THE CANOL ROAD ,SOUTH, RUNS FROM ROSS RIVER TO JOHNSON’S CROSSING ON THE ALASKA HWY.

THIS IS BY FAR THE MOST FUN, MOST CHALLENGING AND MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL THE ROADS I HAVE TRAVELED IN ALASKA AND CANADA. A PERFECT ROAD FOR A DIRT BIKE OR DAKAR.

I LEFT CAMP AT 9 AM AND RODE TO CARMACKS FOR LUNCH THEN TOOK THE ROAD TO ROSS RIVER WITH A STOP- OVER IN FARO. FARO IS THE YUPPY RESORT OF THE YUKON AND EVEN HAS A GOLF COURSE. ROSS  RIVER IS A FIRST NATIONS TOWN AND IS PATHETIC AND SAD. I STOPPED BY BOTH TOWNS LAST YEAR ON MY WAY TO WATSON LAKE VIA THE CAMPBELL HWY.

I THEN TURNED SOUTH ONTO THE CANOL ROAD.

THE CANOL IS 135 MILES OF THE ROUGHEST, TOUGHEST ROAD I HAVE SEEN. IT IS VERY NARROW AND ROCKY, BIG ROCKS, SHARP ROCKS, ROUND ROCKS AND LOOSE ROCKS AND A PLETHORA OF POT HOLES. IT CLIMBS AND DESCENDS A FEW MOUNTAIN RANGES AND HAS LOTS OF CURVES.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE COMFORTABLE WITH ANOTHER RIDER ALONG, FUNCTIONING  REAR BRAKES AND NOT HAVING THOSE TOP HEAVY TIRES WITH ME. HOWEVER I REALLY ENJOYED THE ROAD,SCENERY AND CHALLENGE. ONE WOULD BE WELL ADVISED TO NOT RIDE THIS ROAD WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO REPAIR A PUNCTURED TIRE. MY KNOB-LESS KNOBBY’S SURVIVED THE TEST. I RODE NEARY STRAIGHT THROUGH, WITH ONLY TWO 15 MINUTE FISHING BREAKS, BEAUTIFUL STREAMS AND LAKES BUT NO FISH.  I COMPLETED THE RIDE IN A TOTAL OF 3 HOURS AND 45 MINUTES INCLUDING THE BREAKS, NOT BAD FOR AN OLD MAN.

THIS IS ONE ROAD I WOULD LOVE TO RIDE AGAIN. PROBABLY NOT RECOMMENDED FOR VSTROMS, JIM, JACK AND JUAN CARLOS, NOR KLR’S BILL AND WAYNE.

I HAVE RIDDEN ALMOST 2000 MILES OF GRAVEL ROADS THIS TRIP AND THE CANOL IS THE LAST, I HAVE HAD NO FALLS, NO FLATS NOR FISH

I GOT BACK TO THE PAVEMENT TOO LATE FOR DINNER, SO WENT TO MT TENT HUNGRY AND SATISFIED.

WATSON LAKE TOMORROW FOR A TIRE CHANGE AND A BATH. I WILL THEN CONTINUE SOUTH ON THE ALASKA HWY TOWARD JASPER

I DID CALL AHEAD TO WHITEHORSE ABOUT THOSE BRAKE PADS BUT THE CLOSEST AVAILABLE WERE VANCOUVER OR EDMONTON. I WILL JUST CONTINUE ON TO MISSOULA. IN A EMERGENCY I CAN US THE MEDAL TO MEDAL REAR BRAKES. IN FACT, I DID ONCE ON THE CANOL.

ALL IS WELL.