Story of Håkon

As a young boy he would come home after school and work at the saw mill with his dad, helping the family out. From the work he would become quite strong for his age. At the age of 14 he grew tired of working at the mill and wanted more from life, arguing with his dad to board a ship. This was not legal as you had to be 15 at the time, however he started couple months before he became 15.

Life at sea was not easy and you had to become callous and be able to receiving some harsh punishments or hard work.

New York would was the first stop, were those who cried or could not do the job would be sent home. My grandfather stayed, and worked hard.

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Fernside the first boat my grandfather boarded. They could have 12 passangers and it should be clean and no rust, here you would become a man learning from men who was honest but tough teachers.

One special story that i want to share was his trip to Cuba in 1956-57. He would travel to Cuba to load a cargo of sugar. As the adventurer he was he could not stay stil and wait in the boat as the loading would take at least a day or two. He would take the trip into the city, there he met two guys who led him into a bar. They would start drinking, and talking, but conversation would turn sour fast as they would talk about politics. The bar owner would become offended and call the Batista police, the police took him out and dragged him far away. The Batista had these batons that was slightly curved. They beat him real good, and he had to walk back home. Lucky half way he met a American that was chief of the loading docks that loaded the cargo ship he worked for.  My grandfather got a lift back to the ship, and the captain was furious. Where have you been!? My grandfather turned around and showed the captain a back all red and beaten. The captain said "That serves your right". As my grandfather talks about this story he laughs hard, how foolish he was and how deserving the punishment was.