We’re making our way back to Harstad, but first, we have one more stop! The Røkenes Farm has been owned by the same family since 1673, 10 generations, with the main house dating back to 1750. As you can see from the first photos it is in a beautiful, tranquil setting! We’ve traveled along the main road!

and parked on a little knoll……..

and looked across at the other side of the inlet, which we’ve just weaved around on our outing today.

The first thing we notice is the schoolhouse……..and the door!

with bell and all…………

and poppies behind the schoolhouse……..

and as we look up at the farm grounds, we see that the traditional farm has evolved over the past ten years! The large barn has been converted into a fine quality and highly sought restaurant! There are seating areas both indoors and out and the setting couldn’t be better!

There is the work door entrance at the barn, that is surrounded by a swag of vine and flowers……….

There is another door by the old milk cans…………

Outside, we were greeted by this little fella! He could have cared less about us!

But, the main entrance was at this door……..

So relaxing ………just to sit and enjoy this beautiful weather and take in the pristine, clean air!

and watch the flowers grow……..

I wondered, who had cut down and sculpted…….the old tree……..

Inside the barn/restaurant they are ready to serve…………

There is also the drink station to one side …….

and how about this cash register?

The restaurant is large enough to host gatherings, weddings, etc. I was wondering, because the island is very isolated. You have to make your own entertainment and places for it too! It is few and far between! There is no running into town, every few minutes, when you live 140 miles above the Arctic Circle on an island off the coast of Norway!

And what were we served today? Kvæfjord Cake, which has been selected Norway’s National Cake! In the 1920’s, Hulda Ottestad, who was from Kvæfjord near Harstad, opened a cafe in Harstad.  In the 1930’s, she purchased two recipes from a Danish Pastry chef for 200 kroners, (about $22.00) a very high price at the time. One of the recipes was for a “kongekake or king cake.”It contained an excessive amount of almonds. Because almonds were so expensive Hulda had to modify the recipe. Meringue layers made from either vanilla or rum custard were added, and you could also add whipped cream to the meringues. The recipe was passed down to each generation, but the exact recipe Hulda used, remains a mystery. Whatever! The cake we were served today was awesome!

We’ll have to stroll the grounds after all that cake and coffee! Here is the main house today…….

And, the best door here was this one!

I hope you have a chance to see all the farms and museums we visited here on the island Hinnøya, Norway. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience! See you next in Bodo!

Look here to see what others are doing for Norm’s Doors!

It’s easy to do Norm’s Doors. Photograph some doors and post them to Thursday Doors on Thursday!

PS All photos were taken on our IPhones …….we are traveling lighter!