Atlantic Highway Atlantic Road Highway

Traveling along the Atlantic Ocean Highway one realizes its scenic beauty and why it is a Norwegian national cultural heritage route. The Atlantic Road is a 8.3 kilometer long section of County Road 64 that runs through an archipelago in western Norway's Møre og Romsdal County. Due to the severe weather it endures unsheltered during the winter and the technological challenge that was required during construction, it has been awarded the title of "Norwegian Construction of the Century". See this link for photos of The Atlantic Road: 

http://twistedsifter.com/2012/05/the-atlantic-road-norway/

Driving north to Kristiansund last summer along The Atlantic Road I caught a glimpse of a secluded little boat house off in the near distance. Of course being a photographer, I MUST stop whenever and wherever the opportunity arises to photograph. Pulling off the highway, I realized it was a private driveway, so I parked the car and walked in to the residence I saw nearby. The homeowner was working on the roof of his house and quickly came down to greet me as I approached. I did not want to appear brazen about walking onto his property to photograph his boat house without his permission. While I do know some Norwegian I am by no means fluent with the correct "chit-chat". Since almost everyone in Norway under the age of 55 years old speaks and understands english pretty well, I decided to ask politely in english, explaining that I was from California and I wanted to take a photo on his property. "You do not have to ask, go take your photo, you are welcome to do so", he replied. Hmmm, very nice of him I thought. Well, the fact is that since 1957 in Norway there is code law that is termed 'all men's rights' ( women's rights too of course ) regarding walking on private property. This has stemmed from hundreds of years of practiced tradition. This practice comes with obligations and responsibilities to not harm, disturb, litter nor damage wildlife nor crops. Access rights are most often for travel on foot and not by vehicle. If you hurt yourself while walking, the problem is yours and yours only not the landowner's. You always enter at your own risk. You can not sue. Fortunately, no injuries were sustained by me while taking this photo !