Roam Ontario Summer 2012

of Brantford (“my company makes the signs for Pioneer stations”), have been coming to Friday the 13th rallies for years. Why? It’s a good reason to get out, we like hanging out there, why not? That’s about the closest I can come to the ‘why’ of this migration. No one seems to know how it started, but they keep coming back.

While Norm and his group get organized, I stow away my gear and head for Hagersville.

The countryside is coming to life as the sun rises higher in the sky. Horses skitter across a field to my right, while cattle laze about in another. We pass by the most famous landmark on this stretch of highway – Hewitt’s Dairy Bar. For 50 years, it has been a Mecca in its own right, drawing city folk in for a taste of its famous ice cream. No bikes there yet, though. They’ll get the traffic when everyone heads back.

My first stop in Hagersville is another Tim Hortons where I meet up with Wally Wydysz of Caledonia and his riding partner, Amy Wiltshire. They’re excited – it’s a perfect day for riding, albeit a little chilly right now. I explain my mission for ROAM magazine, and Wally excitedly tells me he just filled up at the Pioneer station in town. He shows me his well-worn Bonus Bucks card and I reward him with a pair of Pioneer sunglasses.

Down the street, I meet up with Deb Tomporowski, on duty at the Hagersville Pioneer. “I’ve been here for two years, so I’ve been through this before. It’s busy this morning – lots of bikers coming in the store to get warm. The washroom’s also been on a revolving door.”

I can hear the roar of bikes on the street outside – it’s almost 10:30 and the street is alive with motorcycles of all descriptions making their way through town. I thank Deb for her help, and mount my Harley to join the stream. Now I feel like I’m part of something – there must be 50 bikers ahead of me, and a swarm just as large behind.