Atlanterhavsvegen (Atlantic Ocean Road) is one of Norway’s 18 National Tourist Routes that the construction industry in 2005 named “Norwegian Construction of the Century”. The road runs 5 miles (8 km) along the outer edge of the Atlantic Ocean across an archipelago of islands and seven bridges. Popular for filming auto commercials, the route has also been voted the world’s best road trip and best place to test drive a car.

From Alesund, we traveled 55 nm north to the islet of Eldhusoya, one of the four rest stops along the Atlanterhavsvegen. We anchored among the islets off Karvag and ran the tender ashore to walk along a wonderful pathway along the outside of Eldhusoya, pictured above. The path is suspended above wetlands and is a microcosm of the Atlanterhavsvegen, giving an opportunity for pedestrians to get right out on the edge of the Atlantic.

Below are highlights from December 14th, 2020. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.

Steinvagsundet Position: 62°27.98’N, 6°7.24’E Heading towards the bridge across Steinvagsundet as we depart Alesund shortly before 5am. The stern of World Diamond is visible to port.

Lepsoy Bridge Position: 62°35.49’N, 6°15.27’E As we approached the marked narrow channel through the shallows southeast of the island of Lepsoya in the dark, we had both oncoming and overtaking traffic to contend with. According to our charts we could run just outside the channel to avoid the other traffic, but the radar image showed not only the channel markers but large uncharted obstructions completely across the channel ahead. We instead stayed in the marked channel, slowing to allow the other traffic to pass. As we neared the narrowest point, we realized the radar was showing a new bridge under construction and the places the charts showed as clear now were blocked.

Nyhamna Gas Plant Position: 62°54.43’N, 6°45.67’E Mass of charted pipelines heading to and from the Ormen Lange gas field into the Nyhamna Gas Plant to our southeast. When the plant was built in 2005, it was Norway’s largest construction project, at an estimated cost of USD 7.5 billion. The processed gas is then shipped across the North Sea to Yorkshire, UK via the 745 mile-long (1,200 km) Langeled pipeline. The pipeline was the longest in the world when completed in 2007 and supplies 20% of the UK’s total annual needs. Through a connector halfway at Sleipner Riser to the existing Gassled transport system, the gas also can be diverted to European terminals.

Visnes Kalk Position: 63°1.55’N, 7°17.40’E The massive Visnes Kalk limestone quarry to our southeast as we approach the Karvag area. The quarry was established in 1904 and supplied much of the limestone for the rebuilding of Alesund after a devastating fire destroyed much of the city that same year.

Eldhusoya Position: 63°1.42’N, 7°21.69’E The walking path around the outside of the island of Eldhusoya, built as part of Norway’s famed Atlanterhavsvegen (Atlantic Ocean Road).

Karvag Anchorage Position: 63°1.22’N, 7°24.31’E Our anchorage among the islets off Karvag in 67 feet (20m) on 250 feet (76m) of rode.

Tender Position: 63°1.10’N, 7°22.00’E The tender tied off at Eldhusoya for a walk ashore.

Atlanterhavsvegen Position: 63°1.13’N, 7°21.99’E The famed Atlanterhavsvegen (Atlantic Ocean Road) is one of Norway’s 18 National Tourist Routes that the construction industry in 2005 named “Norwegian Construction of the Century”. The road runs 5 miles (8 km) along the outer edge of the Atlantic Ocean across an archipelago of islands and seven bridges. Popular for filming auto commercials, the route has also been voted the world’s best road trip and best place to test drive a car. Here we are at the Eldhusoya rest stop, the largest of the four along the route.

Walkway Position: 63°1.17’N, 7°21.89’E The walkway around the outside of Eldhusoya, that we saw from sea, is suspended above wetlands and gives an opportunity to get right out on the edge of the Atlantic.

Crab Sculpture Position: 63°1.17’N, 7°21.89’E Huge crab sculpture made of beachcombed plastic along the Eldhusoya walkway.

Memorial Position: 63°1.11’N, 7°21.71’E Memorial on Eldhusoya in memory to those lost at sea.

Storseisundbrua Position: 63°1.05’N, 7°21.27’E Passing under Storseisundbrua, the symbol of Atlanterhavsvegen (Atlantic Ocean Road) and the longest bridge en route.

Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map, with the complete log of our cruise. On the map page, clicking on a camera or text icon will display a picture and/or log entry for that location, and clicking on the smaller icons along the route will display latitude, longitude and other navigation data for that location. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.