Port Dover Friday 13th July 2012

[Trader]

Man, I wish I had found out about this before this week. I'm only 6 +/- hours away whether I travel through Ontario or New York. And I want to get started on my Canadian map.

Not to mention meet some of the odd individuals I read on here.

 

Shame you didn't make it! We could have met up in Kingston and rode down together.

 

Well....I left the house at 6:00 am and stayed off the superslab for at least 1/2 the distance to Toronto (I went Hwy#7 to Peterborough then 135 to 401)

 

Met up with Paysaw in Mississauga at about 9:15 then about an hour and 1/2 to MarCarl's place. Once Carl finished putting pieces back on his bike that had fallen off we were ready to go.

(I shouldn't be so mean...Carl found I had a screw loose.....and it might even have been from the bike!)

 

on the way to Port Dover we stopped to visit with a friend of Ray's.

 

Finally got to Port Dover about 1:15 and walked....and walked....and walked.

Sure were a LOT of bikes!!!!!! we walked a lot....and there were a lot of bikes! I heard estimates of over 150,000 people and at least 10,000 bikes!

We were at Tim's for 2:00 but didn't see anybody...and for all those thousands of bikes we only saw one other 1st gen!.

 

Carl couldn't remember where we parked the bikes (you know what it's like when you get old!) so we walked so more....and then some more ("Hmm....Lets try down this road"......but I helped him out.

 

He bought me a pretty pink shirt for Friday 13th. But that's a whole other story!

Ray had to leave us early.

 

We eventually found the bikes after a walking tour most of the side streets of Port Dover (did I mention the walking....and every street was lined with bikes!)

 

Took the scenic route back from Port Dover to Waterdown (North of Burlington) which took (about 21/2 hours) and then went for supper.

 

From there, Carl went his way and I went mine. Rode the 401 all the way to Kingston (at least I didn't have to walk!...but there was still A LOT of bikes on the road!)

 

Got Home about 10:30 p.m.

 

So I was gone for about 16 1/2 hours and spent at least 12 hours riding. Total mileage was just a hair under 600 miles.

First thing I did when I got in the house was baby powder you know where!

 

I'll never make an iron butt!!!

[Yamamike]

I was there and saw 3 first gens and a whole lot of other iron of all kinds. Last estimate I heard was 250,000 people...don't know how many bikes. I'm totally guessing but I'd say way more than 10,000. Other than a little rain on the way home, it was a great day.

[saddlebum]

Carl couldn't remember where we parked the bikes (you know what it's like when you get old!) so we walked so more....and then some more ("Hmm....Lets try down this road"......but I helped him out.

You helped him forget . . or you helped him remmeber ....or can't you pemember which

He bought me a pretty pink shirt for Friday 13th. But that's a whole other story!

Ray had to leave us early.

After seeing Carl put you in a PINK shirt I can hardly say as I blame him

 

But at least you got to go. My boss ( who rides a Vulcan ) said there were too many people off, so I could not go. Guess were he spent the day.

Parts guy ( who rides a star classic ) called in sick wanna bet were he spent the day.

[XV1100SE]

I don't go to Port Dover on Friday the 13th. For me... I'd rather be riding. But... estimates of over 140,000 people yesterday to a town of 6500. Over 10,000 bikes.

 

http://www.delhinewsrecord.com/2012/07/13/huge-crowds-in-port-dover

[Marcarl]

Well I wasn't going to go to this event until poor Steve was going to go all by himself. I thought: he will for sure get lost, will spend hours on the road waiting to get into Dover, he will forget where he left his bike, and his feet will get sore from all the walking, the paramedics will have to help him out from heat stroke, somebody will lift his wallet, he'll get too close to somebody else's girl, and he'll never make it home in time. So I went along to make sure that the VentureRiders didn't get a bad name,,,,, what moderators won't do for the group, I tell ya. Ray even came along, just in case, and just the sight of him kept that one fella at bay when Steve got soo close to that pretty little thing, and so young as well!!!,,, good work Ray, thanks for being there!!!

 

As it was, I was told to take the lead to enable the other two to ride into town unhindered. It worked, we never stopped for anything, other than stop signs, and rode right to our reserved parking spot. That we did a nice job of parking???? well that's another story. I really think that Ray and Steve were worried for the trouble Steve was going to cause and so parked for a fast getaway. They certainly weren't going to head in the same direction, thank goodness Ray was gone by the time Steve and I got to our bikes. Now seeing as I am the kind of a guy that likes to share everything, I left the location of our bikes in the hands of the one who would know the best,,,, Ray!!, but he stuck it to us,,,, he left early and then I had to depend on Steve to guide the way,, he knew all about that big red brick house, but had no idea where they parked that house, he even tried to recruit some old ladies to help us out,,,, but that didn't work,,,, even when he offered them a chance to wear a pink 'muscle shirt'. I was flabbergasted when just so flippantly he just pulled out that precious gift and wanted to share that so easily, maybe his eyesight is going and he thought those ladies where 50-60 years younger. I kept trying to move him on, tried to remind him that Ray was already gone and that I was little protection for him, but he kept after those ladies, undeterred by the dangers he was creating for us. Lucky this was on a back street and the ladies hadn't thought of needing protection, so we got out of there in time.

Steve also ran into another big problem for himself, he wanted to buy a T shirt to prove to his wife that he actually made it to Dover, but he was determined not to pay more than $10 for such an item. We walked, and we walked, and we even wore out poor Ray. We did arrive at a booth and they were selling shirts,, but they wanted $15 for the skimpy ones, that they were pink, was another story. There were only 2 left so they must have sold like hot cakes. Steve was stuck on black and didn't realize what he was passing up here, this was going to be a collectors item, a rare item that everybody was going to want with no more available, so I in my good nature decided that now was the time I would spend a goodly sum and help out a friend, I offered $10 for one of the remaining 2 shirts and they accepted my offer, so Steve now has his very own Friday the 13th shirt,,, a little skimpy maybe and somewhat off color,,,, but then who cares about it being PINK, when it's going to be a COLLECTORS item.

Getting back out of town was a breeze, well it would have been nice if there was a breeze, but after about 10 minutes waiting for the cops to short out all the traffic at their appointed intersection, we rode off into the clouds. We even managed to experience a couple of sprinkles but on the whole, It was a great day.

[XV1100SE]

The thing I don't understand, and probably one of the reasons I don't go... do the math :

10,000 bikes. Rider and maybe 1/2 with passenger is 15,0000.

If 140,000 people went... where did the other 125,000 come from?

 

If this is a biker event, then why do so many cage it? Weather was perfect, why would a biker take a car and not their bike? Why would someone without a bike go? Just to be part of the crowd and get a t-shirt ?

[Marcarl]

Just to be part of the crowd and get a t-shirt ?

Yep, there's lots of folks who would like to have and\ride a scooter, but don't have it in them to bite the bullet. So this way they can kind of be part of the party.

[darthandy]

The thing I don't understand, and probably one of the reasons I don't go... do the math :

10,000 bikes. Rider and maybe 1/2 with passenger is 15,0000.

If 140,000 people went... where did the other 125,000 come from?

 

If this is a biker event, then why do so many cage it? Weather was perfect, why would a biker take a car and not their bike? Why would someone without a bike go? Just to be part of the crowd and get a t-shirt ?

 

As with any event like this, there are a lot of curiosity seekers. I suppose a lot of them go to see the "big tough bikers"! Apparently they've never seen me! Personally, I think the 10,000 estimate for number of bikes was low, but that's just my opinion. At least they keep the cagers out of the down town area so there is some (more or less) manoeuvring room. The article mentioned the peak of 175,000 in 2010 and the writer thought that yesterday's number represented a drop in interest. I disagree. The 2010 event was the 50th event (Not the 50th anniversary, by the way) and there was only one Friday the 13th that year so it generated more interest. As there were 3 Friday the 13th's this year at lot of people went to one or the other but not all of them, so that would keep individual numbers down.

 

In the end, it's just fun to see the bikes and watch the people! It's not for everyone but it can be interesting.

 

Andy

[chabicheka]

Is it more fun to go to an event that has two million people, than one that has one million??

 

Do I care how many showed up?...............................NO!

 

I think it's usually the organizers who try to promote these events, lie to make it look like their event is so successful, so they can charge the vendors higher fees.

 

I don't go to rub shoulders with the crowds. End of the day, I decide if it was worth it for me or not. In fact, the bigger the crowds, less fun it is, cause you don't see much,and it takes you a lot longer to get from one point to another.

 

I usually go these events cause they are Biker events, but most of the time,heading back home, I say to myself why did I bother going?

 

 

[Trader]

Lots of walking in the heat....lots and lots of harleys (yawn)

 

But I got a PINK SHIRT out of the deal!

 

It's a vest or undershirt style, got a rose and sparkley letters....probably for a 12 year old!

 

Eat your heart out guys!

 

It sort of fits Yvette....But she wouldn't let me take a picture of it on her! She said she will think of Carl when she wears it in bed!

Wonder what she means by that?

 

Carl was walking down the street and there was a cute young thing getting her picture taken by her man.

Carl spun around and put his head right in beside hers with perfect timing for the picture, then without saying a word, just spun around again and continued on his way.

 

I told the girl " I guess there's one in every crowd!....well maybe Two!" as I put my arm around her and posed for another picture!

She was friendly enough....leaned towards Carl and me for both for our pictures. Gotta wonder what her BF thought! LOL

Edited July 14, 2012 by Trader

[sleepy2]

Phantom Wife & I and another couple made it down around 9:30 or so and tried to park on the street west of main street in the shade and fairly close to the action BUT with trailer on there was no chance of that(especially since the other couple were at odds with each-other and didn't feel like finding a spot again) so we did ride past Timmie's and went down east street with Beer Store on it and had to ride almost to main street again to get a spot .Missed shady spot by 4 bikes.It seemed like 3miles to walk till there were any venders. There is nothing worse than a huge crowd,but you make the best of it!Didn't take anywhere near of pictures I normally do as there aren't that many different bikes that are normally seen elsewhere!

Was hard to do anything as we had to keep track of each-other and they weren't interested in doing or going anywhere(not sure why they came--too hot --don't like crowds)I didn't think it was that bad. Was a lot more crouded a few years ago when it was shoulder to shoulder and was nowhere near that Fri.

Saw about 10 first gens. and about the same second gens.

Left around 2pm as the others had enough fun.

Took us about 45 mins to go from the lights at grocery store to the police barricade towards Simcoe. Stopped at Timmie's just off main street where they had shade and rested for a while then headed home.

All in all it was a good day! Wished we could have met-up with you guys but there is always other times!

[Naugh-T]

Got there around 7:30pm,lots of parking,not to hot,had a nice time

 

Naugh-T

[paysaw]

It was a great day in Dover with Steve and Carl.I had to leave early for a family gathering.It was so hot I got a tan.The pink tea shirt thing was funny too.It was just another random act of Carl's kindness that caught Steve off guard.Just another crazy adventure with a bunch of Venture riders. ( not me) ..lol:cool10: