‘I love coming out here’: Port Dover, Ont. draws few bikers despite snowy weather

It certainly wasn’t a great day weather wise for thousands of bikers to head to Port Dover, Ont. for the second of three Friday the 13th gatherings this year.

The first one last month was too cold for bikers to attend, and Friday morning, mother nature had other ideas but a few brave motorcyclists still made the trek.

“Typically for the traditional Friday the 13th events and gatherings we usually have thousands of people here but today, mother nature is definitely not cooperating,” says Sgt. Ed Sanchuk.

“We have about 1.5 centimetres of snow, the roadways are snow covered and, in some cases, ice covered. We are responding to multiple crashes but none with motorcycles thankfully.”

So, not a great day to venture down to Port Dover for Friday the 13th, but a lot of people still made the trek, including a few motorcyclists who braved the conditions.

“My wife just said I was stupid but, we’re thinking more like adventurers,” says Lee Barker.

“I lived down here when it all started, it’s something me and my brother used to do. We would come down here all the time,” says Clifford Lindsay.

“My friend Lee and I have been doing this for years.”

Lee Barker and his buddy Clifford Lindsay rode in from Brantford, Ont. Friday morning.

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They say the conditions got significantly worse once they got to Port Dover. The drive home could be an adventure.

“I can’t say I’m not worried but we’re pretty cautious guys and if we have to pull off, we’ll pull off,” says Barker. “We don’t take unnecessary risks.”

“Ride like you would drive a car,” says Lindsay. “Everyone has to drive to the road conditions, as long as you do that you’ll get home safe.”

Most of the people who made the trip to Port Dover Friday left their bikes at home like Earl Sharkey from Dunnville, Ont.

“I never miss Dover, it’s my thing. I love coming out here,” says Sharkey, whose Harley Davidson inspired truck is unmissable. He recently bought himself a Harley, but can’t ride it yet.

“My friends have motorcycles and I just turned 69 so I figured it’s time,” says Sharkey. “But it’s hard to get your licence now.”

The next Friday the 13th is in November, and you can bet there’ll still be some die-hards making the trip.

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