Subdued scene in Port Dover for Friday the thirteenth biker rally

Snowy chilly circumstances seem to have stored the same old crowds away from Port Dover for Friday the thirteenth.

Bikers usually flock to the lakeside Ontario city at any time when the thirteenth day of the month falls on a Friday. The custom dates again to 1991 and the occasion often attracts tens of 1000’s of tourists.

However on Friday morning, CTV Information noticed solely three bikes downtown.

There have been nonetheless dozens of individuals within the streets and shops had their common Friday the thirteenth t-shirts out on the market, however many guests mentioned they opted for four-wheeled technique of transportation to get to city.

Penny and Geoff Cox of Wyoming have been amongst them. The couple mentioned they often come by bike, however determined to take their automotive this yr due to the chilly.

“Certainly one of us at all times tries to come back right here,” Geoff Cox mentioned. “However this yr, I obtained this day without work, so we each determined to come back down.”

Penny and Geoff Cox travelled from Wyoming. (Dan Lauckner/CTV Kitchener_

Al Lancaric and his brother drove in from Toronto.

“In the summertime, sure it was nice,” Lancaric mentioned. “You couldn’t stroll by way of right here, there was so many individuals, however it’s not the case immediately.”

Whatever the climate, many guests mentioned they nonetheless wished to come back to city to ensure they obtained a t-shirt and met up with a few of the folks they stay up for seeing annually.

Frozen Friday: a motorbike sits lined in snow in Port Dover on Jan. 13, 2023. (Dan Lauckner/CTV Kitchener)

“It’s nice,” native rider Moe Elmore mentioned. “It simply exhibits a variety of help for it, particularly our native companies that you just see round. Simply to see all people, particularly after the entire COVID factor. It’s been nice to see faces and truly talk with all people. And it’s good to see all people nonetheless pitch in.”

Staples of the occasion, like Paul “Thong Man” Nurmi additionally made certain to point out up.

“To point out all people there is perhaps white right here, however in your coronary heart, I’m ceaselessly younger,” mentioned Nurmi, who’s been coming to the occasion for 3 a long time.

Port Dover Friday the thirteenth staple, Paul “Thong Man” Nurmi, fist bumps a passerby on Jan. 13, 2023. (Dan Lauckner/CTV Kitchener)

Though he left the bike at residence this time, whereas additionally including just a few extra layers of clothes.

“It’s a disgrace with the climate, if it had been a pair days in the past I’d have introduced my bike up,” Nurmi mentioned.

Retailers have been additionally happy with the turnout.

“Enterprise is first rate for a January,” mentioned Jai Dehaan, co-owner of Titanium Customs.

A person walks by a retailer promoting Friday the thirteenth t-shirts in downtown Port Dover on Friday Jan. 13, 2023. (Dan Lauckner/CTV Kitchener)

Forward of Friday, police warned blowing snow and chilly might trigger treacherous street circumstances. On Friday afternoon, police mentioned there have been no studies of site visitors incidents all through the day.

Because of the lower-than-expected turnout, no street closures have been put in place.

There are two Friday the 13ths in 2023. The subsequent one will occur on Friday, Oct. 13.

Paul “Thong Man” Nurmi chats with a police officer in Port Dover on Jan. 13, 2023. (Dan Lauckner/CTV Kitchener)