Alt for Norge Daily Journal: Day 55 - June 16, 2012 (Episode 9)

Today was a pretty long day and one where I was bored for most of it, but it was much better than the alternative!

We got a later start today, so I took advantage, slept in and then got a decent workout in. Since we were staying on top of a mountain and right next to the top of a ski jump, I ran down the mountain, following some roads that were probably a mile and a half. When I got to the bottom of the ski jump, I then tried running up the 935 stairs to our home! However, I think I actually ran about 100 of the stairs and walked the rest. It was crazy steep, but offered some incredible views!

We ended up doing brunch at 11:00 and then headed out at 1:00 for today’s competition, which would be to perform “In the Hall of the Mountain King” on a recorder, with an orchestra, in front of 200 people! Thanks to winning yesterday, I don’t have to participate and I will just be in the crowds. This also means that I will basically sit in a room by myself for the next 4 hours while the other four prepare for their 5:00 p.m. performance.

The four "musicians", ready to rock their recorders!

When the time came, I found C.J. and Johnathan dressed in tuxes, with Jessica and Amy in formal dresses! Each one of them got to practice one time with the orchestra and then cleared out for the audience to come in.

They had me walk in with the 200 or so people and sit right in the middle of the audience. C.J. would be the first to play, then Jessica, Johnathan and Amy. For each one, I gave them a standing ovation. Problem was no one else in the audience followed suit! Oops.

Amy rocking her recorder! I thought she did the best job overall.

Overall, I thought C.J. did the most precise performance, Jessica had the most entertaining performance (but worst musically), and Amy did the best overall, both musically and entertainment-wise. However, you never know what an audience is looking for, so we’d have to wait to see.

After dinner and interviews we gathered for the results. (Interesting thing here: Henriette had a wedding to attend that day, so earlier in the day they had filmed her going through each contestant and announcing that they had won. The actual results were filmed with the producer giving the results.) After a little buildup, Amy and Jonathan were informed they were the bottom two. It would be between Jessica and C.J. After our standard buildup, Jessica was told that she would have to go back to her lodge and prepare to call home because she’s going to the Finals! Two spots are taken. Only two left! C.J., Johnathan and Amy would have to compete tomorrow for the last two spots!

After the results, everyone got changed and we headed back to our place to do a little more filming. They wanted to film us doing an out-of-sequence shot of us walking and watching the movie that we watched two nights prior. After that, they asked C.J., Johnathan and I to do a hot tub scene (kind of a weird thing to write!). However, none of us were very excited about doing it and asked if we could do something else. They agreed and we did a scene in front of a fire instead.

Sharing some drinks and good times with some great friends!

When we were all finished, the crew left and the five of us went into the dining area to have some “late-evening snacks.” The hosts, Ben and Tove, are the nicest people ever!! They made us waffles and got us whatever we wanted to drink. I ended up drinking a nice portion of their 18-year old, single-barrel scotch! That bottle would probably cost $150 back in the states and they were more than happy to share it with me! I definitely need to send them a bottle when I get back, as a thank you! We all stayed up for the next couple of hours, drinking and talking. It was a lot of fun and a good way to end a long day!

Day 55 Over!!