Alternate Olympic Games Day 8

Today was the highly anticipated "Long Distance Endurance Flying" Event, & due to the length of the course it was held at the BIG pond.....AKA Lake Michigan! The excitement was palpable as the crowd waited for the third and final competitor to take his position on the blocks. The "Refergeese" who were officiating for this race were right behind them to ensure the gulls were all properly situated before they signaled the start of the race! Before we knew it, they were off!! The course of this endurance flight followed the shoreline of the Lake, starting at South Shore Park & flying South to Grant Park, where they needed to cross the observation platform before turning and heading back....a total distance of 12.4 miles, & the first gull to return to the starting blocks would win the gold. There were barges full of spectators all along the route, and I've also included a picture of the "air refergoose" who was positioned over the observation platform to ensure that each gull did indeed cross the platform before heading back! It was a close, heart-pounding race, and they all came in so quickly that unfortunately I never caught a photo of the winner as he landed, but I can tell you that it was the last-to-the-starting-blocks (& Wisconsin's own) "Turbo" gull who won the gold....and the crowd went wild!!  :)))