- 11 hours ago
Lorraine Kelly’S Norwegian Odyssey - Season 1 Episode 3
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00:01This is Norway, a land of raw beauty.
00:06Snow-capped mountains, crystal clear fjords
00:10and one of the wildest, most beautiful coastlines on earth.
00:18Jesus Christ!
00:19I'm Lorraine Kelly and I have been dreaming of this adventure
00:23ever since I was a little girl.
00:26Growing up across the water, I was fascinated by tales of Viking maidens,
00:32mighty longboats and Norse warriors.
00:35So I'm heading off to meet my neighbours on my very own Norwegian adventure.
00:41This is spectacular.
00:43This is a place where the landscape is in charge.
00:47That is a strong current, isn't it?
00:49Oh my God.
00:52Where myths come alive.
00:53If you kiss under one of the portals, it'll bring eternal luck and love.
00:58Oh!
00:59And where people and nature are as one.
01:03There's something really magical about whales, especially orcas.
01:07As I travel over a thousand miles up into the Arctic Circle.
01:12That is a massive cliff and we are very close.
01:16I'll experience a true Norwegian welcome.
01:19He wants to play.
01:24Embrace local traditions.
01:27Oh my God.
01:28Oh, look what I did.
01:31Look what I did.
01:33In a land full of wonder.
01:36What an extraordinary place.
01:40Oh jeez, I don't know why I'm getting so emotional, but that's special.
01:43And I'll fulfil a lifelong dream to see the Northern Lights.
01:49It is incredible.
01:53Here we go.
01:57So join me as I explore this land and meet the people who call this spectacular and wild place
02:04their home.
02:05I'm exploring Norway's rugged Lofoten Islands, a place where land and sea shape every part of life.
02:25It's a coastline peppered with traditional fishing villages on the shores of an ocean that's been fished since the Stone Age.
02:35Here, cod is king and the most important catch for thousands of years.
02:40Dried cod.
02:44This actually kept the Vikings going on their long sea voyages.
02:49They would take this with them.
02:50And you know what?
02:51They would have dried it exactly the same way that it's being done now.
02:55It's just the wind full of sea air left up here for about three months.
03:00And then it looks like that.
03:03At first it sort of looks like kind of dried leaves.
03:05You know how sometimes you see, like, tobacco plants and things like that hanging out?
03:11After being left to dry, this prized stockfish is shipped off to kitchens and restaurants around the world.
03:21I'm starting my journey in the Lofoten Islands on the tiny island of Skrova
03:26before sailing all the way up this Arctic coastline to the most northerly tip of Norway.
03:31The rich fishing grounds of the Lufthans brought the first settlers to Norway's coast some 11,000 years ago.
03:40It's a tradition that still thrives today.
03:44We know that the Vikings traded cod all over Europe and that trade is still really important today to the Norwegian economy.
03:52So I want to find out just how important it is.
03:55I've set myself a mission.
03:57I am going to catch my very own cod.
04:00I'm in one of Norway's oldest fishing villages to meet my skipper, Gier, who's fished this ocean for decades.
04:08Hello!
04:09Hello!
04:10How are you?
04:11I'm good. How are you?
04:12Welcome on board.
04:14My name is Guy.
04:14Oh, fantastic. I'm Levine and it's lovely to see you.
04:18Oh, this is gorgeous.
04:20This is pink.
04:20Hi!
04:21Hello, hello, Captain.
04:23To catch the infamous Norwegian cod, Gier's taking me into the fjords on the MS Simra, which was built to fish these waters more than a hundred years ago.
04:34So what are we looking for out there?
04:36Hopefully we get some nice codfish. Fishing is like hunting. You never know before you come.
04:41No, you don't, right? Okay.
04:42Let's go.
04:43Let's go. Let's do it.
04:44Okay, babe.
04:45This sea is home to the world's largest cod stock, so I'm hoping the odds are in my favour.
04:52How big can you be about this?
04:54No. Oh, no. They can be like this.
04:56Oh, like this?
04:56Yeah.
04:57You know, the biggest Arctic codfish I ever saw was about your size.
05:00No.
05:01We have two types of codfish in Norway.
05:03Right.
05:03We have the coastal cod, which I hear all year round.
05:05So if you catch a cod today, it will be a coastal cod.
05:08But if you come back in the winter, you will get the Arctic cod.
05:11Right.
05:12The Arctic cod live far north in the Bering Sea.
05:14Except for one time every year, they come down here to reproduce.
05:17And they can be really big.
05:18They can be about this size and be up to 50 kilo.
05:21So they are huge.
05:30What you see out here now is the Westfjord.
05:32This is straight out in the Norwegian Sea.
05:34This is like proper seafaring.
05:37Do you know what I mean?
05:37Because it's in a wooden ship.
05:39They say that a boat like this has a soul, you know.
05:42Exactly.
05:43She's got a soul.
05:44Yeah.
05:44That's very true.
05:46For over a century, hand-cranked reels have been used to catch fish
05:50that swim up to 100 metres below the surface.
05:53It's still the best way to catch a cod.
05:56Are we ready to try?
05:58I think so.
05:59OK.
05:59Nice and easy.
06:00Let it slide down.
06:02Up to 1,000 baited hooks can be used on a single line.
06:06We are starting with three.
06:08Just let the wheels spin all the way to the bottom.
06:10You see, I keep my finger here so it doesn't go too fast.
06:13OK.
06:13When I hit the bottom, wind up like two, three, four rounds.
06:16So it's a little bit above the bottom.
06:18Hopefully we get something.
06:20Hopefully.
06:20This is the way they've been doing it for a long, long time, isn't it?
06:22This is very traditional.
06:23This is very traditional, yeah.
06:25OK, now we are at the bottom.
06:26One, two, three.
06:28And then fish like this.
06:29Up, slowly down.
06:30I'm off to a good start, but I need luck and patience in equal measures.
06:35Having Gears' skill and experience is a definite bonus.
06:39You feel?
06:40It's official.
06:41Is it?
06:42Yeah.
06:42Is it?
06:43Yeah.
06:43Is it real?
06:43Oh, you feel it pulling?
06:45Are you sure?
06:46Oh, my goodness.
06:46So what do I do?
06:47What do I do?
06:48You wind up like this.
06:49Right, OK, OK.
06:50Just let the line go.
06:52Oh, my goodness.
06:54Look at that.
06:54There's a fishy on it.
06:55Nice and steady.
06:56Nice and steady.
06:57And I just find a hook.
06:58If it's a big one, you need a hook.
07:00Oh, I hope it's not a tiddler.
07:01That would be embarrassing.
07:05It's important always when you're getting closer, you look over the side.
07:10Can you see it?
07:11Can you see it?
07:11Stop, stop, stop.
07:12Stop.
07:13You lift it up.
07:14A little bit more.
07:14A bit more?
07:15Yeah, a little bit more.
07:16All right, stop.
07:19Oh, look at that.
07:20That's really big.
07:22Oh, look what I did.
07:24Look what I did.
07:26Oh, my goodness.
07:28Can't believe it.
07:29Yeah.
07:29Come on, wee pal.
07:30Right.
07:31What's important when you take the fish on board is the fish well first.
07:35So you mean that you have to kill it right away.
07:37Right.
07:38Yeah.
07:38So I'll do that.
07:38I'll let you do that.
07:39And then we'll try another one.
07:40Yeah.
07:40I like this way of fishing.
07:42There you go.
07:43First time.
07:44First time got a fish.
07:46That is so cool.
07:47Instead of trawlers with big nets, small boats with traditional reels are a priority here,
07:54protecting this highly sustainable fishery.
07:56I'm hoping there are still a few more fish out there for me.
08:00It's hard work being a salty sea dog.
08:02Oh, I think there's something on that.
08:07Yeah, you hit the little fish again.
08:09Yeah.
08:09That's a big one.
08:10Is that a really big one?
08:11Is it?
08:12Yeah.
08:12Yeah, that's good.
08:13That's perfect.
08:14Is that all right?
08:15Yeah.
08:16Kerry, come.
08:16Stop.
08:17Stop.
08:21One little guy.
08:24Okay.
08:24It's a huge one.
08:32Wow.
08:32Wow.
08:33Two.
08:36This is even bigger.
08:38Oh.
08:39Wow.
08:40Crikey.
08:41Can I see this guy?
08:42Yeah.
08:45Look at this.
08:45We can't see.
08:47Three fish at the one time.
08:48They're either teaming with fish
08:50or I am a fantastic fisher person.
08:53Do you think it's me?
08:54Yeah, you're doing a perfect job.
08:56Oh, look at that.
08:58Amazing.
08:59I honestly didn't think I'd catch anything.
09:06It's hard to stop on a winning streak,
09:09but it's time to cook our catch
09:11the seafarer's way,
09:13right here on the water.
09:15Geera is over there preparing the fish.
09:17I mean, that's the freshest fish
09:19that you'll ever get in your whole life,
09:20certainly that I've ever had.
09:22I can't wait.
09:23I'm starving all this hard-working fresh air.
09:25Okay.
09:26Are you ready to taste the catch of the day?
09:29This is a typical way of eating northern Norway.
09:31Yeah.
09:32So it's sour cream, butter, dry bread
09:34and some fresh fish.
09:36Is this the fish that I caught?
09:37That's the fish you caught 15 minutes ago,
09:39as fresh as it can be.
09:41No, look.
09:42Mmm.
09:44Oh, that's good.
09:45It's beautiful.
09:46Mmm.
09:46It just tastes like sea.
09:49Mmm.
09:49It's so good.
09:50And just to be here,
09:52take it easy,
09:53enjoy the nature,
09:54sitting here like you and me are now,
09:56that's something for the soul, you know.
09:58Oh, it is.
09:58I love it.
09:59A day like this
10:00is one of my favourite days.
10:02It is.
10:02Me too.
10:03Thank you for sharing it with us.
10:05Thanks.
10:05What a lovely special time.
10:07Mmm.
10:07I used to go fishing with my dad,
10:15sort of off the Ayrshire coast
10:17and we would go out in a boat
10:19with the hand lines
10:20and we'd use mackerel for bait back then,
10:22but very rarely caught anything
10:24and if you did,
10:25it was a wee tiny thing.
10:26Look at this.
10:28First time.
10:29Big fish.
10:31Huge.
10:32No, they were big.
10:34I'm very proud of myself.
10:37It's great fun.
10:39Oh, that's pretty, isn't it?
10:57It's summer in Norway
10:59and at this time of the year,
11:01the midnight sun shines 24 hours a day.
11:05Its warmth brings the landscape to life,
11:08sparking creativity and innovation
11:10across the Arctic.
11:12The little red houses
11:13and the bridges
11:15and it's so green, obviously.
11:18Just glorious.
11:20I'm keen to discover
11:21how this endless light
11:22shapes the people,
11:24their work
11:24and the industries that thrive here.
11:27You've got so many people
11:28that actually live here
11:29and have carved out
11:30a wonderful life
11:31for themselves.
11:33I'm travelling
11:34to the far western tip
11:36of the Luftham archipelago
11:37to the sleepy fishing village
11:39of Victon.
11:42It was here 50 years ago
11:43that a local fisherman
11:45introduced a new trade
11:46to the region.
11:48Hello.
11:49Hi.
11:50Hello.
11:51Wow, it's so happening.
11:52Anders Tangrand and his brother Robert
11:55come from generations of fishermen
11:58but learnt the art of glassblowing
12:00from their father.
12:02How long have you been doing this?
12:04All my life, more or less.
12:05My dad, he was a fisherman actually
12:08in the early 70s,
12:09a really creative fisherman.
12:11And he started melting glass in 75.
12:15Anders' dad, Osvar,
12:16melted down colourful glass fishing floats
12:19to create stunning artworks
12:21and found his calling.
12:23The iconic symbol of the Lufthans
12:25was his creation,
12:26celebrating the connection
12:27between man and fish.
12:29Anders and Robert
12:30are continuing the tradition
12:32with pieces that reflect
12:34their surroundings.
12:36So tell me,
12:36where do you get
12:37all your inspiration from?
12:38From the colour,
12:39from the sea,
12:40from the grey sky,
12:43from the fog,
12:44from the Lofthans nature.
12:46The glass is made from sand,
12:49ash and limestone
12:50with colours
12:51from the local landscape.
12:54The quartz, the stone
12:55we put in the glass
12:56came from a cliff
12:57in the mountain in Lofthans.
12:59So it's actually a pieces
13:01of the mountain
13:02inside the glass.
13:04Blowing glass by hand
13:06makes each piece unique.
13:08Gosh, how long does it take you
13:10to get really good at this?
13:11Because that looks very intricate
13:13and...
13:14No.
13:14I have tried the whole life
13:16and I'm not very good.
13:17You are very good.
13:19Behave!
13:20You want to try
13:21glass blowing?
13:22Yes, I'll have a go.
13:24Why not?
13:24As long as you help me.
13:26Yeah.
13:26We will help you.
13:28Don't leave me
13:29to my own devices.
13:31You can touch
13:32down here,
13:33but not here.
13:34It's the danger zone.
13:35This is the danger zone.
13:36Hospital zone.
13:37Hospital zone!
13:38Did that do anything?
13:44A little bit.
13:45That's rubbish, right?
13:48You can say it's rubbish
13:49but it's rubbish.
13:50Try again.
13:50Okay.
13:51I've not got any puff.
13:56Did that do anything?
13:57No.
13:58I'm rubbish.
14:00Oh, my God, look!
14:09That's quite good.
14:11That's quite good.
14:11Look at what I did.
14:12Yes.
14:12It's like...
14:13Oh!
14:13He blew too hard.
14:16I blew too hard.
14:17I think I'm going to leave it
14:18to the professionals.
14:19I can see how glass blowing
14:21can take a lifetime to master
14:23and the guys are keen
14:24that I remember my time here...
14:26Oh, you're making eyes!
14:28..in a region made famous by cod.
14:31So, what is that?
14:32Is that just a bit of glass?
14:33Black glass.
14:36Then that just comes off.
14:38Look at that!
14:39Lorraine, can you help me
14:42put the beard on the cod?
14:45We need a little beard.
14:46Okay.
14:48Cod need beard.
14:51Lift a bit.
14:52Okay.
14:52Come on.
14:54Yay!
14:55I did something.
14:56I think we've done
14:57a very good job, frankly.
14:59It's really good.
14:59That's just like it's me beard.
15:01Ah!
15:02Ta-da!
15:04That was really good,
15:05wasn't it?
15:06That was great.
15:08We're hot and we're sweaty
15:09but we're happy.
15:10Happy.
15:10Yes, very happy.
15:12It's absolutely mesmerising
15:15to watch Anders and Robert at work.
15:17It all began with their father
15:18years ago
15:19and they're carrying on
15:21this incredible craft.
15:23You can really feel
15:24the skill and the patience
15:25and the passion
15:26that goes into every creation.
15:30So, there we are.
15:30I've caught a real fish
15:32and made a glass fish.
15:39In northern Norway
15:40there can be almost
15:41two months
15:41of constant daylight
15:42during the summer
15:43creating lush pastures
15:45that are ideal
15:46for grazing livestock.
15:50By the waters
15:52of the Stjørford
15:53and under the midnight sun
15:54Ragnald Lee
15:56breeds Old Norse sheep
15:57to produce yarn
15:59and traditional knitwear.
16:00Hello there.
16:04Hi.
16:04It's lovely to see you.
16:06Hi.
16:06Oh, look.
16:08What a great place
16:08you've got here.
16:09And these sheep
16:11are very special,
16:11aren't they?
16:12Yes.
16:12They're Old Norse sheep.
16:14Yeah.
16:14So, if you check the DNA
16:16it's pretty similar
16:17to the Viking sheep
16:18and has a very rich
16:20genetic variety.
16:22So, you can tell
16:23it's all different colours
16:24and all different looks.
16:26Some have horns,
16:26some don't.
16:27I feel as if I've seen
16:28these sheep before though
16:29when I've been up
16:30in Orkney and Shetland
16:32and St Kilda.
16:33Yeah, for sure.
16:33Is it the same?
16:34Yes, for sure.
16:35They are the cousins
16:35of white sheep here.
16:36You know, the Vikings
16:37brought them from Norway
16:38over to all the Western Isles.
16:41Old Norse sheep
16:42are one of Norway's
16:43oldest breeds
16:44but after seeing
16:45their numbers fall sharply
16:46over several decades
16:47Ragnhild decided to act.
16:51Come on, Jane.
16:52Why was it so important
16:54to you to make sure
16:55that, you know,
16:56that they didn't die out
16:57because they were
16:57in danger of doing that?
16:59So, you know,
16:59I think it's very important
17:00to keep the genes.
17:01From this, theoretically
17:02you could breed
17:03any kind of sheep.
17:05You could choose
17:05the black ones,
17:06the white ones,
17:07the one with the horns.
17:08So, they're a very rich
17:09variety of genes.
17:10And also this kind of wool
17:12is very special.
17:13The big industry
17:14says that this is not
17:15worth anything.
17:17You can't really make
17:17that much out of it.
17:19But you proved them wrong.
17:20Yes.
17:20So, this is the winter coat
17:22and then the summer coat
17:22is coming underneath.
17:23So it is.
17:24You're very calm
17:25and patient, aren't you?
17:26We do actually share them.
17:27They get sheared as well
17:29as kind of,
17:29but you can get
17:30wee bits off them.
17:31Yeah.
17:31Thanks to farmers
17:33like Ragnhild,
17:34old Norse populations
17:35have bounced back
17:36and there's a new
17:37member of the flock
17:38to meet.
17:39Hello.
17:40Hello, wee pal.
17:42Oh, you're so cute.
17:43If you want,
17:44you can name him
17:45because he's special.
17:46All the other
17:47lambs are scared.
17:49Oh, he is special?
17:51Yes.
17:51Could I name him
17:52after my granddaughter
17:53because her name
17:54is Billy?
17:55Yes.
17:55Which is like
17:56for a girl or a boy.
17:57Yeah, yeah, yeah.
17:57So you can be
17:58Billy the Lamb.
17:59Just like the Vikings,
18:03Ragnhild dyes her wool
18:05using materials
18:05found in the fields
18:06around her farm.
18:08Madder for red,
18:09tansy for yellow,
18:11birch for green
18:12and woad for blue.
18:14And there's no yarn
18:15without a bit of spinning.
18:17The thing is that
18:18the wheel should go
18:19this way.
18:20Always this way.
18:21So if I'm pedaling,
18:23hold this very fine
18:24and you'll see
18:24the twist is coming.
18:26And then I'm
18:26putting it in.
18:28You have to be
18:28quite gentle.
18:29Yeah.
18:30Yeah, yeah.
18:30Oh, okay.
18:32Just let it in.
18:33Hold your finger there
18:34and you put it in
18:35and then you let the twist
18:37come a little bit
18:38to this part.
18:40Release
18:40and move your...
18:43Ooh, it's actually...
18:45Oh, it's coming to an end.
18:46Ooh.
18:47What do we do
18:48to make, like,
18:48if it breaks like that?
18:50It's very easy.
18:50We just do like this
18:51and like this.
18:53Oh!
18:54And then you don't need
18:54to make any knots.
18:55Right.
18:56Backward.
18:57Just don't want it to break.
18:58It's quite delicate
18:59and you can't be
19:00in a hurry, really.
19:02No, it's, you know,
19:03once you get into this,
19:04it's very calming.
19:04Quite relaxing
19:05in a strange way.
19:06Mind you, you're doing
19:07half of it.
19:08You want to do
19:08the pedal as well?
19:09Well, I try.
19:09OK.
19:11Give it the hard...
19:13There's too much going on.
19:14Yeah, I can do this.
19:15You do this,
19:16I'll do this.
19:16You know when you're
19:17trying to sort of
19:17rub your belly
19:18and pat your head
19:18at the same time?
19:20It's a wee bit like that.
19:22I can understand
19:23why people, though,
19:23would sing
19:24while they did this.
19:25Yeah, exactly.
19:25Because you get
19:26da, da, da, da.
19:27So would you sing
19:28if you were doing this?
19:30No, there was a time
19:31when we were playing
19:31like really heavy,
19:33like hard, heavy rock.
19:34I love it.
19:37Black Sabbath.
19:39That's not really
19:39what I expected you to sing.
19:41Aussie Osborne
19:42is very good with this.
19:43Aussie Osborne, right?
19:44I was thinking
19:45more kind of
19:45traditional fiddle songs.
19:47You could do that
19:48of course as well.
19:49Why not?
19:50Why not?
19:50Whatever works.
19:53I love it.
19:54That's brilliant.
19:56There's so much skill
19:57that runs through
19:58each and every thread here.
20:00And thanks to locals
20:01like Ragnald,
20:02this tradition is once again
20:03part of Norway's rich culture.
20:09Travelling through the islands,
20:10I can see the deep connection
20:12between people
20:13and their surroundings.
20:15Arctic life is shaped
20:16by the rhythm of the sun.
20:19In winter,
20:19it barely rises
20:20above the horizon.
20:22In summer,
20:23the midnight sun
20:24bathes the landscape
20:25in daylight,
20:26allowing crops to grow
20:27around the clock.
20:29Microfarmers,
20:30Gisla and Oshel,
20:32are taking full advantage
20:33cultivating extraordinary herbs,
20:36plants and flowers
20:37that garnish dishes
20:39across Norway's kitchens.
20:40We have a lot of edible flowers.
20:44Yeah.
20:46These are ready.
20:47They're beautiful.
20:48Chefs love these,
20:49don't they?
20:50They do, yeah.
20:51I mean, they're edible, right?
20:52They're edible,
20:53but they make...
20:54It looks so beautiful.
20:55So, like for example,
20:58we pick...
20:59And you have to go all the way down
21:01to the stem
21:01because if you just cut it here,
21:04then the plant is going to
21:05concentrate on giving this energy.
21:07Ah, okay.
21:08So, you have to be
21:09a bit mindful of that
21:11when you're picking.
21:12These flowers are quite amazing
21:14because when I pick this now,
21:15it's just going to come
21:16again and again and again.
21:18And the more you pick it,
21:19the more it's going to come.
21:20The more it grows.
21:20Yeah, yeah, yeah.
21:21Want to try?
21:22Sure.
21:23That's a lovely one, isn't it?
21:24That's beautiful.
21:25But we have to go down.
21:26Yeah, see if you can find
21:27where the stem is coming from.
21:28Right.
21:29So, like this?
21:30Yeah, and before you put it
21:31in the box,
21:32you just...
21:32Just this one here.
21:34Yeah.
21:34There we go.
21:35And also,
21:35we have the midnight sun.
21:37Yes.
21:37So, we have like double...
21:39Double the sunshine.
21:40Double the flowers.
21:42And the season
21:43is amazingly long.
21:44That'll end up
21:45on someone's plate
21:46and look so beautiful.
21:47Maybe on yours.
21:48We'll see.
21:51As well as help
21:53from the midnight sun,
21:54friends and family
21:55all lend a hand
21:56on the farm.
21:57Oh, the dog is...
21:58The doggie's getting
21:59very excited.
22:00I've been invited
22:00to join them for dinner
22:01to share the fruits
22:03of our labour.
22:04Look at this.
22:05And there's a salad
22:06with your flowers.
22:08Look at the flowers.
22:09Fantastic.
22:10Go to have some of that.
22:11Especially with the flowers.
22:13What's your accent?
22:14Is it...
22:14I'm from Scotland.
22:15Scotland, yeah.
22:17It's a lovely accent.
22:17I like it.
22:18Do you like it?
22:19Do you?
22:19Oh, that's good.
22:20I'm glad.
22:21It sounds exotic to me.
22:24First time I think
22:25I've ever been called exotic.
22:26I'll take it.
22:27I will take it very happily.
22:29You know,
22:29up here is very similar
22:30to Scotland.
22:31Yeah, the highlands.
22:32Yeah, really similar.
22:34I mean,
22:34your mountains are higher
22:36and all of that,
22:37but...
22:37Yeah, but I think
22:39we've got quite a lot
22:39of similarities.
22:41You know,
22:41there's this same
22:42sort of sense of humour,
22:44same sort of people.
22:46Yeah, it's good.
22:47It's really good.
22:48What do you think
22:48is so special
22:49about here,
22:50about this land?
22:51I was going to stay
22:52for one year
22:53when I came here.
22:54and now I've stayed
22:55for 35 years
22:57and it is much
22:59the landscape
22:59but it's also
23:00the people.
23:02Lofoten Grove
23:03has for many,
23:04many, many
23:05hundreds of years.
23:07I would love to propose
23:13a toast
23:13for Lorraine.
23:16So nice to have you here
23:17and to all of you
23:18helping out there
23:20and making this
23:21possible,
23:22this farm.
23:23And thank you,
23:24so nice to have you here.
23:27Thank you so,
23:29so much for your
23:30hospitality.
23:31Cheers.
23:32Cheers.
23:32Being in a place
23:37like this,
23:38which goes back
23:39to Viking times,
23:40you know,
23:40people were farming
23:41here back then.
23:42I've really learned
23:43this connection
23:44that Norwegians
23:45have with the land.
23:48Downstairs,
23:48the party's still going on
23:50and it's three generations
23:51and they'll keep
23:53passing it on
23:53to their children,
23:55grandchildren
23:55and beyond,
23:56hopefully.
23:57And there's something
23:58to be learned
23:59from that for sure.
24:02Wow,
24:17there's a rainbow
24:18dancing
24:19on the spray
24:21from the waves.
24:22I have never seen
24:23anything like that
24:24in my life.
24:26I'm sailing through
24:27the spectacular
24:28Finnmark region
24:29heading towards
24:31Norway's North Cape.
24:32the northernmost point
24:33of mainland Europe.
24:36We're so far north
24:38and yet there's
24:38all these thriving
24:39communities
24:40and tiny little
24:41houses scattered
24:42around
24:43and it's wild.
24:46It's been six months
24:47since I started
24:48my journey
24:49up this epic
24:50coastline
24:50and I've returned
24:52in winter
24:52to a place
24:53known as
24:54the Gateway
24:55to the Aurora Borealis.
24:56I want to see
24:59the Northern Lights.
25:00I've tried so often
25:01all over Scandinavia
25:02and the north of Scotland
25:03and never ever
25:05seen them before
25:05but in Tromso
25:07this is the heart
25:08of what's called
25:09the Auroral Oval.
25:11Basically that means
25:12it's your best chance
25:13of seeing the Northern Lights
25:14so I am
25:15very hopeful.
25:17It's also where
25:17those incredible
25:19polar explorers
25:20set off
25:21and their adventures
25:22people like Nansen
25:23people like Amundsen
25:24and it's also
25:26absolutely spectacular.
25:30Tromsa sits
25:31at 69 degrees north
25:32and its polar museum
25:34pays tribute
25:35to Norway's
25:36most famous explorer
25:37Rold Amundsen
25:38the first man
25:39to reach the South Pole
25:41in 1911.
25:43I've had to wear
25:45these white gloves
25:45because I'm about
25:46to handle something
25:47really precious
25:49and something
25:50I never thought
25:51I would have
25:51the chance to do
25:52this is pure history
25:53look at this
25:54it's the sledge compass
25:56that was used
25:57in that incredible
25:58expedition
25:59to the South Pole
26:01with Amundsen
26:01and his men
26:02and when you think
26:04about the preparation
26:05that was made
26:06he was so organised
26:07and logical
26:08sorted everything out
26:09the clothing
26:10was just right
26:12you know
26:12he listened to
26:13Inuits
26:13who knew
26:14how to dress
26:15properly for the cold
26:17he really was
26:18an remarkable man
26:19I mean that sort of
26:20level of organisation
26:21and just knowing
26:23your goal
26:23setting out for it
26:25and getting it
26:25that's very Norwegian
26:27and I think that spirit
26:28really exists today
26:30this is just
26:31I can't believe
26:32I'm holding this
26:32in my hands
26:33it's absolutely wonderful
26:35it still works
26:37I'll put it back
26:39wow
26:41incredible
26:43above Tromsa
26:51is a mountain camp
26:52that's home
26:53to an iconic
26:54symbol of Arctic life
26:55these huskies
26:58are close relatives
26:59of the dogs
27:00that towed supplies
27:01for Amundsen
27:02and other explorers
27:03to the poles
27:04oh I can hear them
27:07I can hear the dogs
27:08they're Alaskan huskies
27:10oh look
27:12this is brilliant
27:13they look so well behaved
27:15they're all waiting for me
27:17Vivi and her team
27:19breed and look after
27:20more than 150
27:22Alaskan huskies
27:23lovely to see you
27:24hi
27:24nice to meet you
27:24great to see you
27:25and these beautiful
27:26beautiful dogs
27:27tell me about them
27:29they're Alaskan huskies
27:30I believe
27:30they're Alaskan huskies
27:31yes
27:32the Alaskan huskies
27:32were bred and selected
27:34for long distance racing
27:35so they are super
27:36super endurant
27:36they are always happy
27:37to run
27:38they are going to
27:39take us on an adventure
27:40today
27:40oh fantastic
27:41how would you describe
27:42these dogs
27:43apart from the fact
27:44that they're gorgeous
27:45hello
27:45they all have
27:47very different
27:48personalities
27:49Alaskan huskies
27:49are usually very social
27:51they are never
27:51aggressive with people
27:52thing in the morning
27:53we say hi to them
27:54then they're super happy
27:55then we feed them
27:56of course
27:57that's also
27:58the best part of the day
27:59and when they see
28:01the equipment
28:01and they are just
28:02super happy
28:02super excited
28:03so they are basically
28:04professional athletes
28:05and we handle them
28:06like professional athletes
28:08you're a professional athlete
28:09yes you are
28:11this little lady here
28:12is Celia
28:13she's one of our
28:13smallest dogs
28:14she's tiny but mighty
28:15tiny but mighty
28:16she's very very smart
28:18she's one of our
28:18best lead dogs
28:19ah tiny but mighty
28:21Vivi and her dogs
28:23compete in the
28:23cross country
28:24endurance sport
28:25of dog sledding
28:26or mushing
28:27so look at this
28:29majestic dog
28:30he's one of our
28:30bigger males
28:31his name is
28:32Sloben
28:32and he ran
28:33Eiditero
28:34that's a thousand
28:35mile race
28:35and then he ran
28:36Yukon Quest
28:37the same year
28:38sled teams can cover
28:40a hundred miles a day
28:41with dogs running up
28:42to 15 miles an hour
28:44each dog can pull
28:45twice its body weight
28:46racing in temperatures
28:48as low as minus 40
28:49and here in Norway
28:50we have the
28:51Femarts race
28:52the longest race
28:53that's 1200 kilometers
28:55you can just run
28:56incredible distances
28:57this is a really good dog
28:59he's a fabulous
29:00fantastic dog
29:01yes
29:01I'm keen to experience
29:02the life of a musher
29:04but with no snow
29:05in the ground
29:05our transport is
29:07four wheels
29:07and eight dogs
29:08and none of the huskies
29:10want to be left behind
29:12oh we get a concert
29:13I like it though
29:30it's the dog chorus
29:32150 fantastic dogs
29:34all going
29:34like that
29:36okay thank you
29:38what was all that about
29:40do they just do that
29:41now and again
29:41just for fun
29:42so April is going
29:43to join us
29:44April you're going
29:44to join us
29:45good see you in a minute
29:46time for an adventure
29:49and it's not just me
29:50who's excited
29:51it's bedlam
29:54absolute bedlam
29:56because they all want
29:57to come and be in the gang
29:59and go for a big run
30:01it's okay
30:02it's okay
30:04okay
30:08they're happy now
30:18happy now that they're
30:19they're running
30:20it's a nice try
30:21our lead dog on the left
30:24Nala
30:24she's one of our
30:26oldest lead dogs
30:27she's an absolute
30:28brilliant dog
30:29Vince
30:30yeah
30:31and she's all business
30:33when we're running
30:34she's just focusing
30:35on the job
30:36but as soon as we
30:37stop working
30:38she turns into
30:38a little sweetheart
30:39and then she wants
30:40all the cuddles
30:40and kisses
30:41excuse me
30:45she want to go that way
30:48yes
30:48try to jump over
30:49of course
30:51they have their
30:51little own agenda
30:52and then we have to
30:53course correct
30:54in a matter of weeks
30:58this landscape
30:59will be covered
30:59in snow
31:00so just imagine
31:02everything
31:02with a metre
31:03one and a half metre
31:04snow
31:05around here
31:06beautiful
31:06it would just be
31:08like winter wonderland
31:09yes
31:09yes
31:10snow
31:13okay so I'm gonna
31:15have a go
31:16yes
31:17yeah
31:17let's roll
31:18and just like that
31:20the success of our
31:21expedition
31:21lies in my hands
31:24so you can control
31:25the speed with these
31:26two
31:26it's the front
31:27and the rear brake
31:27okay so basically
31:29this is the brake
31:30I'm going to tell
31:31them the comments
31:31do two on left
31:32or right
31:32okay good
31:33okay
31:34I mean I'm slightly
31:35apprehensive
31:36but at the same
31:37time excited
31:37which is good
31:40we can go
31:41we can go
31:42Clara
31:42right
31:43oh god
31:44right
31:44taking the brake
31:45so oh god
31:45oh god
31:46just like
31:46oh oh oh
31:47oh oh
31:48oh oh
31:49oh oh
31:49oh oh
31:50oh oh
31:50oh oh
31:51we're just
31:51crashed into
31:53a branch
31:54it's okay
31:54just try to steer
31:55out
31:56try to steer
31:56out
31:57okay
31:57yes and just
31:58let the brakes
31:58very lightly
31:59go
32:00oh oh oh
32:01and just slower
32:02slowly slowly
32:03okay slowly
32:03slowly
32:04okay
32:05good job
32:06okay
32:07oh doggies
32:08I'm so sorry
32:08now you're doing
32:10super well
32:11oh oh
32:12oh oh
32:13this way
32:15more
32:16more more
32:16more more
32:17oh god
32:18oh god
32:18oh god
32:18okay
32:19up
32:19up
32:20up
32:20there we
32:22are
32:22oh that's
32:23nice
32:23oh oh
32:23oh oh
32:24oh oh
32:24oh
32:25there we go
32:27yeah I'm hopeless
32:28I can't I can't drive
32:29a car
32:30erm well I can
32:32but I mean I'm
32:32really not very good
32:33and I can't cycle
32:35and I can't do
32:38I'm not very good
32:39at things like that
32:40so this is great
32:41this is good for my
32:42confidence
32:42oh oh oh
32:44there we go
32:45oh they're fantastic
32:49doggies
32:50I love dogs
32:52I'm obsessed
32:53I mean if I didn't
32:53have my husband
32:54I would have about
32:56I would have eight dogs
32:57I would have enough dogs
32:58so that when I was in bed
33:00it would be like a doggy blanket
33:01okay that sounds good
33:04oh and the light
33:06is so beautiful
33:06everything is gorgeous
33:07and you're doing a good job
33:12oh
33:12ah this is great fun
33:16I didn't think I'd be able
33:18to do it to be honest
33:19I was quite worried
33:20especially when I crashed
33:21into a tree after the first
33:2320 seconds
33:23but now
33:24I sort of think
33:26I've got the hang of it
33:27a little bit
33:28working as a team
33:30there we are
33:31good
33:32yay
33:36careful
33:37well that was exhilarating
33:48I absolutely loved it
33:49and no wonder
33:50the Norwegian explorers
33:52used wee dogs
33:53no wonder they did
33:55because that was the way
33:56ahead wasn't it
33:57you're going to do that
33:57when you're big
33:58yeah
33:58yeah
34:00you'll be great
34:01you're gorgeous
34:02aren't you
34:03yes you are
34:04tough terrain
34:22and cold dark winters
34:24mean few people live
34:26in the north Norwegian mountains
34:27and where the roads end
34:30small ferries cross icy waters
34:32connecting communities
34:33this is Uldsford
34:36it's a massive big fjord
34:38and we can see over there
34:40the Lingen mountains
34:42they're known as the Alps
34:43of the north
34:44really imposing
34:45and atmospheric
34:46and very wild
34:47this really is
34:49the wild north
34:50at this latitude
34:52I'm deep in the land
34:53of the northern lights
34:54when darkness arrives
34:56I'm hoping to witness
34:57a night sky spectacle
34:59but while the sun's up
35:01I'm meeting an entrepreneur
35:02whose craft feels deeply connected
35:05to Scotland
35:06the more you travel around here
35:09the more spectacular
35:10it becomes
35:11round every corner
35:12there's views like this
35:13look at the mountains
35:14and the fjords
35:15and the colours
35:16look at these amazing colours
35:19it's just brilliant
35:24aha you must be Tor
35:30hello
35:31so good to meet you
35:33welcome to the arctic
35:34ah the arctic
35:36thought it would be a lot colder
35:37but it's actually ok
35:38well be careful what you wish for
35:40you might just get it
35:40I know I know
35:41so tell me what you do here
35:43we are the northernmost distillery
35:44in the world
35:45you are?
35:46yes
35:46Tor is harnessing
35:48the unique arctic environment
35:50to craft a whisky
35:51with a distinctly
35:52Norwegian character
35:54we got some advantages here
35:56we got really good
35:57water
35:58comes from
35:59actually that glacier
36:00up there
36:01the water is very soft
36:02which is very good
36:03for distillation
36:04and for blending
36:05what about the barley though
36:06do you have to get that in
36:07or what do you do with that?
36:08most of the barley we get in
36:09some from Scotland
36:10some from Norway
36:11but the most interesting barley
36:13is the one we get from local farmers
36:15this is the northernmost barley in the world
36:16you cannot physically produce barley
36:19any further north
36:20you heard about the angel's share
36:21right?
36:21you're a Scot
36:22so you should know one
36:23it's like the evaporation
36:24yes
36:24and the angels have the whisky
36:26yeah the angels fly over
36:28and they sniff up the whisky
36:30here we call it Odin's share
36:31Odin
36:32because Odin is our angel up there
36:34of course
36:35and in Scotland
36:36you would have an angel's share
36:38or evaporation of whisky
36:39of 2%
36:40here we have between
36:410.5 and 1%
36:43which is very little
36:45in operation
36:45which is so much lower
36:46and why is that then?
36:47because of the cold
36:48winter temperatures here
36:50are rarely above zero
36:52but Tor has the perfect remedy
36:55for the cold
36:56charring the barrels
36:57unlocks the wood's
36:58natural sugars and flavours
37:00giving the whisky
37:01its rich colour
37:02and warmth
37:03okay
37:05this is super cool
37:06I love making fire
37:08anytime we go camping
37:10I'm the one to make the fire
37:12but this is so cool
37:14brilliant
37:16I never thought I'd get to
37:17if I go with this
37:18wow
37:19woo
37:20I think my fringe
37:24might have got a little bit
37:25singed
37:25once the barrels are charred
37:28they need to cool slowly
37:30in the crisp arctic air
37:31okay I have to roll this barrel
37:35up the hill
37:37to get it into storage
37:38so
37:39it's a bit wibbly wobbly
37:41but they do about 200 of these
37:43every year here
37:44and about 70%
37:48of all the whisky
37:49that we produce
37:50is actually exported
37:52so one day
38:00oh in a few years from now
38:02maybe there'll be somebody
38:03sitting in New Zealand
38:04having a wee dram
38:05from the whisky barrel
38:07that I charred
38:09and then rolled up the hill
38:10what you have to do
38:13so that people can have a wee drink
38:14we're nearly there
38:19look
38:19the whiskies here
38:22take their names
38:23from ancient Norse mythology
38:25and now my barrel's been topped up
38:27there's just one more job to do
38:29look at that beautiful colour
38:31oh it's lovely
38:32yeah
38:32let me smell it
38:33yeah
38:34this is made from arctic barley
38:36well this is a cask
38:37like the one you burn
38:39oh yes
38:39so it's been on
38:41for five years now
38:42actually
38:42smells so good
38:44it's really fruity
38:45and a little bit grassy
38:47it's strong
38:48you're right
38:48there is really
38:49it's strong
38:49it would be a bit
38:50between 56-57%
38:53ABV
38:54oh jeez
38:57oh that is a fine drop
39:00the name of the whisky
39:01is important
39:02isn't it
39:03oh yeah
39:03yes
39:04our brand name is
39:05Bivrost
39:06Bivrost
39:07yeah it means
39:07the shaking bridge
39:08the Vikings believed
39:09that the Northern Lights
39:11they called that
39:12Bivrost
39:12Northern Lights
39:13was considered a path
39:14from Midgard
39:15where the humans live
39:16yeah
39:17over to Asgard
39:18where the gods lived
39:19right
39:20and in Norse mythology
39:22there are so many gods
39:23there are so many worlds
39:25there are so many stories
39:26it's a plethora to choose from
39:28so we're picking these
39:30thousand year old stories
39:31and putting them into
39:33the naming of our whisky
39:35mmm
39:35mmm
39:36so all ties in
39:38doesn't it with the Northern Lights
39:39it does
39:39so maybe it will bring me some luck
39:40to actually see them
39:41do you think I've got a good chance
39:42oh well
39:43you have to do
39:44say cheers in the old Norse language
39:46like we did do it
39:47of course
39:48skol
39:49here's to the Northern Lights
39:51and here's to your fine dram
39:53fantastic
39:54mmm
39:55oh that'll put hairs on your chest
39:58clouds are forming above the distillery
40:01but with my Bivrost blessing
40:03I'm heading out to sea
40:04in search of clearer skies
40:07and the elusive aurora borealis
40:08well it's been my lifelong ambition
40:11to see the Northern Lights
40:13so I thought it'd be a good idea
40:14to get on a ship
40:15to get out to sea
40:17so there's no light pollution
40:18so I can have the best possible view
40:21wish me luck
40:22there's no way I'll witness
40:29the spectacle of the lights
40:30unless the clouds disperse
40:32I'm hoping aurora chaser
40:34Tom Kerse
40:35can use science
40:37to predict her best chance of success
40:39in the coming hours
40:40so what is
40:42going on up there
40:43a lot of things
40:44the Northern Lights
40:46are the end of a bunch of
40:47physical processes
40:48we just can't see
40:49and it begins all the way
40:51with our star
40:51the sun
40:52the sun is filling
40:53our solar system
40:54with this amazing material
40:56that we call solar wind
40:57we can't see the solar wind
40:58but it's like a big electric current
40:59in space
41:00and when the earth's magnetic field
41:02catches and focuses
41:03that electric current
41:04around the north pole
41:05and the south pole
41:07it can become so powerful
41:08that it causes the gases
41:09in the air above our heads
41:11to glow
41:11the great thing is
41:14that right now
41:15the data here is showing us
41:16the sun is producing
41:17very interesting solar wind
41:19courtesy of this dark region here
41:21and the graphs up here
41:22which are showing us
41:23what is happening
41:23with the solar wind
41:24and what is happening
41:25with the earth's magnetic field
41:26are giving us an indication
41:27that everything's been
41:29quite active
41:29for the past few hours
41:30okay
41:31we know the science of it now
41:33but hundreds of years ago
41:34thousands of years ago
41:36when people were looking up
41:37at the sky
41:37and seeing this display
41:39so what are some of the stories
41:41that they would tell
41:42I think the diversity
41:43and beauty of the stories
41:45reflects the strange
41:47and quite unique nature
41:49of the northern lights
41:50coming from places
41:51for example
41:52like in the mediterranean
41:53where the northern lights
41:54were very seldom seen
41:55so when they did occur
41:56they were seen as
41:57ill portent
41:58a sign of
41:59something terrible
42:00to come
42:01like a war maybe
42:02a bad omen
42:02but from this region
42:03the legends tend to be
42:04really beautiful
42:05often connected to animals
42:07like foxes
42:08or whales
42:08or fish
42:09in the sea
42:10and I think that
42:11holding onto those stories
42:13is important
42:13as we experience the lights
42:15because they do put us
42:16in touch with ancient people
42:17the people who came
42:18before us
42:19and struggled to understand
42:21what they were seeing
42:21putting perhaps
42:22something of themselves
42:23or the natural world
42:24things that they found
42:25were important
42:26into that phenomenon
42:27it was
42:28it was really special
42:29to them
42:29really special
42:30and also the colours
42:32you know
42:32I have seen images of them
42:34many of them
42:34you've taken
42:35and there's red in there
42:37you know
42:37there's green
42:38but there's purples
42:39and all sorts
42:40of different colours
42:41and that's because
42:42the aurora sort of mixes
42:43and as we look through
42:44multiple curtains
42:45our eyes perceive
42:46this incredible array
42:47of colours
42:48and no photo
42:49can ever give you
42:50the sense of just
42:51how much the aurora
42:52can fill the sky
42:54how small it will
42:55make you feel
42:56but at the same time
42:57how much it will
42:57lift you up
42:58into that phenomenon
42:59it's thought
43:00the Vikings
43:01saw the northern lights
43:02as reflections
43:03of the Valkyries
43:04guiding female warriors
43:06to Valhalla
43:06and they're just
43:08starting to appear
43:09if you look
43:10with your eye
43:10you see this bright
43:11patch of the sky
43:12here
43:13yep
43:13and that is
43:14auroral light
43:15wow
43:15it's not the kind
43:16of aurora
43:17that you imagine
43:17from the photos
43:18it's not dancing yet
43:19this is just
43:19pure auroral energy
43:21radiating into the sky
43:22once we get away
43:24from these clouds
43:25if the aurora
43:25starts to pick up
43:26we're going to see it
43:27dancing coming overhead
43:28oh wow
43:28and it's going to be
43:29much more exciting
43:30if we could shift
43:30this cloud
43:31there's every chance
43:32we could see something
43:32really spectacular
43:33that's what I can feel
43:34coming
43:35so just stay tuned
43:36okay
43:37I've tried so many times
43:42to see this amazing spectacle
43:43it's something I've wanted
43:44to do since I was a kid
43:45since I was five years old
43:47and got my first telescope
43:48never had the chance
43:50so now all I have to do
43:53is just wait
43:54and hope
43:56heading further
44:00into the Norwegian sea
44:02the clouds are thinning
44:03and the northern lights
44:05are finally
44:06coming to life
44:07look, look, look
44:13down
44:13oh wow
44:16oh the colours
44:20and it's like
44:21a big bridge
44:22gosh
44:26no wonder
44:26there's so many
44:27legends and stories
44:28before it was like
44:34ribbons
44:34and then it was like
44:35streaks
44:36and now
44:37it's like
44:38really bright
44:39bright lights
44:40it's like something
44:41you would see
44:42on another planet
44:43isn't it
44:43so, so well
44:50worth waiting for
44:51I can't believe
44:52I'm actually seeing them
44:53wow
44:55look at the sky
44:58it's amazing
45:00absolutely extraordinary
45:03oh
45:04so beautiful
45:06finally
45:08finally
45:09I've seen the northern lights
45:10northern lights
45:24a northern welcome
45:25and the warmth
45:26of an arctic nation
45:27make this
45:28a journey
45:29I'll never forget
45:30oh my goodness
45:34after a thousand miles
45:36of stunning
45:36Norwegian coastline
45:38my voyage
45:38must come to an end
45:40you know
45:40I've learned so much
45:42discovered so much
45:44about this country
45:45and I feel
45:46very at home
45:47here
45:47I was searching
45:48for more information
45:50about
45:51well
45:52my northern cousins
45:53and I really do think
45:57there is a deep affinity
45:58and that's been
45:59so satisfying
46:00oh
46:01the fresh air
46:02and the sunshine
46:03and the noise
46:05of the sea
46:06I'll take away
46:07some terrific memories
46:09Norway really is
46:13so very special
46:15it's a beautiful
46:16beautiful country
46:18a house that's packed
46:39deep with memories
46:40even down to a light switch
46:42it's an emotion
46:43one to start
46:43a new series
46:44of George Clark's
46:45building home
46:46begins next Thursday
46:47at 8
46:47freeze drying
46:48and cloning cats
46:50plus David Baddiel
46:51gets a tattoo of his
46:52making him cat man
46:53once and for all
46:55stream or watch
46:56the last in the series
46:56tomorrow at 8
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