Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Final Update

Guess I need to add to add one last post to close this out and end this trip. Made it back home fine and had no problems on the last and final leg of the trip. Got all my luggage and passed through customs with no problems. The best part of the trip was yet to come. Joslynn and Hayden were waiting for me outside the terminal. Hayden was so excited I think he was actually blushing and that was one of the best hugs I have ever had. I was so excited to see them. Quinton was still on his field trip to Austin and wouldn't be back until later. We had a great weekend. My mom came up Saturday night to watch the kids while Joslynn and I went out to a friends birthday party. We enjoyed our first couples massage (which we will be doing again in the future) and had dinner at Fireside Pies in Grapevine for Cassie's b-day followed by a little time at the Glass Cactus and spent the night at the Gaylord Texan. Had an excellent breakfast buffet that morning and heading home to pick up the kiddos and then out to Joslynn's mothers for a family get together/BBQ. It was good to see everyone and be back home.

The End...

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Coming Home!!!

Well today is the day! Woke up early (4:30), think my phone buzzed when someone sent me a text message! Oh well I like to be early. I have made the second leg of this three leg trip and have several hours spent here in London. Ate at a place called the Pub and had a chicken burger with bacon. Which translates to chicken breast with several slices of ham on some sort of hamburger looking bun with a lot of flour (excellent)!! Decided against the fish and chips. Then did a bit more shopping for some things to bring back and the flight leaves in about an hour and a half. See you all soon.....

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Life on the Fosen Peninsula

Had my final dinner at Restaurant Melissa last night and had to try the plank steak. Basically it's a steak cooked on a plank of wood and surrounded by mashed potatoes. Looks similar to the picture below. Pretty good meal and very filling (think I'm still full). Strange thing, I really miss eating chicken and green vegetables every night at home!!!



Took one final drive around the peninsula last night in search of the Kjeungskjær Lighthouse. We finally found it, however we were pretty much in someones driveway between their house and the barn. We snapped a few pics, looked lost and then left. Took another drive down to the end of the peninsula and saw some Norwegian wildlife. In the town of Garten (I think) we came across a couple of what looked like small deer playing in a field near some houses. Then on the way back we passed a moose standing in a tree line near the side of the road. I will be heading back to Trondheim here shortly and flying into Oslo for the night and getting ready to come home. See you soon baby, I Love You.
Kjeungskjær Lighthouse:










Sunday, May 17, 2009

Trip to the Arctic Circle

So we took our trip to the Arctic Circle. We started off leaving Orland on the Kystekspressen Boat (fast boat as they call it). Here's a few pics:

Output from the back of the boat:

Boat at night from my room:

From there we spent the night in Trondheim at the Best Western again. Really nice place and have enjoyed my two visits there. The girl at the front desk recommended a restaurant to us that gave us a discount for staying at the Hotel. Our waiter, who turned out to be the owner, was from Turkey and he and his two other brothers are running this restaurant. At our table two of us had the grilled salmon, a plank steak (steak came out on a wooden plank surrounded by a wall of mashed potatoes) and another steak plate. Our plates were clean at the end. The food was terrific! He then brought us an authentic Turkish dessert on the house that his wife had made that day. Kind of a puffy pastry covered in a sugar sauce with whip cream and some fresh fruit. Probably the best tasting strawberries I have ever had. Any way, back to the room and get some sleep.

Saturday-
7:40 A.M on the train and heading to Mo I Rana. I don't think I have ever been on an actual train ride other than some sort of a commuter train. The train seemed kind of old fashion with lots of wood and felt antique. The seats were very comfortable and reclined way back. The view heading up there was just incredible. The gentle rocking of the train as it passed ever so close to the edge of the water and the snow topped mountains seemed to make nothing else matter at that moment. It was about a 7 hour ride but I finished my book and watched a movie and it seemed like no time at all.
Could have taken a thousand of these photos:
One of our stops along the way:


2:15- Arrive a Mo I Rana. Walked across the street and asked the taxi driver to take us to Rent a Wreck. Now, when I had spoke to the guy on the phone I was pretty sure he said he would be there until 3:00. No one was there. We then took the cab to the Avis counter, which was actually inside a gas station. They don't rent cars on the weekend and I pretty much knew that. So back to the train station and about $45 for the cab. Ouch!!! Don't take one of those very far. Continued to call the guy and finally got a call back. We talked him into picking us up at the train station and he agreed. We settle on 500kr (about $75 for the car, not bad spilt between the four of us). We left there and headed up the E6 to the Arctic Circle. Very nice drive up there, lots of rapids and snow covered mountains. And then we were there.
Our Rent A Wreck:


Arctic Circle Visitor Center:







Rhonda and Keith built a snow man. Rhonda put a Dallas Cowboys Santa hat on him and left it there:

Oh yeah, we saw a herd of Reindeer on the side of the rode on the way back:


I believe this statue is supposed to watch over the sea. Can't seem to find any info on it right now.


Back from te arctic circle, parked the car at the train station and left the key on the visor. We then walked up the street and had dinner at the Big Horn Steak house. We were the only ones there at about 8:30 or so. We all had a steak and they were really good. They had Garth Brooks, George Strait and Shania Twain on an endless loop. It started to get a little old after a while. Any way headed back to the train station and start waiting for the train at 12:15 A.M. The sun was just starting to set.

Sunday- 7:40 A.M. Back in Trondheim. The express boat does not leave until 4:15 and it was their national Holiday today (independence day?). People were everywhere with the women dressed in there Norwegian clothes and most of the men in black suits (we stuck out pretty good especially after being on a train for a day). Lots of marching bands and singing. Had some pizza for lunch and headed to the boat dock to wait.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Beautiful Day in Norway

Got off a little early today and the weather was wonderful. No rain, not cold. Drove one of our new engineers to the cannon and to the end of the peninsula. Pretty nice sunset. Getting ready to take the fast boat to Trondheim and then the train to Mo I Rana and attempt to make it to the arctic circle. Hope everyone has a great weekend. I miss you guys!!!




















Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Tuesday May 12

Not much going on during the week around here. Weather has been a little colder and pretty much raining off and on all day. By the time we get off from work there is not much open around here, but yet it is still daylight outside! I would like to thank all of you who have been there and prayed for Joslynn and the boys (and our pets too!!) while I am away and during the loss of her Grandmother. It means a lot to me to know that you all are there to help take care of them.