Posted on by Trish

Day trip by car in Trøndelag

On Wednesday, the 28th of July, the three of us got out of the house for the day. We left at 10 am and got home at 7 pm. We drove about 300 km and enjoyed a warm sunny day, mostly in our air-conditioned car. However we did get out of the car several times and a couple of walks were included.

First we drove to the city of Trondheim (a two-hour drive) where a piece of used computer equipment was purchased from a private person. We then used the rest of the time to drive home a different, very indirect way.

Jonsvatnet, Trondheim

Trondheim is a city of about 205,000 people and is the third most populous city in Norway. It’s main source of drinking water is a lake called Jonsvatnet which is 8 km long and has a maximum width of 4.5 km. It’s surface area is 14.3 square km and its surface elevation is 150 meters above sea level. Maximum depth of the lake is 94.4 meters, and the volume is 505 268 million cubic meters of water. (Source: NVE Atlas). The lake is also used as a source of water for the production of electricity for the city of Trondheim.

Jonsvatnet

The lake lies in a north-west to south-east direction and we followed the road along the north-east side of the lake. We made one stop on the lake to get out and stretch our legs. The weather was sunny and the temperature was about 26 degrees Celsius. As this lake is a source of drinking water, it was interesting to see the signs posted at this lay-by.

This sign gives a map of the lake and the light-colored area is the area which drains into the lake. There is a list of things that you are not allowed to do such as swimming, using a motorboat, or pitching a tent within 100 meters of the shore.
A very good sign: “Burnt hot dogs, thanks, but not right beside the lake. Camping and fires must be at least 100 meters from the lake.”
Another good sign: “Camping is great, but not right beside the lake. You must be 100 meters from the lake.” In order to illustrate how far 100 meters is, there is an outline of the cathedral in Trondheim showing that its length is about 100 meters. Deg = you. A person is very small in relation to the cathedral.
Jonsvatnet, looking north-west towards the city of Trondheim

Storfossen

The Homla River, which flows from Fold Lake to Trondheim Fjord, has several waterfalls on it as it descends to the fjord at Hommelvik. We found a parking place for walkers to access one of the waterfalls, Storfossen (literally, the large waterfall) which has a fall height of 40 meters. This waterfall is located in a nature reserve, Homla Naturreservat, which was set aside in 2015, to protect the river’s valley and the nature within the valley.

A map of the Homla Nature reserve
The first part of the path was wide. It has been very dry and warm lately and the path was very dusty. Even though we were walking mid-week, there were quite a few other people on the trail.
There were sheep out and I found this fence intriguing. People are able to easily go through the swing gate at the left. However a sheep that pushed it would not be able to manage the intricate concept that you have to hold the gate open half way, while you slide around it. This was certainly not a gate for the handicapped or very heavy people.

The two older people on the walk, found that it got a bit difficult after a bit, partly because of the heat, but the younger person was able to get to the viewing point of the falls.

Storfossen with a large pool at its base, where people were going swimming on this warm summer day.

Mostadmarka Jernverk /Iron works

We went back into our car and continued our car trip. The next stop was Mostadmarka Ironworks which existed from 1653 to 1880. Initially the Iron Works would have used iron ore found locally, though in later years it would have had to been brought in from other parts of Norway. They produced iron and steel products including wood-burning ovens, war materials, bolts and nails.

The museum was not open the day we were there, but we were able to wander around the area and peek into windows. More information about the Mostadmark Iron Works can be read here in English.

The introduction to the Mostadmarka Iron Works shows a drawing of the different buildings that have been on this site. Very few of the buildings still exist.
One building that still exists and has been restored is the “Office”
Inside the office building there seemed to be some information available. I would presume that the wood-burning oven to the right would be one that had been made at the iron works.

As we walked around the museum area we saw the Homla River, tumbling down the hillside. This would be the same river as falls down Storfossen.

The Homla River would have been dammed about here to provide energy for the iron works.
In various places around the museum area, there were information signs which explain how things worked in various periods of the Iron Works. This sign is about delivering charcoal which would have been made by local farmers and how much they got paid for it. Charcoal was essential for getting the heat in the ovens hot enough to make iron and steel.
This is a reconstruction of the smithy. Not much of the old iron works was left when the museum was established and volunteers set to work to make an open air museum here.

As we walked up the hill behind the museum area we came to a dam and a lake. The dam was built in 1900 and is used to create the lake.

This is where the Homla River starts, with this dam that creates Fold Lake.
The top of Fold Lake is 209 meters above sea level. It is quite a large lake and is used for recreation. There were quite a few cabins around the lake.
Fold Lake. The picture was taken from the dam.

Selbu

From Fold Lake we drove to Selbustrand where we drove along Selbu Lake to the center of the municipality of Selbu. It was now about 3 pm and time for us to have a meal. The village has a nice center with everything within easy walking distance. We found a restaurant and had two pizzas for dinner. After dinner we walked around and found the old people’s home, the municipal hall, the church and the museum.

Selbu is known for pre-built wooden houses, called Selbuhus, made in local factories and then assembled on-site. We drove by the factory as we were looking for a place to eat.

Selbu is also known for its two-color knitting patterns and here I was particularly interested. There was a small store in the local museum and I was fascinated by the displays in the windows.

The items here would be knitted by local women. Most of the mittens seen here feature the Selbu rose, in various forms. Woollen mittens made with two colors become very thick and warm.
The museum and the store were housed in a large building near the church. We didn’t explore the museum, but I did go into the store and buy a book.
The book that I bought at Selbu with hundreds of different patterns that can be used for mittens, socks and sweaters.
Knitting was such an important part of the women’s world that a statue was erected showing a mother teaching her daughter to knit.
The village center had an interesting pedestrian area. Note the Selbu rose carved into the wall.
The Selbu rose was found everywhere here.
Even the local savings bank used the Selbu rose as part of its logo.

I have only been able to show you some of the pictures that I took on our trip. It was interesting for us to get away from the house for a day. We were out for nine hours and saw quite a few new places. I am always glad to get home after a lot of driving, but I felt we had had a good day. I hope you have enjoyed seeing some of the things we experienced.

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