Last Kon-Tiki raft crewman Knut Haugland dies

[IndianaGreen]

Source: BBC News

Last Kon-Tiki raft crewman Knut Haugland dies

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.

The explorer died of natural causes in Oslo's hospital, the Kon-Tiki museum director said.

The expedition was launched from Peru by anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl to demonstrate that South Americans could have settled Polynesia.

The Kon-Tiki sailed with basic equipment some 8,000 km (4,900 miles).

During World War II, Mr Haugland was member of the Norwegian resistance movement.




Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8431459.stm

[BeyondGeography]

1. Also disrupted Nazi plans to create nuclear weapons

:patriot: &R

[snagglepuss]

2. I didn't know that. Thank you for posting this piece of history. nt

[Tansy_Gold]

3. "Kon-Tiki" was the first grown-up book I ever read.

Loved it, and admired the men who dared such an adventure in pursuit of knowledge.

R.I.P.



TG

[Sal Minella]

7. Yes, same here -- I felt like I was on the Kon-Tiki with those guys,

checking how waterlogged it was getting, trying to keep the supplies high enough to stay dry, eyeballing how much lower in the water it was riding today . . .

I read "The Old Man And The Sea" and "The Good Earth" about the same time as Kon-Tiki and was astonished at what good writing could do.

Kon-Tiki is an exciting adventure, excitingly told, indeed.

[KoKo]

16. Same here with me...in almost same sequence...

:hug: for something in common somewhere.. :D

[Sal Minella]

28. "The Old Man And The Sea" was published in LIFE magazine --

I remember reading it with tears running down my face.

"The Good Earth" was suggested by the librarian in our public library when I said there wasn't anything in the young people's section that looked interesting to me. I've always been grateful to her for gauging correctly that I was emotionally ready for that book.

Many years later, I got to work in a library, and tried to Pass It On (the art of helping people find books they don't yet know they want!)

The book that I turned to again and again was a shortened version of "Robinson Crusoe." My ideal of self-sufficiency certainly came from that book.

:hug: to you, too! Ha.

[IndianaGreen]

15. It was mandatory reading in my sophomore English class

It was a very fun and easy read, and like other DUers have said on this thread, when reading the book you were there with these brave sailors.

[Bozita]

25. My second. First was "A Night to Remember" about the Titanic.

http://www.amazon.com/Night-Remember-Walter-Lord/dp/0553278274

[MaineDem]

32. Yes, me too

I still have the tattered paperback from way back when. I remember it was the first time I had heard of phosphorescence.

[theoldman]

4. Just think, no GPS, no solar panels.

[KoKo]

11. Yep...it's incredible to read that book for ADVENTURE...How did they Do It?

It's in that wonderful book I read so many years AGO.

[XemaSab]

14. Worst of all, no modern phone technology

So if the thing gets wumpety, you're in deep trouble.

[timeforpeace]

5. They all died? Was there a curse on it or something?

[petersjo02]

6. It was 62 years ago.

The deaths had nothing to do with the trip. The crew, who were young men in 1947, got old--very old.

[timeforpeace]

9. Sure, that's what they want us to believe.

[TheDebbieDee]

20. I like the way you think, Timeforpeace!

:-)

[PavePusher]

30. Please, sarcasm, yes?!

:tinfoilhat:

[Bonhomme Richard]

8. That book started my love of the sea. n/t

[KoKo]

10. "Kon Tiki" was an excellent read...many years ago..probably still today for historical factor...

Sorry to hear of his death. Hope that his death will get more to read the original Book, though. And, maybe even he would hope his death would carry on what he did all those years ago.

Rest In Peace...for some Exprimentalists ...who took on a challenge that Thor Heyerdahl cooked up to demonstrate that South Americans could have settled Polynesia.

AGAIN...check out the book...it's a delightful read.

[Ikonoklast]

12. Set sail for the last voyage...

Fair winds, and a following sea for you and all your comrades, Knut.

[KoKo]

13. Amazon Customer Review...that gives a "small flavor" of the book:

Customer Review

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Sharks, ship wrecks, storms, tropical islands..., June 12, 2003
By windriver12

With each passing year, less and less of the world remains to be discovered. With GPS and satellite imagery, our oceans have been charted and the jungles surveyed. Our world is no longer a mystery. No longer do we have maps fringed by threatening pictures of dragons and sea monsters warning sailors and explorers of the unknown that lies out there. But when I picked up this book I was taken back fifty years in time. Back to a time when men ate meat raw and walked around with clubs hunting big game. OK, perhaps I am getting carried away.

Thor Heyerdahl believed the Polynesian islands were inhabited by sea faring travellers from Peru. But his thesis on this topic was ridiculed because no one would believe that the pacific ocean could be crossed by a flimsy raft made of balsa wood and bamboo. So Heyerdahl decides to prove IT IS possible by building a raft using exactly the same materials the ancient Peruvians used and sailing off the coast of Peru hoping to eventually reach Polynesia.

Nearly every step off his journey was filled with nay sayers who said he was crazy and "experts" who variably told him he was going to die, the raft was going to break apart, or the balsa wood would absorb the sea water and sink. He ignored them all. When they told him balsa trees of the size he needed no longer existed along the coast, he took a jeep deep into the jungles through flooded roads and GOT his trees. Which then they floated down to the ocean in a river.

Heyerdahl is keenly aware of his surroundings and describes his voyage vividly and in simple prose. I could smell the sea breeze and feel the spray of the ocean. It was like taking a mini vacation every time I sat down with this book. You'll swim with whale sharks and get caught in ferocious storms. The six men caught sharks with their hands and even had a pet parrot. I suppose all self respecting seamen need to have a parrot.

The ending to this book was surprising but perfect. It brings the story full circle and could not have ended any other way. So prepare yourself a margarita, kick back, and begin a sea adventure

[omega minimo]

17. Thank you Mr. Haugland. A peaceful journey in your Viking ship ....

[DarthDem]

18. RIP

Sounds like a great man. I have to read the book now.

[Vidar]

19. Safe passage to Valhalla, Mr. Haugland.

[Skink]

21. The greatest story ever told.

My sixth grade teacher had a room full of maps and that book.

[Lars77]

22. Kon-Tiki Museum

http://www.kon-tiki.no/e_aapning.php

The raft is on permanent displyay at the Kon-Tiki museum. I don't think i've been to see it since i was a small kid. You never do touristy stuff in your own town i guess.


The heavy water sabotage was one of the most daring operations of World War 2:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_heavy_water_sabotage

It was also made into a movie from 1965, although as it is a hollywood production it is not exacatly a documentary.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Heroes_of_Telemark

[southernyankeebelle]

23. His Book the Kon Tiki was a requirement to read in my english class.

I was one of 5 girls in a class of 30 boys. As it turned out I really enjoyed the book. It was the book that got me interested in reading. If you haven't read it you should. I couldn't put it down.

[Oerdin]

24. We do know...

We do know there was some pre-historic contact between South America and Polynesia. Polynesian chickens were rare but found in South America when the Spaniards arrived plus the sweet potato had made it from South America on to several Polynesian islands. These were no doubt small scale contacts rather then large scale population exchanges but they did occur.

http://esciencenews.com/sources/scientific.blogging/2008/07/29/chicken.dna.suggests.polynesians.introduced.them.to.south.america

[rasputin1952]

26. RIP Knut...

you did well.

Kon-Tiki was a fantastic read, one of the first "adult" books I ever read, that and The Grapes of Wrath...both incredible reads; made you feel like you were there!

[applegrove]

27. My mom read that story to us when we were kids.

[Autonomy]

29. I thought the voyage was supposed to prove Egyptians

could have colonized Central/South America.

Edit to add: I just looked it up. He also did the 'Ra Expeditions' two decades later to prove what I stated above.

[On the Road]

31. That Was the "Ra Expedition"

which came later.