Rita (“Reetz”) Simon was born on New Year’s Eve in Terre Haute, Indiana; her sister Ruthie (“The Supervisor”) was born on New Year’s Day two years and one day later.  Together they are internationally renowned as “The Biddies.”  Reetz lives in Nashville, Indiana, and has visited us here in Vacationland USA several times over the years.  But it had been some time since her last visit (I could look it up but that requires research) and her first since we moved into our “new” home 16 months ago . . . 

October 13, Sunday

[We drove down to Terminal 2 in Minneapolis to gather Reetz a litte before noon.  Due to the vicissitudes of modern air travel, she traveled from Indianapolis to Kansas City to Minneapolis, not exactly a direct route.  We stopped at the previously-Emma Krumbie restaurant in St. Michael for lunch on the way home.  Reetz was subjected to a throng of Vikings fans, in uniform, “tailgating” there . . . ]

[Shortly after arriving home, it apparently was time to eat again . . . ]

[Then nap time, all now too tired for Sunday night book club . . . ]

[And that pretty much closes out the first day’s activities . . . ]

Monday

[Reetz timed it right, arriving for a stretch of fine weather.  We began the following morning by trespassing in private property for the three following photos of beautiful Lake Darling . . . ]

[Then to enjoy both the weather and the color, a check of autumn at Theatre L’Homme Dieu . . . ]

[It was quite lovely . . . ]

[Then I dropped The Biddies at the Runestone Museum while I ran a couple of errands.  Forgetting it was a national holiday, not all of the errands were completed . . . ]

[So, first a brief movie at the museum . . . ]

[Then, a portrait of a typical Norwegian family tailgating before a Vikings game . . . ]

[They certainly look Scandinavian.  The artist, btw, is Myron Sahlberg.  Myron works from his home studio on Lake Victoria in Alexandria, Minnesota. During his 20 year career as an illustrator for twenty different book and magazine publishers. Other clients included university sports programs and advertising accounts. During this same time he was invited to teach in the Communication Art and Design department at the Alexandria Technical and Community College. He taught over a thousand students in drawing, painting and illustration classes (www.myronsahlberg.com/) . . . ]

[This is the Kensington Runestone, the namesake for the museum.  The Runestone proves the Vikings arrived in the New World 130 years before Columbus, yet still thousands of years after the indigenous peoples.  The holiday on this day, btw, was Indigenous Peoples Day.  How appropriate . . . ]

[The Biddies Romancing the Stone . . . ]

[This was Reetz’s first visit to the museum . . . ]

[So, a thorough perusal was required . . . ]

[The footsteps lead to the back door and Fort Alexandria . . . ]

[But first more artifacts and stuff . . . ]

[I snuck out the back door to enjoy the weather.  There’s Big Ole on the right to align your settings . . . ]

[Fort Alexandria, et al . . . ]

[Some of these buildings experienced roof damage from the heavy snows of the previous winter . . . ]

[And going back in to check on the sisters . . . ]

[Fort Alexandria in its heyday . . . ]

[Applicable in many facilities . . . ]

[Meanwhile, Reetz discovered a bear . . . ]

[And the only defense against a bear is a Viking shield . . . ]

[Let’s go in there . . . ]

[Where the Viking ship resides.  Viking ships were marine vessels of unique structure.  The boat-types were quite varied, depending on what the ship was intended for, but they were generally characterized as being slender and flexible boats, with symmetrical ends with true keel.  They were clinker built, which is the overlapping of planks riveted together.  Viking ships were not just used for their military prowess but for long-distance trade and exploration.  In the literature, Viking ships are usually seen divided into two broad categories: merchant ships and warships.  These categories are overlapping; some kinds of merchant ships, built for transporting cargo specifically, could also be used as warships.  The majority of Viking ships were designed for sailing rivers, fjords and coastal waters, while a few types, such as the knarr, could navigate the open sea and even the ocean.  The Viking ships ranged from the Baltic Sea too far from the Scandinavian homelands, to Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Newfoundland, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and Africa (Wikipedia).]

[Come on, it’s in here . . . ]

[Apologies to Al (we grew up in the same neighborhood) for the crappy photo . . . ]

[Al may have caught the musky in a boat like this . . . ]

[We wanna go for a ride . . . ]

[The way out.  The Supervisor had to shovel the ramp leading out of the museum to the fort.  The ramp is on the northside of the museum and still had some icy residue from the previous week’s snow . . . ]

Tuesday

[The Biddies toured our association property in the morning . . . ]

[Yo, Reetz!]

[Otherwise it was a quiet day.  We had hoped to take Reetz to senior college, but class was cancelled because the teacher was sick . . . ]

Wednesday

[Reetz had been to Bug-A-Boo Bay, of course.  So we wanted to take her to Lure Lakebar, the next generation restaurant on the site . . . ]

[Earlier in the day, I had dropped Reetz for water aerobics at Grand Arbor.  I found it a lovely place to read the entire newspaper while she did so . . . ]

[With our repast came the musical stylings of Robb Justice . . . ]

[If you’re keeping score at home, Robb is indeed the cousin of Danielle Strayer, nee Justice.  Danielle (seated, far left), as you’ll recall from you readings, was the goalie for the Cardinal state champs in 2008 and now plays for the New Zealand national team . . . ]

[We did indeed seat ourselves and also left all on our own . . . ]

Thursday

[I had a community education movie planning meeting in the morning.  I’m sure The Biddies shopped – Ron’s Warehouse is always a requirement during Reetz visits.  Then we went to senior college in the afternoon where Professor Susannah Ottaway of Carleton College gave a timely and informative presentation on the history of Ireland as it relates to Brexit.  The following photos are not from that class but were taken by Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) the previous week.  MPR did a story on our senior college which attracts professors from all over the state for our twice weekly classes of 225 “students.”]

[Can you find the Supervisor and me in this photo?  After class we always go out to dinner.  We took Reetz to the Great Hunan for Chinese food because Alex does not have an Irish pub . . . ]

Friday

[In the morning, the Supervisor had a voting judge meeting, and I had a Theatre L’Homme Dieu (TLHD) board meeting.  Rather than leaving Reetz alone and unchaperoned, I brought her to my meeting at the Legacy of the Lakes Museum.  The idea being she could peruse the museum while she waited for the Supervisor to pick her up and do whatever it is when they take off together . . . ]

[But this was also an opportunity for Reetz to have a quick visit with Nicole Mulder, the executive director of TLHD.  This is another one of those 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon things.  Nicole’s son George is a student at Indiana University, in theater in fact.  Reetz (as is the Super) is an IU alum and lives 18 miles from the campus.  So when it was time for George to enroll (from Eden Prairie, Minnesota), we hooked up the Mulders with Reetz and they stayed with her while George was going through orientation.  Anyway, when the Super came to pick up Reetz, she came into our meeting looking for her.  Rita was still somewhere in the museum.  The meeting room has three entry doors, one from the outside and two from inside the museum.  In a bit of a keystone cop episode, whenever a Biddie came into the meeting room we told her the other Biddie had just gone out another door.  They came and went through our meeting a couple of times to the delight (chagrin?) of the board members.  I can’t remember what we did the rest of the day . . . ]

Saturday

[It was Oktoberfest at Carlos Creek Winery.  It was a beautiful day so it attracted millions of people . . . ]

[The Biddies naturally revelled in the excitement . . . ]

[With wine in hand, they made for the music venue . . . ]

[To see and listen to the Salty Dogs:  Annie, Greg, Erik, and Tom . . . ]

[There was also a big screen TV so we were simultaneously able to watch our undefeated Minnesota Gophers . . . ]

[Photo featuring Tom Mulder.  If the name sounds familiar it’s because he’s a grandpa of the previously mentioned George . . . ]

[Bob (further defined a couple photos down) in full Oktoberfest regalia . . . ]

[So, you’d like to buy a vowel?]

[That answer is . . . incorrect!]

[Bob, further defined as Annie’s regular and recurring dance partner . . . ]

[Since the excitement never ends in Vacationland USA, that night we all went to the theater.  Jami and Danny even came to town just for the performance.  No, it wasn’t Hello Dolly (the Super and I saw that last week) but keep scrolling down . . . ]

[In the theater . . . ]

[The promotional photo (not mine) but you might recognize the backdrop from Fort Alexandria . . . ]

[Here you go, the latest in a series of such from Paulette Friday, Alexandria’s storyteller.]

[Yes, you’ll likely recognize that Annie and Greg had just performed at the winery, and Paulette and Deb were in the audience there . . . ]

[The show was terrific – looking forward to the next one . . . ]

Sunday

[Nicole brought roses to the TLHD boarding meeting.  By this morning one was thriving under the Super’s tutelage . . . ]

[A Carlos Creek port bottle made a lovely vase . . . ]

[It was a beautiful morning over Lake H2Obert for Reetz’s final day . . . ]

[See the crow?]

[While Reetz was on her circuitous route back to Indiana, the Super joined AAUW colleagues at the History Theatre in St. Paul (photo courtesy Bonnie Schnell).  And thus endth another week of total excitment with The Biddies.]

[“The Biddies” are my idols!]

A sister will always notice her sister’s first gray hairs with glee.  ~  Allison M. Lee

Up Next:  Norway, hoping to finish before the end of the year . . .

June 29

At Sea

This is the commencement of a two-day, 1,400 miles jaunt from Honningsvag to Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland . . . 

[Leaving the snow-capped north . . . ]

[For what will obviously be views of vast amounts of water, at this point through gathering sleet . . . ]

[But continuing hints of blue sky were exciting . . . ]

[Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I suspect we are approaching Sommaroy . . . ]

[Sommarøy is an old fishing village in the western part of Tromso Municipality in Troms county.  It is located about 36 kilometres (22 mi) west of the city of Tromso and is a popular tourist destination due to its white sand beaches and scenery.  The 0.34-square-kilometre (84-acre) village has a population (2017) of 321.  The fishing village covers the island of Store Sommaroya as well as part of the neighboring island of Hillesoya and many smaller surrounding islands.  The village is a typical fishing village with great local fishing fleets and substantial fish processing and other industries.  Tourism is also important in Sommarøy.  There is a hotel and rental cabins available (Wikipedia).]

[If I’m wrong on the village, all this is for naught . . . ]

[The Super and Bill took advantage of the improving weather for outdoor photo ops . . . ]

[It really is quite scenic . . . ]

[Are we having fun yet?]

[Why I think this is Sommaroya is because this looks like the Sommaroya Bridge . . . ]

[Soon to be trending to open seas . . . ]

[Courtney reminded me of Amy Sunderland, the director of Alex’s senior college . . . ]

[Bill and Anne settling in for two days of cruising . . . ]

[Just a guess,  but the Tjeldsund Bridge is a suspension road bridge that crosses the Tjelsundet strait between the mainland and the island of Hinnoya in Troms county. The bridge is 1,007 metres (3,304 ft) long, the main span is 290 metres (950 ft), and the maximum clearance to the sea is 41 metres (135 ft). The bridge has 32 spans (Wikipedia).]

[The open sea . . . ]

[And a rainbow . . . ]

June 30

[These are Scottish, not Norwegian, oil patforms, as I recall . . . ]

[Now I remember, I finished this book for book club.  Cruising in open water is really a good time to catch up on one’s readings . . . ]

[Hellooooo!  Anybody out there?]

[Pretty much why a life at sea never held any appeal for me . . . ]

[Cruise ship interior tranportation lanes.  Next stop, Shetland Islands . . . ]

He didn’t really like travel, of course. He liked the idea of travel, and the memory of travel, but not travel itself.  ~  Julian Barnes

Up Next:  “The Biddies”? (Ooops, published that first)

June 28

Honningsvag (Nordkapp)

TOP O’ THE WORLD . . . 

[We’re at the top blue dot on the continent . . . ]

[I woke up early (i.e., normal time) and took a selfie in The Explorers Bar . . . ]

[Then out the front of the boat, looking about as far north as north can be . . . ]

[Yup, nobody else is up yet . . . ]

[Unknown guy in the corner of the library . . . ]

[Can’t imagine being here absent all the comforts of a modern cruise ship . . . ]

[Honningsvag is the nothernmost [until now, I did not realize “northernmost” was one word] city in Norway.  It is located in Nordkapp Municipality in Finnmark county.  Legislation effective in 1997 states that a Norwegian city/town (same word in Norwegian) must have at least 5,000 inhabitants, but Honningsvåg was declared a city in 1996, thus exempt from this legislation, so it is also one of the smallest cities in Norway.  The 1.05-square-kilometre (260-acre) town has a population (2017) of 2,484.  Honningsvåg is situated at a bay on the southeastern side of the large island of Mageroya, while the famous North Cape and its visitor center is on the northern side of the island. Honningsvåg is a port of call for cruise ships, especially in the summer months.  The ice-free ocean (southwestern part of the Barents Sea) provides rich fisheries and tourism is also important to the town.  Even at 71°N, many private gardens in Honningsvåg have trees, although rarely more than 3 to 4 metres (9.8 to 13.1 ft) tall.  The famous dog Bamse came from Honningsvåg.  Bamse (Norwegian for “teddy bear”) (1937 – 22 July 1944) was a St. Bernard dog that became the heroic mascot of the Free Norwegian Forces during the Second World War.  He became a symbol of Norwegian freedom during the war (Wikipedia).]

[This would mark a personal record for the farthest north I’ve ever been with a foot on the ground (I did fly over the North Pole on a trip to Japan about 35 years ago) . . . ]

[As with most things here, the northernmost gas station in the world . . . ]

[The northernmost house until we run into the next one . . . ]

[The next house . . . ]

[Another not really lovely day . . . ]

[If truth be told (and why wouldn’t I), this was not a trip to Honningsvag . . . ]

[It’s just the port for this visit to Nordkapp (North Cape) . . . ]

[And on the way, a visit to a Sami household and gift shop . . . ]

[The Sámi people (also spelled Sami or Saami) are an indigenous Finno-Ugric people inhabiting Sapmi, which today encompasses large northern parts of Norway and Sweden, northern parts of Finland, and the Kola Peninsula within the Murmansk Oblast of Russia. The Sámi have historically been known in English as Lapps or Laplanders. Sámi ancestral lands are not well-defined.  Their traditional languages are the Sami languages and are classified as a branch of the Uralic language family.  Traditionally, the Sámi have pursued a variety of livelihoods, including coastal fishing, fur trapping, and sheep herding.  Their best-known means of livelihood is semi-nomadic reindeer herding. Currently about 10% of the Sámi are connected to reindeer herding, providing them with meat, fur, and transportation.  2,800 Sámi people are actively involved in reindeer herding on a full-time basis.  For traditional, environmental, cultural, and political reasons, reindeer herding is legally reserved for only Sámi people in some regions of the Nordic countries (Wikipedia).]

[Reindeer . . . ]

[Indeterminate if one of Santa’s . . . ]

[And now on to the serious business of shopping . . . ]

[I think I’ll get these . . . ]

[And Anne joined in on the spree . . . ]

[On to North Cape . . . ]

[Good morning sunshine . . . ]

[Nordkapp (English: North Cape) is a municipality in Finnark county. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Honningsvag, where most residents live.  The 926-square-kilometre (358 sq mi) municipality is the 120th largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway.  Nordkapp is the 253rd most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 3,239.  Some 200,000 tourists visit Nordkapp annually during the two to three months of summer.  The main tourist attractions are the North Cape and the nearby Knivskjellodden.  The North Cape first became famous when the English explorer Richard Chancellor rounded it in 1553 while attempting to find a sea route through the Northeast Passage.  The municipality is named after Nordkapp (North Cape), a 307-metre-high (1,007 ft) cliff that is commonly referred to as the northernmost point of Europe. However, the true northernmost point of the European mainland is Cape Nordkinn  (Kinnarodden), at 71° 08′ 02″ N, located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the village of Mehamn on the Nordkinn Peninsula.  If Europe’s northernmost point is allowed to be on an island, then it still is not the North Cape.  It would be Cape Fligely on Rudolf Island, Rudolf Island, Franz Josef Land in Russia, which is located much further north at 81° 48′ 24″ N.  If Franz Josef Land is not considered to be in Europe, then Europe’s northernmost point is the northern point of the island of Rossoya, an islet in Svalbard, north of Spitsbergen at 80° 49′ 44.41″ N (Wikipedia).]

[Of course you all know this now as we enter North Cape Hall . . . ]

[Looking from inside the Hall to the Globe monument, the identifying feature of North Cape . . . ]

[The temperature was in the high 30’s; we guessed the wind to the in the 40’s mph (it was difficult to just remain standing) . . . ]

[Anne and Bill with the Hall in the background . . . ]

[The Super at the Globe, holding on to not be blown away . . . ]

[Hang on Sloopy, Sloopy hang on . . . ]

[Spectacular place – oh, if only it would have been sunny and calm . . . ]

[The view of the neighboring and soon to be recognized Knivskjelodden peninsula . . . ]

[That’s Bill in the middle . . . ]

[That’s me and Ruthie in the middle . . . ]

[And this is the Texas two-step . . . ]

[Photos by Bill . . . ]

[Ruthie clutching Ole so he doesn’t blow away . . . ]

[This is high school classmate, Judy Blanchard.  I stole this from her Facebook page.  She was on a similar cruise a few days ahead of us.  We did not know such until the Facebook posts.  She at least had the sun at Nordkapp . . . ]

[The view from Nordkapp.  Knivskjellodden or Knivskjelodden is a peninsula located in Nordkapp Municipality in Finnmark county.  It is the northernmost point on the island of Mageroya.  It is sometimes considered the northernmost point of the entire continent of Europe.  The nearby Kinnarodden on the Nordkinn Peninsula is the northernmost point on the mainland.  The northernmost point of the country Norway is in fact Rossoya, in Svalbard, far north.  Knivskjellodden can only be reached on foot, after a 9-kilometre (5.6 mi) long hike from a parking area near the European route E69 highway, 6 km (3.7 mi) south of North Cape.  Travel agencies that organize trips for unaware tourists often advertise the North Cape as the northern extremity of Europe, but this is not true as the Knivskjellodden is 1,450 metres (4,760 ft) further north (Wikipedia).]

[The Super and Ole showing where we were, with trolls . . . ]

[From inside the Hall . . . ]

[Photos of photos inside the Hall . . . ]

[And in the Hall’s museum . . . ]

[Among the more amazing little factoids from the trip, in the years before there was a road to North Cape ships would anchor offshore and passengers and crew would climb to the top (see cliff pictures following) in the regular attire of the age.  Yes, women climbed to the top in long dresses, bonnets, and likely not Nike climbing boots.  Uff da!!]

[Why yes, there is a Thai Museum here . . . ]

[King Chulalongkorn (Rama V),  the King of Thailand, then Siam, paid a visit to Nordkapp in July 1907 . . . ]

[Passing some dioramas which illustrate the history and geography of the Cape, most tourists only get as far as the ecumenical chapel, as indeed had I in that summer of 2003. But just beyond on the other side of the tunnel there is a Thai museum, opened in 1989 in commemoration of the King’s visit. I have seen it variously described as “museum” or “pavilion” – a small, rather strange, memorabilia-filled little room, with something of the feeling of a shrine about it. Alone there and now unhurried, I experienced an extraordinarily profound and special sense of place, and of the connections between places and people (www.captainsvoyage-forum.com/forum/club-international-things-from-around-the-world/kingdom-of-thailand/1419-in-north-cape-hall-a-connection-between-norway-and-thailand).]

[The Cave of Lights . . . ]

[As it says right here . . . ]

[Kinda like a dorm room in the 60’s . . . ]

[I see Richard Chancellor at the Y every day.  He’s a very good free throw shooter . . . ]

[King Oscar II monument . . . ]

[Lining up both monuments indicates that you have lined up both monuments . . . ]

[And, surprise, a place to buy stuff.  That’s Mary from Toronto with the Super . . . ]

[These are the little cartoons Mary from Toronto made and would hand out to people as an extra tip . . . ]

[This is Bill talking a picture of Mary from Toronto and her significant other whose name now escapes me.  They were just two rooms from us on the ship . . . ]

[So, Nordkapp is advertised as the farthest north, with a subscript as farthest north accessible by road . . . ]

[Barn av Jorden Monument . . . ]

[Each year in June, The Children of the Earth Prize is awarded during a public ceremony at North Cape, Norway. The prize currently amounts to 150.000 Norwegian kroner (NOK), equal to about 15.500 euros or 17.500 US dollars. The prize is presented to an individual or a project which, over time, has demonstrated compassion and ability to help children that suffer somewhere in the world. Anyone may nominate candidates for this prize (http://www.barnavjorden.org/en/welcome).]

[In 1989, the reliefs, cast in bronze and mounted in a granite frame, were erected on the Nordkapp Plateau outside the Nordkapphallen.  A bronze sculpture by artist Eva Rybakken with the theme of mother and child was placed right next to the reliefs (www.travel-finnmark.no/barn-av-jorden-nordkapp/).]

[Ha det (goodbye), Knivskjelodden . . . ]

[Our Norwegian allies keeping a radar eye on the “Rooskies” . . . ]

[Walkers on the road, ergo likely Norwegians . . . ]

[On the road back to Honningsvag . . . ]

[Northern grazing critters . . . ]

[When you really want to get away from it all . . . ]

[Back at the Sami gift shop . . . ]

[Honningsvag, suitable for framing?]

[I can’t remember but has to be dried fish . . . ]

[Back to the ship . . . . ]

[You are now 6,208 km (3,857.5 miles) from Alexandria, Minnesota . . . ]

[Who knew?]

[The last minute gift from the visitors center on the way to the ship . . . ]

[And we’re off – Scotland here we come . . . ]

[You can see the globe at the top of the cliff from whence we just came . . . ]

[Yes, they climbed this from the bottom back in the day . . . ]

[And women’s climbing attire to get to the top of that cliff . . . ]

[A final reminder as to where we were – but it’s wrong!  It has Nordkapp misidentified as Tromso.  Don’t mess with tourists who have now acquired a wee bit of knowledge!]

[The final proof of farthest northest . . . ]

[As we say goodbye to Knivskjelodden and Norway, we will spend the next two days at sea enroute to the Shetland Islands . . . ]

Conclusion:  Norway, homeland of my mother, is not really a country.  It’s more like an international national park. ~  Me

I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work.  I want to achieve it through not dying.  ~  Woody Allen

Up Next:  The Biddies are reunited in Alex?

June 27

Tromso

When last we left you, we had just finished our tour of the Polar Museum and had exited again to the great outdoors.  We pick it up again from there . . . 

[Peering off the pier . . . ]

[This has all the appearances of a harbor . . . ]

[We restrained ourselves . . . ]

[And back with the Running Women . . . ]

[Looking across the harbor at the Arctic Cathedral and a substantial background . . . ]

[And with the bridge included . . . ]

[The Fangstmonument (Arctic Hunter) – a whaler in a boat . . . ]

[Walking through the town square and open air market . . . ]

[Outside the Amalie Hotel . . . ]

[Roald Amundsen . . . ]

[Our boat behind the tourist shop – I believe we went back for lunch . . . ]

[Back out again, Prostneset port terminal is finished and put into operation.  More than a million people will use the terminal as their hub to depart from or to Tromsø. The terminal is also built for the future, with its 12,000 sqm.  It provides us with a terminal with proper facilities for the city and passenger numbers to grow together.  ~  Jarle Heitmann, Chairman of the Board of Tromsø Harbor KF]

[Uknown, so I’ll just dub him “Orange Man” . . . ]

[Almost “Alexandria”?]

[No, not something naughty. A popular pub game in Denmark, ‘Klask’ is like a fast-paced table-top version of Air Hockey, only it uses multiple magnets and a small round ball. Players must use the magnetic handles under the board to control their playing pieces on top of the board (https://www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Games-182-Klask-Magnetic/dp/B01I21KF8K).]

[Helmer Julius Hanssen (24 September 1870 – 2 August 1956) was a Norwegian sailor, pilot and polar explorer.  He participated in three of the polar expeditions led by Roald Amundsen and was one of the first five explorers to reach the South Pole (Wikipedia).]

[A baleen whale (not anatomically correct) . . . ]

[Bill and Anne (both anatomically correct) outside Polaria.  As I recall, we didn’t have enough time to tour . . . ]

[Polaria is the world’s most northerly aquarium.  Rather than a mainly scientific aquarium such as the one in Bergen in the Norwegian midlands, Polaria, which opened in May 1998, is designed to be an educational experience, with particular emphasis on displays for children.  Most of the displays focus on the northerly islands of Svalbard.  Its centerpiece is an open pool containing a group of bearded seals, Erignathus barbatus.  The building itself is also worthy of note.  Its striking design represents ice floes that have been pressed up on land by the rough seas of the Arctic.  This attractive piece of modern architecture echoes the Arctic Cathedral.  One of Norway’s most famous and successful seal hunting ships, the Polstjerna (T-80-T) has been preserved in a separate mueum building less than a hundred metres away from Polaria (Wikipedia).]

[On the way back for our bus tour, the Super with “Orange Man” . . . ]

[And now the bus ride . . . ]

[First to the Arctic Cathedral, in the rain . . . ]

[Then to the Northern Light Planetarium, the largest in Norway . . . ]

[Our tour of the university was marred by the downpour . . . ]

[Back in town center . . . ]

[Statue at the public library . . . ]

[Take a guess?]

[Back on our own, Bill scoped this out as a must visit . . . ]

[Mack’s brewpub Ølhallen is the oldest pub in Tromsø.  “The Hall”, as it was called in its younger years was a place of sanctuary.  At that time it was teeming with fishermen, farmers and townspeople.  Today Ølhallen is one of the most iconic places in Tromsø and is serving Norwegian quality beer from 72 differant taps.  It’s a place where townspeople of all ages meet and taste the best beers brewed by Mack – The world’s most northern brewery (https://www.mack.no/en/olhallen).]

[Let’s drop in for a tour . . . ]

[Bring me something wet . . . ]

[A flight’s aways good . . . ]

[A guided tour . . . of the ladies room?]

[Back aboard ship and off to the next destination . . . ]

[The ship’s officers . . . ]

[Chamber music on the atrium . . . ]

[An Asian panorama meal in the Chef’s Table . . . ]

[Wow!  This is special!]

[All courses, except Peking duck, were new to me – but very good!]

[So what’s not to like?]

[On the sea to our northern most destination . . . ]

Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.  ~  Jack Kerouac

Up Next:  More stuff . . .

June 27

Tromso

The locals appear to call it “trum-suh.”  I had always called it “trom-soh.”  I will defer.  I had hoped to get a Univesity of Tromso shirt.  But Norwegians are in such good shape I couldn’t find one in size “round” . . . 

[Sailing, sailing over the bounding main . . . ]

[Bounding toward Tromso . . . ]

[We’re in the vicinity . . . ]

[The Tromsø Bridge is a cantilever road bridge in the city of Tromso which is located in Tromso Municipality in Troms county.  It crosses the Tromsoysundet strait between Tromsdalen on the mainland and the island of Tromsoya.  The 1,036-metre-long (3,399 ft) bridge has 58 spans, of which the longest is 80 metres (260 ft) with a maximum clearance to the sea of 38 metres (125 ft).  Construction began in 1958 and the bridge was opened in 1960.  At the time of its opening, it was the longest bridge in Northern Europe (Wikipedia).]

[A closer upper of the bridge, the Arctic Cathedral is on the right . . . ]

[The city . . . ]

[Looking aft, for no particular reason . . . ]

[Tromsdalen Church or the Arctic Cathedral is a parish church of the Church of Norway.  It is located in the Tromsdalen valley on the east side of the city of Tromso.  It is the church for the Tromsøysund parish.  The modern concrete and metal church was built in a long church style in 1965 by the architect Jan Inge Hovig.  The church seats about 600 people (Wikipedia).]

[The sights, if not sounds, of Tromso, commonly called “The Gateway to the Arctic” because of all the polar expeditions that have departed from here, at 70 degrees north latitude, well inside the arctic circle . . . ]

[An even closer closer upper of the bridge . . . ]

[Ship window shot of the Arctic Cathedral . . . ]

[In the atrium, getting ready to go ashore . . . ]

[Tromsø is a 2,521-square-kilometre (973 sq mi) municipality, the 18th largest by area out of the 422 municipalities in Norway.  Tromsø is the 9th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 75,638.  The municipality’s population density is 30.6 inhabitants per square kilometre (79/sq mi) and its population has increased by 15.9% over the last decade.  It is the largest urban area in Northern Norway and the third largest north of the Arctic Circle anywhere in the world (following Murmansk and Norilsk).  Most of Tromsø, including the city centre, is located on the island of Tromsoya, 350 kilometres (217 mi) north of the Arctic Circle.  In 2017, the city of Tromso had a population of about 65,000 people spread out over Tromsoya and parts of Kvaloya and the mainland.  Tromsøya is connected to the mainland by the Tromso Bridge and the Tromsoyasund Tunnel, and to the island of Kvaloya by the Sandnessund Bridge.  The municipality is warmer than most other places located on the same latitude, due to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream.  Tromsø is even milder than places much farther south of it elsewhere in the world, such as on the Hudson Bay and in Far East Russia, with the warm-water current allowing for both relatively mild winters and tree growth in spite of its very high latitude.  The city centre of Tromsø contains the highest number of old wooden houses in Northen Norway, the oldest house dating from 1789. The city is a cultural centre for its region, with several festivals taking place in the summer (Wikipedia).]

[Anne is checking with a tour guide as whether she recognizes a picture of a house where Anne’s grandmother once lived.  The photo did not indicate an address . . . ]

[Oh, I wish I could remember her name.  She is a Viking crew member who always met we passengers outside at every stop to make sure we all got on the right buses.  She was always as happy as her smile indicates (psst, don’t tell our president but as I recall she was from Mexico) . . . ]

[Adolph Thomsen, on the other hand, was from Norway.  He was a Norwegian composer and musician (born 7-10-1852; died 7-24-19030).  Thomsen lived in Tromso and from 1883 was organist in Tromso Cathedral.  He became acquainted with Edvard Grieg and several of his works are dedicated to Grieg (Wikipedia).]

[And here is the Tromso Cathedral . . . ]

[And its clock spire . . . ]

[A pub . . . ]

[Burger King.  Oh, and the glass front building in the background is the Tromso Public Library and Archive . . . ]

[In the neighborhood of wooden buildings, we continue in search of Anne’s grandmother’s house . . . ]

[And the Super found some more trolls . . . ]

[The former town hall beyond the bandstand on the Green.  The new town hall is just to the left in this photo (the tall columns) . . . ]

[King Haakon VII (1872-1957), whose monument is in the foreground, was much revered for his resistance to the German occupation of Norway during the Second World War (https://eardleydesign.com/halls/tromso/).]

[The fisherman statue in Stortorget Plaza in the center of Tromsø, Norway; across the water is Ishavskatedralen (Arctic Cathedral) – a city landmark to Tromsø, like the Opera House is to Sydney (richedwardsimagery.wordpress.com/2018/08/05/tromso-norway/).]

[Ingvald Johannes Jaklin (22 February 1896 – 13 December 1966) was a Norwegian politician for the Labour Party.  He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1950, and was re-elected on two occasions.  He had previously served in the position of deputy representative during the term 1945–1949.  Jaklin held various positions in Tromso city council from 1925 to 1963, serving as mayor in the periods 1945–1947, 1947–1951 and 1951–1953 (Wikipedia).  It appears a member of a large avian species didn’t much care for him . . . ]

[Could anything be more Norwegian?]

[I guess they are just generically known as the running women statues . . . ]

[I could find nothing on their origins . . . ]

[Believe it, or not!]

[We found Anne’s grandmother’s house!]

[And this is the street – amazing . . . ]

[And then it was off to the Polarmuseet . . . ]

[And its neighboring building . . . ]

[With the statue of Roald Amundsen, who was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions and a key figure of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.  He led the first expedition to traverse the Northwest Passge by sea, from 1903 to 1906, and the first expedition to the South Pole in 1911.  He led the first expedition proven to have reached the North Pole in 1926.  He disappeared while taking part in a rescue mission for the airship “Italia” in 1928 (Wikipedia).]

[And his pet dog . . . ]

[The museum extends out on a pier . . . ]

[And now let’s go in . . . ]

[Oh, but first pay . . . ]

[Let’s just enjoy the displays and exhibits . . . ]

[The skeleton of Amundsen’s dog, full-size?]

[It’s all about Amundsen, as it should be . . . ]

[Yo, bear!]

[To readily enjoy this, you have to read the caption (and look at the guys behind) . . . ]

[We discovered it when we heard Bill laughing, re the Swedish popstar . . . ]

[Back outside, we’ll continue our tour of Tromso in Part 2 . . . ]

There’s a lot of crappy music that people like, you know, all over the world, and Norway is definitely not an exception.  ~  Sondre Lerche

Up Next: Part 2

June 26

Lofoten (Leknes)

This place looked spectacular on our pre-trip YouTube studies.  Unfortunately, we encountered really cruddy weather . . . 

[Arriving on a rainy morn . . . ]

[Leknes is a town in Nordland county.  The town is also the administrative centre of the municipality of Vestvagoy (with 10,764 inhabitants, it is the most populous municipality in Lofoten).  Leknes was designated a “town” in 2002.  The 2.52-square-kilometre (620-acre) town has a population (2018) of 3,556.  The town is situated in the geographical middle of the Lofoten archipelago on the island of Vestvagoya.  Leknes is one of the few towns in Lofoten that does not depend on fisheries and does not have its town centre by the sea.  Because of this, and because of its rapid growth in recent years, it does not have the same traditional wooden architecture as most other towns in Lofoten, and may thus not be as picturesque as its neighbouring fishing villages.  However, the natural surroundings are among the most stunning in Norway, with mountains, peaks, cliffs, and white sandy beaches.  The town’s harbour Leknes Havn is one of Norway’s most important and visited harbours for cruise ships. The old school in the Fygle neighborhood has been converted into a museum. Hol Church is located on the eastern edge of the town.  In Leknes, the sun (midnight sun) is above the horizon from May 26 to July 17, and in winter the sun does not rise from December 9 to January 4 (Wikipedia).]

[And before we go anywhere . . . ]

[Buksnes Church in the photo center is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Vestvagoy Municipality in Nordland county.  It is located in the village of Gravdal (the twin village to Leknes) on the island of Vestvagoya (Wikipedia).]

[On to Leknes . . . ]

[And here it is . . . ]

[In port . . . ]

[On the bus for our tour of Panoramic Lofoten, Majestic Mountains and Fising Villages of the Lofoten Islands . . . ]

[So we remember where we left the ship . . . ]

[Mountain mist . . . ]

[Sheeps . . . ]

[Even more sheeps . . . ]

[Not exactly a nice beach day . . . ]

[My Norwegian is rusty, but this was at the beach . . . ]

[This is Uttakleiv Beach, the most romantic beach in Europe per the British Times . . . ]

[Sheeps at the beach . . . ]

[No sunbathers . . . ]

[Apparently rock stacking is not always looked upon favorably (in lots of places) . . . ]

[To the beach . . . ]

[The weather was not letting up . . . ]

[Picasso?]

[The harbor . . . ]

[Fish processing company . . . ]

[Our bus, we did “sightseeing” from it . . . ]

[Cod drying rack . . . ]

[Buksnes church again, so we must be in Gravdal . . . ]

[The driver gave notice there was a photo op up the driveway as we drove along . . . ]

[Back to the Sun . . . ]

[Cod . . . ]

[Bad looking dudes (and dudettes) . . . ]

[Have you kept track of the number of troll pics with the Super?]

[Back on the ship for a lecture on Norway’s big three:  Munch, Ibsen, and Grieg . . . ]

[Having worked up an appetite . . . ]

[Mmmm, good!]

[Mine too!]

[Now on to the really good stuff!]

[We subsequently “sailed” to Tromso on full stomachs . . . ]

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.  Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.  ~  Mark Twain

Up Next:  Tromso?

*  Spoiler alert:  We won! 

September 27

[As is now custom, Homecoming weekend begins with the Education Foundation Hall of Fame luncheon at Broadway Ballroom . . . ]

[Assembled diners looking for a table with a view . . . ]

[EFoundation Executive Director Christine Reilly . . . ]

[The high school carolers entertained . . . ]

[On to the football game, beginning with the Homecoming Royalty . . . ]

[I admit I skipped the parade this year.  The weather was what I would call iffy.  Iffy is what people my age call it when I wouldn’t have gone to the game either except we have a good team that’s fun to watch . . . ]

[The band was on hand to greet the team out of its  . . .  tunnel?]

[And here they are . . . ]

[We kicked off; Brainerd a 3 and out . . . ]

[We marched down the field.  Here QB Matthew Carlsen (7) handed off to Nolan Morical (5) who appears to have a nice opening . . . ]

[A nice gain . . . ]

[And Morical again . . . ]

[Carlsen launches a pass (ball, upper right) . . . ]

[If not on this play, the Cards scored on a pass from Carlsen to Krisen Hoskins (13).  Cards were up 7 – 0 and it appeared to be easy . . . ]

[But the Warriors scored on a long drive, and then kicked off to Hoskins . . . ]

[Kristen headed cross field . . . ]

[And found a lane up the left sideline . . . ]

[A long return to near midfield . . . ]

[The Cards held a 20 – 7 lead at the half, though Brainerd controlled the ball for much of the time . . . ]

[Homecoming Royalty was introduced at the half . . . ]

[The young ones appeared in awe of their elders . . . ]

[I missed photographing the 2nd half kickoff.  I have been to two home games, and both times we returned the 2nd half kickoff for a touchdown.  This time on a reverse, with Morical pitching to Hoskins who took it all the way . . . ]

[Some times you just have a feeling.  I started shooting this play in an expectation that Morical might break it . . . ]

[And he did, almost all the way . . . ]

[Of course, we continued on for another touchdown . . . ]

[A Morical run . . . ]

[Followed by another Morical run . . . ]

[And Will Heydt (38) finished the TD drive . . . ]

[I thought this was going to be the final score . . . ]

[But Colton Schabel intercepted a pass and returned it 4 yards for the final score.  Another big win for the now 4 – 1 Cards . . . ]

September 28

[The next day we voted in the morning . . . ]

[Then joined Karin & Dave at the winery on beautifully chilly September day . . . ]

[For the musical stylings of Elsa Lee . . . ]

[She said her fingers thawed out by the next morning . . . ]

[We dropped by Mom’s old neighborhood, lushly green from a wet summer . . . ]

[Then to the Lure Lakebar for music with Greg Donahue and Erik Schultz . . . ]

[They drew a good crowd, some going next to the Buddy Holly concert at the high school auditorium, while the Super and I matriculated to . . . ]

[Where the Homecoming weekend began the day before . . . ]

[The Super came home with six bottles of adult beverages . . . ]

[And we were joined for a while by the school’s professional photographer, Mark Ripley.  See you again next year!]

As truth be told, homecoming never gets old.  ~  Hlovate

Up Next:  Next stop Norway?

June 25

At Sea

So what does one do when at sea all day.  Let’s find out.  Oh, we crossed the Arctic Circle . . .

[For the Super, why not begin the day in the spa . . . ]

[Then up top for fun in the sun . . . ]

[Why yes, I am having a delightful read.  I just can’t remember what it was?]

[I can’t remember what the Super was reading either . . . ]

[Then on to the pool where Arctic Circle celebrations were about to begin . . . ]

[The buffet line under the big screen . . . ]

[Bags of ice in the pool – cold water for crossing the “Arctic Circle,” don’cha know . . . ]

[The Super, with Ole in hand, ready for her “Arctic Circle” crossing . . . ]

[We’re ready!]

[Cruise Director Corinne lays out the plan . . . ]

[The assembled masses assembled . . . ]

[Corinne led the way, the first to cross the “Arctic Circle” . . . ]

[Some began with a belly flop . . . ]

[The Super is assisted into the pool . . . ]

[Don’t get Ole wet!]

[She appreciates a helping hand . . . ]

[And made it . . . ]

[Woo-woo!]

[A dollop of blue whipped cream indicates she made it with a frozen nose . . . ]

[With a glass of champagne for warmth . . . ]

[The Arctic Circle?  Well, actually we didn’t really cross until later in the evening . . . ]

[Well, Ole got to celebrate too . . . ]

[Mmmmmm!]

[And they kept coming . . . ]

[And coming . . . ]

[And coming . . . ]

[And everybody had a cub reporter . . . ]

[The Super gave me her aquavit . . . ]

[Akvavit or aquavit (also akevitt in Norwegian) is a distilled spirit that is principally produced in Scandinavia, where it has been produced since the 15th century.  Akvavit is distilled from grain and potatoes, and is flavoured with a variety of herbs.  Akvavit is also popular in Germany.  Akvavit gets its distinctive flavour from spices and herbs, and the dominant flavour must (according to the EU) come from a distillate of caraway and/or dill seed.  It typically contains 40% alcohol by volume or 80 proof (U.S.)  The EU has established a minimum of 37.5% ABV for akvavit to be named as such (Wikipedia).]

[Here is a primer on how to drink, and respond to, aquavit . . . ]

[Uff da fy da!]

[Meanwhile, the cruise continues . . . ]

[After hours of research, I now believe this is the Gjemnessund Bridge in the distance.]

[As we meander through a bit of an island-crusted inland waterway . . . ]

[The Gjemnessund Bridge (Gjemnessundbrua) crosses the Gjemnessundet strait between the mainland and the island of Bergsoya in the municipality of Gjemnes.  The 1,257-metre-long (4,124 ft) bridge was the longest suspension bridge in Norway until the opening of the Hardanger Bridge in 2013, although it did not have the longest span (623 metres or 2,044 feet), being eclipsed by the Askoy Bridge.  Gjemnessund Bridge was opened in 1992, and has 21 spans with a maximum clearance to the sea of 43 metres (141 ft).  It was built as part of the Krifast project, the mainland road connection of the city of Kristiansund (Wikipedia).]

[Of course, I may be totally wrong about this bridge . . . ]

[And this is Torghatten, a granite mountain on the island of Torget in Bronney Municipality in Nordland county.  It is known for its characteristic hole, or natural tunnel, through its center.  It is possible to walk up to the tunnel on a well-prepared path, and through it on a natural path (Wikipedia).]

[This has to have been used in a sci-fi movie?]

[While at sea, it’s fun to go to lectures.  Here are two . . . ]

[Then you may as well just keep partying . . . ]

[This was the Explorers’ Society party for the guests who have previously sailed with Viking . . . ]

[Then joining Anne and Bill as we enjoy a pre-dinner beverage . . . ]

[As we await . . . ]

[The evening’s entertainment . . . ]

[A rather unique island formation here as I lean over fellow diners for the shot . . . ]

[I searched for a “nipple-topped” island but couldn’t find a name . . . ]

[Then nighttime entertainment, the Viking Vocalists performed the ABBA Songbook . . . ]

[They were really, really good in their cover.  As I recall, two of them were from London, one of the guys was from Hesinki, and one of the gals was from Belfast (?) . . . ]

[The ABBA show started at 9:15.  After it was over, we went out when an announcement came were nearing the Arctic Circle . . . ]

[The rest of the photos are of that event, marking the farthest north I have even been.]

[That globey looking thing is the marker . . . ]

[From the bedroom . . . ]

[On the next day, we would arrive in Leknes . . . ]

[The proof!]

The colors live a remarkable life of their own after they have been applied to the canvas.  ~  Edvard Munch

Up Next:  Homecoming?

 

 

 

September 20

Always remember to support your local orchestra for it is only with musicians in that configuration can true justice be done to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony . . . 

[Literally (as opposed to unliterally) as I was donning my finery for the gala, a hummingbird was enjoying happy hour on the Super’s petunias . . . ]

[Then on to the gala, the 5th annual . . . ]

[The Maestro, Brad Lambrecht, addressed the assembled masses . . . ]

[And away we go . . . ]

[First, check on the bar, then join in on . . . ]

[A Norwegian Bridal Veil dance (or march, or walk) . . . ]

[The Super and I participated until it was . . . ]

[Time for me to do some cub reporting (and I’d stepped on someone’s foot) . . . ]

[It was quite a convoluted operation . . . ]

[But a good time was had by all . . . ]

[Speaking of good time . . . ]

[I was eager to show the doubters that in 1958 I did indeed play 2nd trumpet for the Alexandria 6th grade band!]

[And then the Super soloed . . . ]

[Mark Anthony and Sandy Susag did the introductions and announcements . . . ]

[The dance floor was overrun with little people . . . ]

[Hurry, the bar is empty!]

[Grandparental duties in action . . . ]

[Brad announces commencement of further music . . . ]

[While people visit the silent auction items along the back wall . . . ]

[Ready . . . set . . .  scramble . . . ]

[The view from our table where we munched hors d’oeuvres . . . ]

[And the little people were joined by larger people . . . ]

[A tuba quartet . . . ]

[Maestro and family hit the dance floor . . . ]

[Jim “Slide” Phillips on trombone . . . ]

[The Fat Boys Walking Club from the Y dubbed him “Slide” (clever of us, huh?) . . . ]

[Again, the view from the cheap seats . . . ]

[And the final dance off . . . ]

[The Super scored a Mimi Seykora pottery piece in the silent auction . . . ]

See you at the concerts!

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is the most sublime noise that has ever penetrated into the ear of man.  ~  E. M. Forster

Up Next:  Jeez, please Norway . . .

September 17 **

*  Another 5 game match!  Bradey and I are 72.  We can’t take this much longer.  We were almost comatose!

** Also the birthday of the Super’s brother Dan and sister Faith, though Dan is two years younger . . .

[We arrived in time for our usual seats, whose sightlines become partially obscured with the arrival of the student fans.  Well, it’s their gig . . . ]

[Here’s the loyal opposition, the dreaded Moorhead Spuds.  Based on the records coming into the game, the Spuds would have to be considered the favorites . . . ]

[The home standing Cardinals were coming off a tough 1-3 weekend against Twin Cities teams . . . ]

[Nevertheless, they seemed to be in fine spirits.  I didn’t notice until I processed this photo that high school classmate Gary Ekdahl is in the background (red shirt) – I understand he has a history with the Alexandria volleyball program?]

[Number 2 for the Spuds is Claire Howell.  She is the state champion in the 400-meter dash.  Her grandparents are Alexandrians . . . ]

[The Cardinals engage in high five practice as a prelude to match commencement . . . ]

[It must condition the hands prior to swatting the ball around?]

[Game 1 begins with the Cards in the standard ‘I’ formation . . . ]

[Since that formation generally leaves wide portions of the court undefended, the players generally fan out from here.  The McGrane sisters (sophomore libero Tessa (1) and senior Mia (5)) at the end of the line discus where they are going to go next . . . ]

[The game begins.  The aforementioned Howell grandparents are in the upper left – Ken in a black Spuds tee shirt, Jeanne in a red shirt (reflecting torn loyalties since their kids were Cardinals?) . . . ]

[Cardinals Mia and fellow senior Meg Shercliffe (7) decide it’s time for a visit with teammates on the bench.  Meg is also a hockey forward . . . ]

[Mia serves.  She’s also a starting guard on the basketball team . . . ]

[Sitting in the background is Alayna Strand (in shorts), who I believe is a student manager and likely also will be a starter on the basketball team . . . ]

[Senior Erika Roderick (2) serves.  Erika is the team’s setter, and as I recall is also a sprinter on the track team . . . ]

[The Grandparents Howell engrossed in the action . . . ]

[Keeping an eye on granddaughter Claire . . . ]

[By evening’s end, I will have seen the Cardinals play 10 games.  This first game was by far the best I have seen . . . ]

[A switch of sides, the high five hand warm-up . . . ]

[OK, it was likely after having scored a point . . . ]

[Tessa prepares to receive a serve.  Mia and junior Lexi Cole (4) prepare for the set . . . ]

[Mia rises for the shot . . . ]

[And then serves again . . . ]

[Mia again rises to the occasion . . . ]

[Sophomores Maggie Anderson (16) and Madi Heid (6) at the net with Mia in the background . . . ]

[At 6′ tall, Maggie figures to be a force in the coming years.  She will be on the basketball team as well . . . ]

[She has an all-around game . . . ]

[Time for a team meet-and-greet . . . ]

[And maybe a spot ‘o tea . . . ]

[Meanwhile, back at the game, here’s Mia again . . . ]

[She draws your attention with her all-around game . . . ]

[But her athletic ability holds your attention.  She’s ‘only’ 5’6″ but she has a great vertical (meaning she jumps high).  So, she gets a lot of sets for kill opportunities, and I believe she was the leader in such in this game . . . ]

[Our point –  but the Spuds won games 2 & 3 . . . ]

[And Maggie again . . . ]

[The dreaded ‘conga line’ formation . . . ]

[Split!  I’m not sure how good this team will be by the end of the season, but I think they could be a tough out . . . ]

[I believe this is sophomore Lilly Thul (15) and Erika up for the block . . . ]

[Celebrate . . . ]

[Celebrate . . . ]

[Dance to the music . . . ]

[Game 4, every bit as close as the score indicates (now that’s profound).  The Spuds went on to win Game 5, 15 – 12, and the match, but it was a good match from a fan’s perspective. . . ]

[The current and future stars . . . ]

My coach tells me to give about 75% to volleyball. If I give 100%, my serve will kill someone, and my coach doesn’t want to deal with the paperwork.  ~  Unknown

Up Next:  Norway is getting so far behind . . . ]