An exceptional state fair stroll 6

Yesterday we went to the South Carolina state fair!  It was “exceptional citizen” day which meant that everyone with a physical or developmental disability got in free.  Also one attendant per person could get in free, too.  So Brad was the “exceptional citizen” and I was his attendant.

It was only a little over an hour drive away, and when we got there we quickly found the accessible parking area.  The only problem?  Half of the spots were taken up by fair related stands!  So since it was a day for people with disabilities, it was really hard to find a spot.  And we can’t fit in just any accessible spot– we need to get one that has hash marks next to it for our ramp to come out.  We circled for a while, eventually following a family to their car and waiting for their spot!

Luckily the weather was beautiful!  It was about high 60s to low 70s.  I was happy to not be all sweaty wearing my red sugar skull sleeveless dress.  Brad was cold, he wore black linen pants, a long sleeved shirt, a sweater (his Freddy Krueger sweater), a scarf, and a hat!  LOL!

One of the first areas we came to upon entering the fair was the livestock area!  We saw a ring where they were judging cattle, so we didn’t want to bother the cattle with a dog around, so we didn’t go there.  We did go through a cow barn, though.  It was a little scary as the cows were just tied up by their heads.  There wasn’t any fencing or anything separating them from us if they wanted to kick us!  So I walked through that area quickly, and I held Hestia, and walked as far away as I could from the cows (while getting a picture of me with cow butts he he he!)!

Then we went and saw ducks, rabbits, and GUINEA PIGS!!!!!!!!!!!  Guinea pigs are my most favorite animal ever, if you didn’t already know.  We then went into the main bird area where they had chickens, roosters, and pigeons.  Wow, the pigeons were absolutely beautiful!  Finally we went into the sheepsey area.  I held Hestia the entire time we were with the livestock both so that she didn’t accidentally scare any animals, and because she kept wanting to go say hello to animals and I didn’t want her to get hurt if I accidentally let her have too much leash or anything.

We walked through some of the indoor displays of winning fair art, vegetables, cakes, pottery, honey, wine, legos, and well pretty much everything!  This was Brad’s favorite part of the fair.

Next we went to see the animatronic dinosaurs!  We walked up to the first one and it started moving and roaring and Hestia got really scared and tried to run away LOL!  So we stopped a distance away and worked on easy commands until we could get closer, and closer, and eventually right up next to the dinos.  There were several school aged children nearby who thought this was the funniest thing!  I tried to climb up onto a static dinosaur for a picture opportunity, but got stuck halfway up!  And yes, Brad did tell me I wouldn’t be able to get up there, and I didn’t believe him!

Finally we got to the midway, which was packed full of rides and games.  This is my favorite part of the fair!  I didn’t go on any rides, nor play any games, but I had fun watching!  And as a prize for winning several games, they had the Squatty Potty Unicorn with rainbow poop coming out!  I really wanted one of those (we have a Squatty Potty), but it would have taken a lot of money to play enough to win one.  So we didn’t.

Hestia was pretty much fearless!  She was so relaxed around the rides, the screaming, the dropped food, etc.  I had a little bit of trouble with the crowds that started arriving after school.  We arrived at the fair at 4PM, and we left at 6:30!!!  A two and a half hour outing!  I was so proud of myself.

Then on the way back to the highway we saw a little hole in the wall sushi restaurant and decided to try it.  It was OK, but neither of us got any meat, not because we didn’t want it, but because we were’t sure it would be safe to eat it!

We were exhausted by the time we got home, and today have been spending time resting up to prepare for the NAMI walk tomorrow!

Here are all the pictures, and below I will post a selection of my favorites 🙂

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jLEeA2MK3a92ufMZA

Veronica in her red sugar skull dress, Hestia in her red vest, and Veronica wearing her new straw hat. They are posed in front of some cow butts!

A prize winning red guinea pig with long hair.

Veronica and Hestia sitting on the bleachers in the sheepsey area.

A big dinosaur in the foreground and Veronica and Hestia (with Hestia holding her own on the ground!).

Veronica holding Hestia in front of another dinosaur who is rearing up on its back legs.

Brad has a big beard and is wearing his Freddy Krueger sweater, a scarf and hat. He is sitting in front of another dino!

Hestia holding her own on the ground looking at a baby dino!

Hestia relaxing near a big scary ride!