900kms of gravel,curves and hills in canada

[odklr]

I've been pretty busy this riding season. I grab time to ride when I can. This is my 3rd year with my ,00 KLT 250. I've put about 2000 miles on my bike this year. My longest ride this year was a trip to Hope, AK for a 237 mile day. Great ride. We've had an unusually warm summer, and that day was beautiful. The road to Hope is twisted and bumpy (this is not a metaphor). It forks off the Seward highway (the road connecting Anchorage, Seward, Kenai). The Seward Highway is a nice road, but with the motorhomes, local traffic and the fisherman (the King salmon are running) is busy. I didn't pass another vehicle the whole 18 miles. It is mostly downhill from the junction, and twisty like a mother. This makes my bike feel like a sports bike.I get off-road as often as possible, and have found some excellent areas. I just need a riding buddy so I can explore a little further. I do have a friend with a 03 KLR 650 who lives in Anchorage, but he's not interested in riding off-road,and now he wants to sell the critter. He's put 6000 plus mile on it, but takes excellent care of his equipment. He's asking $4,000.00 for it. Anyone on the list wanting a bike, and to see Alaska could fly up and ride home... Last week an 81 year old tourist crossed the double yellow and plowed into the last 3 bikes of a 6 bike group. These riders were on a 10,000 mile ride. 2 KIA and 1 injured. Now the guy in the market in CA.....

[tsyaskiw]

I found a road that dual sport adventurers would just love. This gravel road is 900kms round trip of kilometer after kilometer of hills, curves, lakes, varying road conditions, and a very remote location. This road ends at a mine site Points North Landing Saskachewan ( look at a map of the province of Saskachewan for hwy. and locations) that will provide accommodation, petrol and food. At Wollaston Lake there is a five star lodge but I don't know if they serve drive in customers. You have to pay the package price to rent a boat, 2800 US for 4 days fishing which includes flight from Winnipeg Manitoba! There are a couple of other lodges along the route but I don't know what services are available. The Information sign at the start of the road indicates the lodges provide food and fuel but it may be iffy for accommodations. I'm sure a bike rider would get special attention as I sure no bikes come this way often. It looks like camping is the only way to go. There are a few government camp sites along the way but there are so many lakes and turn offs that camping on the edge of a scenic rocky lake sounds great. The road starts at LaRonge Saskachewan and heads straight north and ends at Points North 450kms later. The only way back is to turn around. To get to the start you take hwy 2 north of Prince Albert to La Ronge where the pavement ends. Head north on hwy 102 towards the community of Southend and at the junction of hwy 905 turn and go all the way to Points north 250 kms away. There is gas at Southend (25kms from junction),or at any of the numerous lodges along the road. There is lodging at the mine site in trailers with common bathroom and showers. Jumping into a lake would be more refreshing. This spring I drove some buddies up to Southend in a truck to go on a canoe trip and being a KLR driver I knew this was an adventure road! The road is continuos curves and hills with the gravel conditions varying from soft areas, loose stones to sandy surface. The road was dry when I was there but when its wet, it would change a lot. The road goes by many lakes where camping would be secluded. The road is an all weather road so its good for a car, but for a bike it would be challenging. There is traffic on the road from the various communities and large trucks supplying the lodges and mines up north, also be on the lookout for the many American fisher men in the high speed SUVs, so the curves and hills need extra caution. Be prepared to drive many hours of black top road with just trees on both side of the road just to get to La Ronge. I just did 4500 kms of grid road driving to southern Alberta and back on my new bike so with in the next few weeks I may just head up to Points North Landing, just to say I've done it. I live in The Pas Manitoba, so the trip to La Ronge won't be that bad for me. I'll send a message to the list with a small report. If you want more information on this trip or any dual sport trip to western Canada, e-mail me and I'll see if I can help. Why go to the depths of South America when we've got a grand adventure in our own backyard! Todd Summers days are long but the season is short, ride long but not fast