Hike to find Barb's Grandmother's House.

Friday, August 1

Midmorning Haakon drove us a few kilometers from their home to a trailhead.  The street at the trailhead is named Tarlebo, Barb’s grandmother’s maiden name.  The narrow road, once leading to the farms up the valley is now a wide trail used only by hikers, runners, and bikers.  In 1907 a dam was built to block the valley’s stream leading from 2 small lakes.  Now the valley is full of water, a reservoir for Bergen’s drinking water.  Since the area was designated as a water shed, all the valley’s farms were then purchased by the city of Bergen and all farming and animal raising was stopped to protect the quality of the water supply.  One of the farms that were sold to the city was the Tarlebo farm, Barb’s ancestors.

 

Hiking trail sign indicating Barb's family name Tarlebo

Haakon and Inger Helene noting starting and ending points.

The first part of the trail, the old road.

The stream and two small lakes now a large reservoir.

As we began to walk up the trail one could readily see that over the 100 years since the valley was abandoned, it had returned to a natural forest state. 

An abandoned structure along the way.

 

The wide trail turned into a narrow one and signs announced that we were nearing the Tarlebo farm.  Many other signs designated the other farms that had been abandoned, a historical record for the interested hiker and the visiting ancestor. 

The larger trail breaks off toward Barb's family farm.

An explanation on a sign indicating Tarlebo

 

Haakon guided us to the remains of the farm.  The characteristic tall rock foundations were standing but the rest of the structure had gone back to nature.  Barb and Haakon knocked on the imaginary door waiting for Barb’s grandmother and her sister, Haakon’s mother to answer. 

The farm

The home and connected barn.

Knocking on Grandma's door.

A picture of that home circa 1900.

The rich carpet of moss in the area.  Rainfall average over 80 inches a year.

 

The hike was 9 km (5.4 miles) long, the longest I had attempted since 2003.  It was an impressive hike, noting family history and lore.  I was in pain for 3 days but I would never give up the experience of that day.  The walk with Haakon and Inger was so rewarding and informative.  To visit the home of a long ago but not forgotten ancestor was so fulfilling.  Big day.  Fun.   Barb's grandmother immigrated to the U.S. in 1912

Picking wild berries on way down.

Near the end of the hike.