As reported by the newspaper: lots of bikes. I've been on a few group rides, charity events, where between 200-500 bikes show up and that always looked like a big group. It's hard to explain what 20,000 bikes looks like!
By 3:00 am the town of Port Dover is closed to all car/truck traffic, only bikes are allowed in. The bikes line Main St on both sides and one row down the middle for about 3 km (1.8 miles) and with bikes parked on the next road over and many side streets connecting to Main, I'd estimate about 6 kms (3.8 miles) of motorcycles lining the road in rows of two or three.
Port Dover is about 150 km (94 miles) from my house and it gets busy there early. My three neighbours and I got away at the crack of dawn.
After a stop for breakfast, the sun was rising and we could see it was foggy. Rode in fog the whole way to Dover. The first bit on back roads, but as we got closer on the main roads, the build in bike traffic was obvious, and everyone's mood was great!
This is where we parked, at 8:45 am and already about 1 km from the center of town.
American Eagle badges:
Lots of odd deails, check the kickstand:
Spike the bike, I'd be in the hospital first time I tried to wash this:
The Crowd:
The cops:
As huge as the crowd was, the mood was the lightest and most fun of any place I've ever been. It was so laid back and you could just feel that vibe everywhere you walked. There is an incredible diversity in the group and in the bikes. There were scooters, HDs, sport bikes and dual sports, off road, vintage, European you name it and the crowd was even more diverse. Young and old, weekend warriors, Vet groups and social clubs, a few outlaw motorcycle gang knobs, lots of average joes, and a few real "characters":
We spent about 6 and a half hours walking around and taking in the sights. Bikes were coming and going from town the whole time.
And, of course, I did find a few little Ninjas hidden among the other bikes (I counted 8 including mine):
This is me, my neighbours, and our bikes:
would love to do something like that!
