The Fram Museum
It was only a short walk from the Bygdoynes pier to the Fram museum. The entrance is at the other side of the building next to the large car park which was already filling up with coaches.
Once inside we walked up to the Fram before turning left to go down the steps to the passageway that links to the other building. In the second building is the theatre where we watched the introduction film about polar exploration.
The Gjoa
We had come to see the Flam that we started with the Gjoa. After climbing the steps we were on the same level as it is decks. We spent a lot of time looking at the exhibits detailing polar expeditions from the past. These were on panels in a large area and also along the walls as we walked to the Gjoa itself. I went aboard the Gjoa making my way down the steep staircase to the cabin below.
Back on the ground floor of the Gjoa building we walked around the ship pausing to read about even more Polar expeditions. I was fascinated to read about the exploration flights on Dornier flying boats and later on airships. The bravery (or bravado) of explorers attempting to reach the North Pole in a balloon was staggering. Unfortunately they died for their efforts.
As we walked back through the underpass to the Fram building we paused to read even more histories of the polar explorers that lined both the walls.
The Fram
We had read all about Fram on her Hurtigruten namesake when we had gone to Antarctica.
The ground floor of the Fram building was now very busy. We walked around Fram before going down the steps so that we could walk around under her and examine more exhibits. These concentrated on the race to the South Pole between Amundson and Scott.
I learnt about the differences between the two expeditions. In particular the minutely detailed preparation by Amundsen when compared to Scott. These preparations undoubtedly contributed to his success and to Scott’s failure.
On the second floor of the building, the walls were again covered in fascinating displays. This is the floor that allows access to the inside of Fram. I joined a party of school kids who were just descending the ladders into the ship.
The cabins are all labelled with the crew members who had occupied them on the various voyages of the Fram.
As we followed the guided route through the ship wen passed the electrical distribution board,
the workshop,
where the the supplies to be taken to the Pole were carefully re-packed, then the dining area,
then some of the stores,
and the kitchen with a mannequin of the cook.
Back on the ground floor we went to the Framheim cafe for coffee and sandwiches. We sat in a private booth while we ate and drank watching the other visitors as they passed by looking at the ship.
Leaving the museum we walked around under the sheltered walkways. While we had eaten our lunch the rain have started again and we regretted not having an umbrella as we walked back to the pier.
We were soon on a ferry heading back to the Town Hall piers. On the way back I had a closer look at them all ship it was the state of main which it turned out was a US training ship.