July 14: Atlantic Ocean Road: One for the Books

Water, water everywhere! Today’s ride took me under and over the sea by bridge, tunnel, and ferry as I traveled from the little village of Andalsnes to Trondheim via the Atlantic Ocean Road – considered by many to be the “best road trip in the world” because of its unique construction and location, not to mention it’s hair-raising overpass.

Leaving Andalsnes this morning, I headed north on route 64, breathing in the crisp, fresh country air and enjoying the beautiful rolling green mountains, dark grey-blue waters of the fjord, and the little villages clustered on the edge of the water before boarding a short ferry from Herjestranda to Solsnes.

I hadn’t expected to ride under the sea today and was delighted to see a quick warning sign about the steep grade ahead just a few miles later. After tunneling under the water and coming out the other side, I took another short ferry ride to the town of Molde, enjoying more views of the fjord along the way.

From Molde I followed the national scenic signs on highway 64 to the little town of Vevang, the starting point for the Atlantic Ocean Road. There aren’t many drives that feel like roller coasters, but this route is one of them. Winding through an archipelago and joining the island of Averoy with the mainland, the road is built on several small islands and is connected by a series of causeways, viaducts and eight bridges, the most prominent of which is the Storseisundet.

After riding through much of the archipelago and enjoying the views of the rocky outcroppings and ocean waters, I stopped right before the Storseisundet bridge to get some pictures of this epic rise and fall of asphalt. Looking at the overpass from either end, the pavement appears to rise into the sky and disappear.

Wanting to make the most of such a unique opportunity, I decided to ride the bridge from both directions, first from Vevang and then from Karvag. I noticed the vertical effect of the road most when riding it from north to south. By that time the wind had picked up, the sky had darkened, and by the time I got to the top of the rise I asked myself “what the heck am I doing here?”

Thrilled with the view and the experience, I settled into several good hours of riding through the countryside on my way to Trondheim, a picturesque little city with a historic bridge, quaint shops, and many restaurant choices. What a great day on the bike!