Peter W. stops briefly to call in our position.
(photo by R. Petry)
Not all was serious as Bob and Dave found this interesting person at one of the food stops where the classic and skate trails come together briefly.
Spectators line the home stretch, and volunteers assemble in the finish area as all await the first racers to arrive.
It was sunny, but not warm, as patrollers, also awaited the first racers to arrive at the Hayward finish line.
Ruth could have commanded a high price for her mitts!
Of course, a hug from a good-natured bona fide Birkebeiner warrior makes you feel a whole log warmer!
One more warm and fuzzy photo of this fun-loving finish-line trio as they await the arrival of the first finishers.
...and here they come!
From this perspective, it looks like a photo finish. After 51K, the first three finishers were within one second of each other! The first five were within six seconds of each other!
Racers continue to come in all afternoon.
The American Birkebeiner Headquarters near the finish line in Hayward, Wisconsin.
Jeff and Kathy, pictured with friend _________ (back at the Library Saturday afternnon), did not patrol the race this year; they raced it!