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PD 13 - Port Dover Friday 13th

It started in 1981 when a guy who owned a biker shop in Pt Dover had a word of mouth gathering of friends at a local watering hole. It started with about 25 motorcycle friends. The first was a Friday the 13th in November and now it is a Friday the 13th tradition. Today, June 13, 150,000 visitors were expected. The hope to break the Guiness record was that 10,000 bikes would be in the parade. All the streets were lined with motorcycles - some pure and some hawgs. Old, new but all well loved. The people were as interesting to see as the bikes. What characters. Definitely a breed of their own. It was hot and humid but it didn't stop people from attending. The crowds at times were too much. Lots of leather worn and to buy. We drove to Port Dover but only motorcycles were allowed into town. We parked in a farm field and were shuttled into town on a school bus. Yes, it is that organized! Lots of buses and lots of Ont Prov Police. I really admire how the town has accepted and adapted to this originally impromptue event. Good on them.

Flamborough Run for Life

Run for Life is a campaign organized by the Canadian Cancer Society to help raise funds for research, patient support and other services. Linda and I were asked by our financial advisor if we would join her corporate team. She would match all funds raised by her team members. There were ten of us and we did quite well. Actually, we won for most money raised ($12,000). Linda and I found support for a little over $1700. It was a very hot day and even when the event started it was sweaty and humid. We were honoured with a sit down dinner as the big money raisers and then the event started at 7pm. It began with a moving ceremony as 30 current cancer survivors did the first lap of the track at the Flamborough raceway. Then, the other 300 or so joined in. For the rest of the night, we walked in twos for half hour shifts until 7am. We watched lightning in the sky all around us but we only had a brief rain shower around 2am. The wind got very strong at one point, but all in all we fared well. Had a shower as soon as we got home (bug repellient not so nice and sweaty,too) and took a 3 hour nap. We didn't know the other people on our team, so it was nice to meet some people who were prepared to spend the time raising money and spending the night. Thanks to those who did sponsor us. It sometimes seems that so much money is raised for cancer and then I wonder how much progress is occuring. At 10pm, the luminaries were lit. These are candles purchased by sponsors to honour someone they lost to cancer. The track was lined with candles and so were many of the stadium seats. A very sad and sobering sight. A researcher from McMaster spoke of his work and the importance of financial support. The survivors all had tales of hope and promise. It was a good night.

Hamilton Wingfest

I am a profound follower of a good wing. Years ago, when we started up the new high school in Hespeler, a couple of colleagues and I formed a group called The Wingnuts. We toured all over Waterloo Region in search of the best wings. After a year, we determined the best place was a little bar in Cambridge but it is long closed. I thought I had found the best wings in Hamilton (at the Cat and Fiddle) but they changed suppliers and now it's not worth the drive. So the Hamilton Wingfest was promising. We could try wings from many places and make decisions. Wrong. The line ups were very long. After 30 min in one line (5 Alarm) I was told they'd take my money and I could wait another 25 min for my wings. The line next to that (Pluckers) ran out of wings!!! Excuse me? Hawgs Gone Wild is an American group who tour all the time with wing and rib festivals so they knew what they were doing. Not only did they have wings, on time no less, they were also terrific.

And the blast from the past was a performance by David Wilcox. "My Eyes Get Me in Trouble" may ring a bell for some. Strange to see him bald, but he is still having fun and a great guitar player.