A five-hour ride, straight up Yonge Street from Toronto’s waterfront, will set you right in the middle of some beautiful riding country and one of Ontario’s premier motorcycle rallies. Every year the New Liskeard Bikers Reunion seems to get bigger and better, and last year’s 13th edition of the rally raised $110,000 for the local cancer care unit. I’ve attended the event for the last two years and had a great time, both at the event and on the ride there and back.
I had the pleasure of riding to the 2012 event on Highway 64 as I cut over from a tour of Algoma. It was great riding, with good pavement and lots of twisties and elevation changes. The road was lightly travelled, with just enough civilization to feel comfortable.
Over the course of the next two days, from New Liskeard’s waterfront I rode a number of local roads and participated in demo rides with Honda, Suzuki, Ducati, Harley-Davidson and Victory. Later one night, I caught The Stampeders perform and watched fireworks explode over Lake Temiskaming for the Canada Day celebrations.
Of course, I also indulged in the deep-fried pickles and poutine at the local chip stand, and bummed around the downtown waterfront park that acts as tent city, speaking with some familiar faces.
The show ‘n’ shine exhibited the requisite chrome-dipped, V-twin treasures, but there’s always a smattering of the truly unique. My favourite was the teal-green monster Gold Wing with the fake wood dash and a windscreen that swept back so far that it almost hit the rider in the eyes. Also unique is the variety of entertainment at this family event. Activities like lawn-tractor racing, high-dive teams, science and reptiles shows, and a ton more.
On my last day there, I had a chance to take in the Freedom Rally. This is a 120 km scenic ride that sees thousands of motorcyclists ride in a continuous 19 km line of bikes as they bask in the cheers from thousands of grateful families. As charity rallies go, this has to be one of the most touching displays of community support.
The 2013 Bikers Reunion takes place in New Liskeard once again on the July long weekend, and promises to continue the trend of bigger and better. I’ll be sure to be there. My cabin is only 20 minutes down the road, and there’s nowhere I’d rather spend my summers than the wilds of Northern Ontario.
