On the Move Again

Now it was time for us to reconnect with my side of the family. I had made arrangements with a relative (also named Kari and married to a man named Magne, how confusing is that!) that we should spend some time with her at their farm near Kolbu, north of Oslo. Kari’s grandmother is a cousin of my grandfather (her mother is a first cousin of my mother, I’m not sure what that makes us.) We had met her when she was in Canada a few years ago and she had come to our house with my parents.

After wandering in the Oslo train station for a short time we met up with Kari and Magne (Kari had said she would be holding a Norwegian flag but Dennis recognized her even without it). We got back on the train and rode for about an hour until we reached a small town near their farm. We had a short scenic tour, stopping briefly at their son Geir’s house - mostly I believe for Kari to see their granddaughter, who she hadn’t seen for a few days. Gae Isabella is a sweet almost two year old, she has spina bifida so isn’t walking independently yet but she is so easygoing and lovable. I could see why Grandma needed to see her again.

Kari had promised us a relaxed time with them and she was true to her word. When we got to the farm we took a little time to settle into our room (again, in the lower portion of the house so most comfortable temperature-wise) then Kari’s brother Roar came. He had been in Canada with Kari and Geir so it was time to get re-acquainted. He was driving this huge touring bus converted into an RV. It was most interesting to see him manoeuvre it, especially when it came to backing it down the driveway between the two trees which flank the space (see the picture).

Shortly after that, Geir came driving in his little red sportscar and we all went to a neat restaurant on the Mjøsa Lake. It was on a boat that was built specifically as a restaurant, even though it’s half on the water and half on the land. The location is a bit of a resort area so we were able to watch people zipping in and out of the marina and kids diving into the water as we ate. Then it was back to Kari and Magne’s for a coffee time and then to bed, it had been another long day.