Sunday at the Birkie

.
This edition of Sunday in My City is coming to you live from Downtown Hayward and the 40th annual American Birkebeiner Race.

Well, actually the race was yesterday, but I'm still live and in person in Hayward to tell you all about it.
.
. 

Imagine if you will a cross country ski race 30+ miles long with 10,000 racers which finishes on Main Street of a tiny little berg of just over 2,600 people. 

Can you imagine it?

Well, I'm here to SHOW it to you. 

As the skiers round the corner heading for the finish line they pass this Olympic style torch.
.
.

From there they ski right up Main Street.

These are some of the early finishers - - - you know - - - the ones that weigh about 90 pounds soaking wet and have been racing in these things since they were 3.

.
.

With the finish line in sight they ski past 30,000 or so spectators, lining both sides of the street,  all cheering wildly, and ringing their cow bells.

There's even a jumbo-tron for those too deep in the crowd to see the real deal.

.
.

Most of the skiers finish the race as if they'd just walked to the corner store and back - - - but we did see one who collapsed as he crossed the line.

They'd have to send ski patrol way back near the start line to scrape me up off the snow if I ever was fool hearty enough to attempt this race!
 .
.

Fisherhubby says he's going to enter next year.

He said that last year too, and you see how THAT worked out.

I think he's too old and feeble to BEGIN this at 60.
.
. 

Every skier wears a bib, and on every bib is a number, and every number identifies that skier and his belongings.

We'll get to the belongings later.
.
. 

Buses wait to haul skiers back to Cable where the race began if that is where they need to go to get to their cars and hotels.
.
. 

During the race skiers' belongings are stored in these bags, all labeled with the ski bib number.
.
.

There are folks who work all day to "fill up"  skiers AND spectators.

Fisherhubby and I imbibed in brats from these guys and they were juicy and delicious - - - especially standing out in the snow.

The brats were juicy and delicious, I'll let you make your own conclusion about the guys.

.
.

All around the side streets are stations to "empty" the crowd once they are "filled up."

You gotta go when you gotta go. 
 .
. 

There were eyes in the sky checking all day long on the progress below.
.
.

Main Street Hayward is a "balcony zone"

Some, like this one, were used to give invited guests a birds eye view of the race.
.
. 

Others provided free bill board space.
.
. 

Our friend Kevin, whom we met peddling his wares at last year's Birkie, was back with Elvis and a new improved line of merchandise.

Fisherhubby got a Birkie hat just like Elvis'.
.
. 

 

The Birkie Trolls were happy to meet Kevin and Elvis.
.
. 

We need to take a moment to highlight Birkie spectator fashion.

Footwear is MOST important - - - the foot that stays warm keeps the whole body warm. 

A nice light-weight ski jacket is also a must. 
.
.

And let's not forget to cover our heads!

Meet Lynn in a fox fur cap - - - he said it was actually too hot for the day.
.
.

When your head gets too hot, you simply loosen the chin straps and let 'em flap.
.
. 

After a long hard day skiing or spectating, what could be better than a nice warm coffee shop with free wi fi?

.

.

Especially when that coffee shop also has muffins like these!

That's all I have for this special Birkie edition of SIMC.  Please click below to join the party and see what's going on in other cities all over this globe.
 .
. 

I'm joining Unknown Mami

For Sunday in My City.

My city today is Hayward, Wisconsin

.

.