Knut Haugland

[Alcyone]

Died yesterday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8431459.stm

Knut Haugland - the last of the six Norwegian crewmen who crossed the Pacific Ocean on the Kon-Tiki balsa wood raft in 1947 - has died aged 92.

..................................

There are few left like these people. I loved that story and I've read Thor's book many times. Sad.

 

[sarabande]

When I set up a British School in Dubai in 1977, we named the "Houses" after explorers.

Barbarossa
Cousteau
Chichester
and
Heyerdahl

I was brought up on Kon-Tiki, and he was one of my schooldays heroes. I'd had the please of meeting three out of the four !

 

[Alcyone]

I feel the same. When I hear (rarely) Cousteau or Heyerdahl's voice on the TV or radio, I have a shiver down my spine and a tear in my eye. These people made me want to go out and dive and sail, explore and try things.

Great men, all passing now, few remain.

There are still greats, people doing amazing things, so maybe it is nostalgia, but I don't know if we'll see the like of teh Kon Tiki again.

You are very lucky to have met them, S, I would consider meeting any of them a great privilege.

 

[masterofnone]

obituary

Read his obit in the telegraph. An extremely courageous gent, took part in the Telemark raid against the German heavy water plant, managed to escape from under the noses of the germans on more than one occasion, got to scotland, only to turn around and do it all again. Rescued a mob on the Kontiki expedition. A very brave guy.