikings in sight, but it is rumored that they are
on the road and will come sailing in time for the ceremony.
Someone else heard that they probably are waiting behind an
island. I take down to the beach and out on the cape and
waiting.
Helicopters taking off, hovering over the bay while the buzz
increases, the first ships visible far away in the northwest.
- Now they come, now they come!
After a while the ships are in place, some settles on the
line out there in the bay while others directly |
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| towards land, adding and will be
well received by the waiting crowd.
The largest ship, Islandingur, situated out in the bay
but there is someone on board who must quickly get
into the country, so it sends out a white plastic boat to
retrieve. |
- The ships coming, the Vikings coming .... |
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| The viking ships
are late, all visitors are waiting ... |
Suddenly, the
first ships are sighted coming over the horizon |
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"Islandingur"
comes to a stop in the
bay in full view of the spectators. |
Sound of horns,
country music and helicopters. Unusual sounds in this
wilderness. |
Who gets the
best picture,
and what is the risk? |
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A white
speedboat suddenly
heads for the ship. |
The speedboat
picks up the ship's crew and makes for the shore; there are
speeches to be made. |
In the meantime,
the other ships gather around " Islandingur", side by side. |
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The Swedish Viking boats go
towards the land |
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| Two Swedish boats
head for the shore, Tälja and Aifur. |
Tofta are hungry and
sneaks away from the crowds. |
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There I meet one of my best
friends
for the first time, Brad Nelson. |
New and old friends meet |
Different groups connected
to Leif Eriksson's discovery of Vinland, are here. Local
indians and inuits from Greenland. |
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Jan Johansson
from Aifur is filling
up his food container. |
Parts of Aifurs crew still
their hunger |
Cheers Tofta, we meet again,
in another place and time. |
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Rune stones |
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| My friends, Arne and Inger
and Dotes from Gotland have cut a rune stone each, as a
gift. |
Inger's rune stone with bronze decoration.
Inscription: Peace, Freedom, Friendship and Future |
They gave these stones as
gifts to Norstead. |
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... And my rune stone then?
Well, it was stuck in the back of a container which in turn
were out on a bog |
A group of rain soaked
Vikings don't
want to wait for the trucks to arrive
from the directive at Norstead, before getting the stone
out. |
Many are needed but we have
enough, after a lot of heaving, the stone inches it way
towards the opening. |
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| The
rune stone is finally raised |
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| The rune stone stands in front of newly
built Viking beach house with the front facing the sea ...
and there far away, on the other side of the ocean with
whales and icebergs is Greenland. I make a speech in which
I talk about the rune stone's future for the next 5 000
years; about its symbols and lastly, the runic
inscription:
VTTA and Barbara Genge raised stone
to commemorate the exploration of North America by Leif
Eriksson in year thousand. Kalle rista (rista =
carve)
Granite as the best quality keeps for many thousands of
years. The colors will not hold as storms and salty waves
hardly allows the colors to be persistent.
Details on the rune stone
Above is a sun compass; a copy of a find from Greenland,
surrounded by sun-rays, or a cross, if you prefer.
Everything is suspended from the rune carrying dragon.
Under the sun compass a vikingship, a copy of VTTA logo.
VTTA (Viking Tourist Trail Accosiation) |
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| The rune stone is perfectly positioned in
the bay and immediately becomes a popular object to
photograph. |
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| The small stones are from
the Faroe Islands and Iceland, among others |
Sun compass, the original is
found in Greenland is only half |
The Viking farm in the
background. |
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The mission is completed - little
sleep and then it's time to explore the island |
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| After a long day I search a
camp for the night. |
The barren area above is
good, fresh air and great views from a natural pine boughs
bed. |
The trees on the northern
Newfoundland is most similar to rice, low and wide.
look behind my shoes. |
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| Morning, view of the
Vikings' camp out on the Cape. |
A little to the east is seen
the roof of the Viking farm. |
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Behind the cape seen two
islands and then there
where only whales, icebergs and finally Greenland. |
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North America so far only
documented settlement from the Viking Age
Just a few kilometers to the west is the true Viking
settlement discovered by
the Norwegian pair Helge and Anne Stine Ingestad 1960. I,
Arne and Inger takes us there. |
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1,000 year old remains in
the ground.
A sign explains what the archaeologists found. |
I located in one of the
houses,
I have been there :-)
Background, reconstruction of the houses. |
Arne and Inger is also
on this historic site. |
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| The walls are built with
thick layers of turf. |
The guide says that
only 30% of it has
been excavated. |
The houses are 20 years old
(2001)
but is still in good condition. |
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| The houses are made alive by
craftsmen. Pictured is sewn clothes, and in the next room
working with bog ore. |
400 meters to the south is a
museum (arrow)
about the excavations in the 1960s. |
Conclusive evidence!
A needle of bronze. |
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The area around the rune stone in
Norstead
I start with the farm.
The houses are well proportioned to receive many guests but
they are not as well-built as houses on the original
settlement.
All houses have a thin layer of peat and grass on the
roofs. |
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| A small house at the side of
the long house. |
A wooden church. |
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| The entrance to the great
long house. |
Inside one of the small
houses. Why I did not sleep here? |
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Outside is heard shouts and insults
and blow to shields |
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| Two groups fighting with
swords and axes. |
Honor and glory, win or
lose. |
How do you think it went for
them here? |
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To the Vikings cape |
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| The association's Viksbåten
"Tälja" with tents. |
Lars Widerberg |
Gunilla Fornstål |
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| Robban (right) and Charles
from the
Dutch ship Orm talking about something rather small..
small as an apple around. |
Petter Hallegren and Sandra Hammarberg
held everyone's mood on top. |
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Black smith
Lars-Erik Wiss. |
His recipe for light works
and smells of food.
Some pork fat, some beeswax, let it set with roll of linen. |
Värmland
Society of Glad of Gillberga beautiful tent.
Their ship Glad (happy) was the fastest of them all. |
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The most tragic part of
the journey, was to see the broken ship
Orm from Holland.
It was accidentally dropped from a crane lorry. Now the
ship stands upon land with a broken prow. |
Ivar Larsson, another member of the "Krampmacken"
from Gotland crew, throws a warp (kedge) |
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It is time to say goodbye,
one last picture of the
farm with the rune stone to the far right |
Olle Hoffman, archaeologist
narrative. Many thanks to you :-) |
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Travelling with me on the journey, was a small bottle of
special vodka with herbs given to me by my friend Raino. |
I took my farewell of the rune stone and then we shared the
bottle and
wondered if/ when we would meet again. Then I headed for the
airport.
Two days later I was back on Adelsö again, filled
with memories and my mission accomplished." |
Finally, thanks to all who participated in and around this rune stone,
(Without your help, Leif Eriksson's rune stone never been traveled).Ron &
Barbara Baron for photos, first translations year 2000, best guides in the
paper jungle and much more .... - I would never have done this without you. |
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| * Torbjörn Karlsson on Vätö stonemasonry
with your great patience and beautiful stones. |
| * Rolf Söder of
ASA Transporter for the
safe delivery of the runestone to Gothenburg. |
| * Olle Hoffman Viking Heritage because
you dared to recommend me as a rune carver. |
| * Stellan & Terese, how would it all
worked out unless Stellan there? -Forward boys! |
| * Peter Hobring to all solutions to
problems and the positive energy you spread. |
| * Ellinor & Denice for you have the
energy living with a rune carver like me. |
| * Raino Rydelius on
Hovdata movie, images,
help first web and inspiration. |
| * Nobbe & Helena for consideration and
patience, -barbeque now? |
| * Björn on Adelsö egg for your quick help
with the heavy lifting. |
| * Mother & Father for all your help and
that you believe in me. |
| * Tord Björk powerful help when the rune
stone was moved. |
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My sister Carin with translations and faith in his brother. |
| * Börje & Tuija for help, inspiration and
happy evenings. |
| * Britten for all the inspiration and
strength you gave. |
| * Stefan Walner for nice pictures and
Support. |
| * Ronnie Lindblad of all possible
assistance. |
| * Cary for pictures and Support |
| - Thanks all! |
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| 1
Start - Close-ups
of the completed rune stone |
| 2
Adelsö -
Follow the work on Adelsö |
| 3
Newfoundland -
690 mil across Newfoundland |
| 4
L'Anse aux
Meadows - inauguration, ships and rune
stones etc. |
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