In this series of pictures, Dick KD4ISC escorts the last riders of the day into the finish line.  The Tour began at 8:15 am, and this picture was snapped about 4 pm.  The ideal weather resulted in a pretty quick ride, even for the last riders.

As hams, we're always among the last ones finished.  The riders are committed to finishing, no matter how long it takes.  Sometimes that's hard on the volunteers who are waiting... but then we didn't just ride 80 miles.  Our complaints are usually tempered with understanding.

Next, Jim N4PE poses next to the supply truck, and then he's not posing, removing the radio gear from the truck.  Jim is the ARES Area 7 District Emergency Coordinator.  Area 7 includes Wake, Lee, Johnston, Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson Counties.  Jim calls the Tar River ARC home.

The supply truck makes two full circuits of the course, once in the early morning as the tables, water and food are dropped off at rest stops, and again when it's all done and the debris is picked back up.

We did a better than usual job of not asking the supply truck to double back and drop off more supplies.  Our surplus of SAGS really helped when it came time to move water and food from one Rest Stop to another.

And finally, Bob K1RCB "urned" the gratitude of the volunteers.  Bob did more than unload coffee - he was the shadow for the Debra, one of Jeb's assistants.  He was kept busy running to area hospitals as Debra kept tabs on the two injured riders. 

Bob may sound like an old timer with his K1 callsign, but he's a new ham (the K1's a vanity with his initials), and he's jumped into public service operation and club activity (Raleigh ARS Vice President) with both feet, supporting the enjoyment he gets out of Amateur Radio. 

The hams in the Tour came from several generations, but new hams (young ones and older ones) stood out.