Vikings.... those of the red beard, blonde hair.... scramasax and war axe, longships...... Gods with names that bespeak might and honour, even the names of their Goddesses sometime sound like the business end of a bonesaw....... fearless explorers and conquerors...... venturing to Greenland (which is covered mostly by ice), Iceland, (which is very green), raiding parties into Erin, Alba, and Cymru ( uh.... Ireland, Scotland, Wales....)..... invading Russia to set up their own dynasties..... These hale and hearty souls, the stuff of legends ( and by extension, movies, comics, videogames..... pro wrestlers), landed in North America a millenium before Columbus was even concieved..... setting up a colony in what is now Newfoundland.... in a place now known as Lance aux Meadows...... The New Land.... far beyond the borders of what they knew, well off the end of the world.....they set up a colony here, built longhouses, harvested grapes for wine (and hey, nothing says Viking more than sipping a chilled Zinfindel), fished, hunted... and lived. Then one day, they ceased to be there. The romantic theories have the Vikings going "Native" eventually becoming the Beothuks, who were later wiped out by white settlers..... other theories say the went westward, or even to the south.... establishing themselves as Mayan Gods..... My theory is this..... The Vikings, sailing bravely, face to the wind, spent one winter in Canada, and said "@#&* this.... we're going back to someplace warmer... like Russia, or Norway.... Finland... yeah, Finland's warmer", set sail eastward to the life they knew, the world they understood, the winters that made sense...... where Ingvald the Skulleater would dream the dreams of conquest, winning the heart of the Goddess.Vicky, she of the sword, nude in the temple..... But that's just me.... other theories do make more sense! We who do Canadian winters do so because we can! Have a better day!

Tougher than a Viking, eh Collin ? If I visit your frozen wastes, I will remember to be on my best behaviour and bring plenty of ale to sooth the savage beasts that live in your neck of the woods ! I like your theory, makes sense to me, cause how could those rough-nut Vikings just disappear...not the friggin' Alien abduction theory that's for sure...or maybe not...EECK...run for the Tundra quick ! BTW, neat rock texture, it has a painted like quality...kool ! ~Cheers~

Wonderful winter mountain scene!

Hey Hey, as a Norwegian (*by ancestry) this has a hook! Fantastic text supporting the image! bravo Collin! +5 from doarte's MADHOUSE!

You seem to have your history theory pretty much covered, in one lessson... sounds about right to me...and I'm a Blonde, I should know !!! Just tell me one other thing, you seem to be also running HOT & COLD with your land-line perspectives...from LAVA to ICE...yikes, is there nothing in between ? ...remind me to take my annual holidays always in OZ. Make sure the girls in the lounge will all have their fur-coat handy, when needed. Excellent story-telling, as always, GENIUS. BB

COOL BRYCE, Hey minus 45c with windchill tomorrow

Well, just goes to show ya that one man's wasteland is another's beloved homeland ... or visa versa. Nicely rendered.

excellent winter scene, congrats!

Very beautiful image !!! Excellent composition !!! 5*

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