Visitors from California, too.
We played miniature golf - everyone's a winner.
We went to a music fair in the park.
The restored steamer Minehaha gave rides all day.
Cousins Maisie and Emma with fabulous face-painting. 
And without face-painting, intent on some candy. 
This is the only photo of the beach taken by Steve.
On the drive back to our lodging, we passed by this beautiful and very still lake. The reflections were awesome. 
Here we are with Jonny, our ever-so-friendly and helpful leader. who helped make Norway so delightful.
Photos I wish I still had: Fields of yellow rapeseed; Small older houses painted red or yellow with white trim, contrasted with newer housing in 1950s style; Small farms, rocky fields, stone walls, dandelions and sheep; My footprint in the North Sea sand; Klepp church with gravestone of original Mr. Klepp; Viking grave mounds in farm fields.
A view of the valley beyond the dock and the fjord's end.
This is the steep and winding road we traveled to get to the top of the mountain. The same valley as in the photo above can be seen in the distance. A beautiful day, crisp and clear.
This restaurant was about three-quarters of the way to the top. A very nice lunch, great views (including the one of the road seen above).
We traveled for a couple of miles along the top of the mountain. There were hundreds of little stone cairns everywhere along the side of the road, assembled by tourists and travelers, many of whom were hikers or bikers. The bus driver took a picture of me beside the one I made (unfortunately lost to posterity when I inadvertently reprogrammed by camera).
Coming down the other side of the mountain, we followed this rocky stream for many miles through the Sirdal Valley.
The lower portion of the fjord was edged with relatively low hills - they got progressively higher as we went along. 
A waterfall tumbles from the cliff top to the green water below. 
This isolated farm was situated in a relatively level field between cliffs.
The fjord ends rather abruptly at a narrow valley between high cliffs.
This is the dock at the end of the fjord. Our coach awaits on the right. We traveled from here up a steep winding road to the top of the cliffs - stay tuned. 
These costumes were all hand-made by the women wearing them. The floral embroidery on the hats, shawls and skirts was gorgeous. They also had special silvery necklaces and belts. The skirt and shawl fabric is black wool, and I heard a comment that they were a little too warm for a spring evening. 
The men's costumes were also hand-made (by the women, of course). One woman told me she made her own outfit, two more for her daughters, and also her husband's suit (similar to the one on the left below). I mentioned that the suit must have been the most complicated and difficult and she replied "Sixty-two buttonholes!". 
A piano and violin provided the music for dancing - check out the beautiful custom-made violin below. 
On another night, we were treated to a chorus - again of an amateur group (the Blandakoret Vivace) who perform for the pleasure of it. They sang a few folk songs and also some show tunes, but the hit of the evening was their rendition of a folk song our fearless leader Jonny had taught us "Per fiddler, he had but the one only cow - he traded his cow for a fiddle right now...." Of course, they sang it in Norwegian and as a round - wonderful!
Topping off each of these evenings, most of the performers stayed for coffee and cake with our group. They were as interested in learning about us as we were about them, and we had some friendly and lively conversations. It was no problem communicating, since all Norwegians know at least some English and enjoy practicing it. It is taught as a second language in all elementary schools.
On a lighter note, this is a field of sunflowers (actually, one of several fields) in nearby Preston. The profits from this farm's sales of sunflower bouquets go to the Make a Wish charity. I had read about it, but was really prompted to go see for myself by Blogger Audioknits. Since we got there just before lunch, we didn't treat ourselves to the ice cream, although that looked wonderful too. 
I've also started knitting for Christmas gifts, but since members of my family who might be the recipients sometimes check out this blog, I'm not giving any details or pictures.
This is the view from the side yard, looking down into the valley.
Two pictures of the interior. 
This is Utstein Kloster, an Augustinian monastery constructed beginning in 1260. It was difficult to take a photo, so I copied this one from the brochure.
Two photos of the peaceful interior, with the beautiful painted pulpit (and half the altarpiece). 
On the following day, we traveled by coach to Stavenger, first visiting the Petroleum Museum -Norway has a huge petroleum industry, and the government is wisely investing the bulk of the profits for a reserve when the oil runs out. Again, this photo is copied from the brochure. 
This is the view from the outside of the museum, looking down at the harbor of Stavenger. 
We took a short walk through rainy streets, cobbled and twisty, but with the inevitable MacDonalds. 
This is the City Cathedral, dating from 1125, and the only cathedral in Norway which has preserved its original medieval design and been in continuous use.
A choir of schoolgirls was rehearsing, and we were able to listen to their lovely harmonies for a while.
On the ride back to Klepp, we passed this monument to King Harald, who conquered warring factions and smaller kingdoms and united Norway in 872. Note the bird on top of Harald's sword.
This is a monument on that same hill that was erected to commemorate the 2000 millenium- it's placed on top of an unexcavated bronze age burial mound. 
That's me taking a photo of some sheep - we soon learned that these are everywhere, as are stone walls and rocky fields (even more of these than in New England). 
I knitted about 3/4 of this top overseas, and finished it up back home. It was knitted by unraveling Flat Feet Foursome fabric, which is simply double the size of the Flat Feet fabric sold for socks. Since it comes out "curly" when it is being knitted, it looks much smoother when blocked. 
