Monday, August 27, 2007

Riding the storm




...well...at least breaking the waves and facing the wind. But the title of the same Running Wild song sounds way cooler, so I'm rolling with that. One of the highlights on being on vacation in Sogn og Fjordane is cruising the fjord. In a boat, believe it or not. Given the well-known fact that I've got about the same stomach for being on the sea as a hung-over dude from Nebraska who just started his day with a quart of rancid olive oil and a large portion of the Tandoori surprise (ya know; the kind where the "surprise" hits you about half an hour after the meal), one would not imagine that I'd actually enjoy being on a boat. But there's a loop hole.

If I'm exposed to "normal", rolling waves, I'm pretty much screwed. My friends from Averøya still recite the legendary tale of me getting beyond sea sick on the 22nd of December 1992 less than two hundred meters after the boat left the pier in Kristiansund. Way before being even close to hitting open waters. The fact that I've gotten sea sick five meters from the pier whilst being at the oars of a rowboat on a quiet day in a calm arm of Sognefjorden is also fast establishing me as a maritime wuss of epic proportions. Needless to say, episodes such as the above have made me reconsider my ambition to become a pirate. Calm sea just doesn't work for me. Still, for some unknown reason, I've got nada problems if there is more action, and the boat is jumping and crashing into waves. That's just gravy, and I'm lovin' it.

Sognefjorden is just beautiful, as can be seen from the above pictures, and it's impossible not to get an extraordinary sense of well-being in an environment like that. The mind works in mysterious ways, and for me, experiences and places are interconnected with pieces of music. Every single time I've been on Sognefjorden, I hear the song "Candlelight Fantasia" by Symphony X playing in my mind. Check it out if ya get a chance.

We'll go back again next summer for sure.

10 comments:

Anders said...

W, since I've lived at the coast all my life, I'm gonna let you in on a secret regarding seasickness. You've probably seen those old, rugged fischermens in their knitted sweaters and smoking a pipe. And what do they wear on their heads? A leather cap! And they are never seasick. Ever! But with your severe case of seasickness, I think you'll have to add leather vest and pants to the cap to be on the safe side. I also recommend a dog collar to complete the outfit. You'll never be seasick again. I strongly suggest you test this out on the next social gathering on your workplace. Or at your next conferance. No need to thank me. In fact, I prefer that you don't mention my name at all. And that you pretend that you don't know me if we ever should bump into each other on a boat trip.

Just kidding! (in case you wondered).
Those are beautiful scenes. Even on my tiny cell phone screen.

Anders said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anders said...

I'd also get sick pretty fast if I heard Symphony X over and over again in my head...
:-D

Wilhelm said...

Heeeeyyyyy.........you've never even heard Symphony X, have ya. Or did we go through "The Odyssey" on one of our CD reviews way back in da day?

Anders said...

Can't remember any Symphony X. Or Symphony I through IX either.

Wilhelm said...

You should really check it out. You may not like it or even stand listening to it, but I'm sure you'll concede that they are very technically proficient.

In other words - they can play fast

Anders said...

I'm betting they play fast, yes. That seems to be the norm rather then the exception when it comes to your CD collection. And the hair more often then not very long...

Wilhelm said...

Yes yes, but did I mention that they can play fast AND change time signatures in mid-song?

Anders said...

Sounds like Zappa on double speed to me... ;-)

Wilhelm said...

....not "Candlelight Fantasia", bud