Time to Leave Little Canada - The Vacation Ends
Our stay at "Little Canada" had become routine in the first couple of days. There was little to do other than play cards and lounge about. We walked around the cabin but could not wander very far as the stream was deep enough to keep us on shore. Haldor and Rolf visited with Ivar a couple of times. Due to the language barrier we left learned nothing from their visits.
On October the 6th [A] the first all Canadian daylight bomber raid in history took place over the Bergen area. The targets were the U-boat bases at Bergen and Hattvik. We were ten to fifteen kilometres from the targets and hearing the air craft, we were out in force to watch the proceedings from our vantage point. We saw the flak rising to meet the oncoming planes and our sympathies were with the crews in the aircraft. We hoped that they all would make it back to base and wished that we could accompany them there. The raid was successful as it did damage the base and some shipping in the harbour at Bergen. A sad note is that some of the bombs went astray and hit a school where numerous children were killed and many others hurt.
While we had little to do during these days at "Little Canada", elaborate plans were being formulated to protect us in our move from our mountain hide away. We were to retrace our steps down from the mountain to Ovredalen; then spend a few hours at the farmhouse of Ida and Nils Ovredal, not too far distant from the farmhouse of Martha and Valentin Valentinsen. After our stay at the farmhouse, we were to proceed to rendezvous with a boat at a quay about two kilometres away. We then had to retrace the route taken by Einar and Johannes when they had brought us north to Lønningdal. We were to proceed south on Bjornafjord, pass the naval base at Hattvik, continue south for another twelve kilometres then head in a westerly direction for about another thirteen kilometres to the island of Ospoy, which was at the western end of Bjornafjord. Our trip was not to end at Ospoy, it was just a dropping off place where we were to be picked up by another boat.
Along the way manned lookouts were to be posted to assure that the group would not be surprised by German patrols. The German telephone lines to and from Lonningdal were tapped and monitored so that all their telephone calls could be screened.
When Nilsen appeared with Kjell, Haldor, and Jacob, to tell us to get our things together as we were left leaving "Little Canada," we were a little surprised. We were very comfortable and had become attached to the cabin and the area. He told us nothing of what was in store for us other than that we had to be moved closer to the coast.
We left "Little Canada" in daylight and proceeded on our trek down the mountain. We were not laden with the backpacks as we were on the way up and did make very good time. As we made our way we eventually came to the cliff that had been so difficult to climb. Nilsen indicated that we had to make our way down the cliff. I balked, saying that I could not possibly make it down that steep cliff. Nilsen questioned my reasoning, telling me that I had climbed up the cliff in the darkness, therefore it should be much easier to make my way down in daylight. With some difficulty we made it to the bottom and we continued on towards Lønningdal. Darkness descended as we quietly made our way down through the trees. Eventually we could see a clearing spread out before us at the foot of the mountain. Some fifty yards from us was the farmhouse that was our destination. We could see that there were some vehicles near the farmhouse and the Norwegians called a halt. A quick appraisal of the situation indicated that the area was being searched by the Germans. We remained sheltered in the trees for a while. Then we watched as the vehicles left and then two of the Norwegians went on to the house to investigate, while the rest of us remained hidden in the trees. Some time later at a signal that the way was clear to proceed we entered the house.
Our stay at "Little Canada" had become routine in the first couple of days. There was little to do other than play cards and lounge about. We walked around the cabin but could not wander very far as the stream was deep enough to keep us on shore. Haldor and Rolf visited with Ivar a couple of times. Due to the language barrier we left learned nothing from their visits.
On October the 6th [A] the first all Canadian daylight bomber raid in history took place over the Bergen area. The targets were the U-boat bases at Bergen and Hattvik. We were ten to fifteen kilometres from the targets and hearing the air craft, we were out in force to watch the proceedings from our vantage point. We saw the flak rising to meet the oncoming planes and our sympathies were with the crews in the aircraft. We hoped that they all would make it back to base and wished that we could accompany them there. The raid was successful as it did damage the base and some shipping in the harbour at Bergen. A sad note is that some of the bombs went astray and hit a school where numerous children were killed and many others hurt.
While we had little to do during these days at "Little Canada", elaborate plans were being formulated to protect us in our move from our mountain hide away. We were to retrace our steps down from the mountain to Ovredalen; then spend a few hours at the farmhouse of Ida and Nils Ovredal, not too far distant from the farmhouse of Martha and Valentin Valentinsen. After our stay at the farmhouse, we were to proceed to rendezvous with a boat at a quay about two kilometres away. We then had to retrace the route taken by Einar and Johannes when they had brought us north to Lønningdal. We were to proceed south on Bjornafjord, pass the naval base at Hattvik, continue south for another twelve kilometres then head in a westerly direction for about another thirteen kilometres to the island of Ospoy, which was at the western end of Bjornafjord. Our trip was not to end at Ospoy, it was just a dropping off place where we were to be picked up by another boat.
Along the way manned lookouts were to be posted to assure that the group would not be surprised by German patrols. The German telephone lines to and from Lonningdal were tapped and monitored so that all their telephone calls could be screened.
When Nilsen appeared with Kjell, Haldor, and Jacob, to tell us to get our things together as we were left leaving "Little Canada," we were a little surprised. We were very comfortable and had become attached to the cabin and the area. He told us nothing of what was in store for us other than that we had to be moved closer to the coast.
We left "Little Canada" in daylight and proceeded on our trek down the mountain. We were not laden with the backpacks as we were on the way up and did make very good time. As we made our way we eventually came to the cliff that had been so difficult to climb. Nilsen indicated that we had to make our way down the cliff. I balked, saying that I could not possibly make it down that steep cliff. Nilsen questioned my reasoning, telling me that I had climbed up the cliff in the darkness, therefore it should be much easier to make my way down in daylight. With some difficulty we made it to the bottom and we continued on towards Lønningdal. Darkness descended as we quietly made our way down through the trees. Eventually we could see a clearing spread out before us at the foot of the mountain. Some fifty yards from us was the farmhouse that was our destination. We could see that there were some vehicles near the farmhouse and the Norwegians called a halt. A quick appraisal of the situation indicated that the area was being searched by the Germans. We remained sheltered in the trees for a while. Then we watched as the vehicles left and then two of the Norwegians went on to the house to investigate, while the rest of us remained hidden in the trees. Some time later at a signal that the way was clear to proceed we entered the house.