BURLINGTON (Nov. 19, 2002)- They expected long lines, congested traffic and campers, so eager to get a taste of some sweet doughnuts that they'd stay all night in the rain and wind.

Well ... they got the campers.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, a company that's gained an almost cultlike following in other parts of the United States, opened in Burlington this morning to a waiting line of about 40 cars and a handful of young overnight campers.

But an hour after opening at 5:30 a.m., the line had dwindled to a comfortable crawl about 20 cars deep - no major traffic backups, and no hassles like the ones experienced when Krispy Kreme opened in Issaquah last year.

The doughnut company hired off-duty State Patrol officers to help direct traffic through the store's drive-through and back on to Burlington Boulevard.

"We've had a steady line since they opened, but it's not bad," said State Patrol officer Paul Gonzales, who stood in front of the brightly lit doorway, waving his hands toward the drive-through line.

Meantime, several enthusiastic Krispy Kreme fans sat in folding chairs next to the store, bundled up against the cold and drizzle. Several had come Monday evening to spend the night waiting in line before getting a hot doughnut this morning.

Jonny Hull of Mount Vernon was the first to show up at the store on Monday morning. He celebrated his 18th birthday at Krispy Kreme early this morning. Store employees brought him coffee and a cake at midnight and sang "Happy Birthday."

"It says '15 varieties' up there on that sign," Hull said, pulling his woolen hat down over his head. "I want to try them all."

Isaac McPhee of Mount Vernon and his buddy Jacob Olson of Bow sat in front of the store, playing a guitar and waiting patiently for the doors to open.

They weren't sure whether they were there to enjoy the doughnuts or the hyped-up atmosphere.

"A lot of people came here for the experience," McPhee said.

Other visitors could be seen skipping out of the store with four or five boxes of doughnuts.

Holly Wibbens sat in her van, waiting to buy four boxes of doughnuts for her co-workers at Ferndale High School as a neon-red "Hot Doughnuts Now" sign blazed above her.

"For doughnuts, they're pretty good," Wibbens said. She's a physical education teacher at Ferndale High School and doesn't much promote the idea of eating the fat-filled doughnuts.

The long-awaited Burlington store is the second in Western Washington and third in Washington state. One store opened in Issaquah last year and another in Spokane.

Burlington's location close to Interstate 5 and between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., made it a perfect location for a Krispy Kreme store, said Gerard Centioli, president of Kreme Works, the company in charge of developing the stores.

The company plans to open another 27 stores during the next five years in Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii, Centioli said.