My neighbour across the street, Ryan, rode down to Port Dover on Friday because it was Friday 13th, when motorcyclists gather there. He set off on his Harley ElectraGlide with his friend Bill, on his Honda Gold Wing, at 7 am for the three-hour ride through Toronto and then south from Hamilton to Lake Erie. I know it was 7 am because I heard them through the bedroom window – Ryan’s engine and Bill’s radio came into my dreams and woke me up.
I was supposed to ride down with them but cried off a few days before when I realized there were too many deadlines to meet and I just couldn’t take a whole day off. And truth be told, I don’t really enjoy huge bike gatherings. I’ve been to many of them, including Sturgis, Daytona, Lake George, Laconia, and Port Dover in both summer and winter, and you’ve got to be in the right mood to make the most of the event. Since that mood usually includes alcohol and I have to ride home, much of Dover’s appeal is lost on me.
Thousands would disagree, though. This was the 63rd running of the rally since its birth in 1981, which only happens when the 13th of the month falls on a Friday. You can read about its history here. On a summer day, the town of 6,000 can host more than 200,000 motorcyclists, after which it’s totally saturated and the cops will start turning people away. Cars are already prohibited in town if they don’t have permits for the day. Half the residents hate it and leave for the weekend, sometimes renting their houses to make some money; the other half love it and set out their garden furniture to watch the spectacle.
The last time I went down, in May last year, there was a guy standing half-naked on his lawn in the next town north of Port Dover, wearing a dildo on his head and carrying a “Honk if you’re horny” sign. His friends were watching from deckchairs behind, swigging beer, and all the bikes heading down Hwy. 6 were honking at him. I stopped and asked why he was doing it. “Lost a bet,” he said. What was the bet? “Leafs to make the playoffs,” he sighed, and another bike honked its horn.
Ryan and Bill had a good time. It was warmer than average and they dodged rain on the way down, then escaped it completely when they left in the mid-afternoon. The cops reckoned there were up to 100,000 motorcycles in town, and line-ups were long for everything: bank machines, Johnnys-on-the-Spot, Timmies, perch suppers and beer. The cheapest T-shirts were selling for $25. If you’re interested, you can see the local news report here, or better, watch Rick Mercer’s much more entertaining report here from 2013.
I regretted all day that I hadn’t gone down to Dover with Ryan and Bill, and now I think I’ll have to make the trek next April, just because it’s there. Did you go? Is it a great day out or a claustrophobic waste of time? If you did, leave a comment in the Comments below.
It’s not much of a committment for me coming from Hamilton, so I often pop down. I know the back way in so I don’t sit in long lines. There are always some interesting bikes to see e.g. a Yamaha TDR 250 (2-stroke high pipe twin – a rare bird). Could we please stop showing pictures of Thong Man?
As Yogi Berra said: “Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded”
The last time the Mrs and I tried to go about 5 years ago we got stuck in traffic trying to get through Hagarsville. We decided to go for a nice ride instead and diverted to Paris, had lunch on the patio at the Arlington.
Have been back to Paris since but not PD13
Why have I not heard a Stompin’ Tom song yet with the words, “I drove her to Port Dover ….”?
Well, aside from the fact he’s dead, I think this is a great idea.
“First thing you know, ol’ Jed’s got 50 bucks. Went down town to get his… truck fixed. Said Port Dover’is the place you otta be, so he loaded up his truck and he went PD. Dover that is.. Fish ‘n Chips. Hot Dogs.”
Write down the chord changes and we’ll get Mark and Jacob to perform this at the next motorcycle show …
Let’s see, crowds, cruisers, the great unwashed, thousands of people being an individual while dressing the same. No interest in any of it.
I went this year, it’s a good time to see friends that you might only meet here. Decent day once the drizzle left and a nice ride home.
I went once, said I’d never go again and now it’s too far. Just not a fan of the whole “Tribal Gathering” thing. And does Lorraine know you used her picture?
Haven’t mentioned it to her yet, but since I took the photo, I figured she was fair game.
I went. My devious backroads route into town had minimal traffic until it joins highway 6 almost downtown, so it was an enjoyable ride there. I should have taken the same way back home.
Gone once, that was enough. Way too many people – everywhere!
Have long wanted to visit P.D. for a Fri-13th gathering … just for the hell of it … looks like fun! Maybe one of these days!
Went there and enjoyed for a couple hours then a quick hop to turkey point for a libation.Day was perfect.
I’m not a pirate, so (in the immortal words of Groucho Marx) “I DON’T WANT TO BELONG TO ANY CLUB THAT WILL ACCEPT SOMEONE LIKE ME AS A MEMBER.”
Your Santa Speedo would fit right in it seems …
Matthew McGarvey – yes it would, but I’ve retired it – and my jingle bells….
That’s why my wife buys my MOA membership!