Julie and Kristin Go to the State Fair of Texas, Part 1

 

The scooter coming down on the lift at the beginning of the day.

 

 

Before.  Julie and Kristin at the beginning of the day.

 

Julie, Kristin, and scooter.

 

After looking at all of the free stuff as we came in, Kristin found Chevrolet's test driving track and had to test drive a Volt and a Corvette.

 

First, she had to take a breathalyzer test.  I was her passenger, so I was glad she did.

 

 

It came up negative, so she was good to go.

 

 

The Volt is an all electric car.  It was very quiet and drove really well.  Cool drive.

 

 

Entering the track.

 

 

Waiting in line to drive the 'Vette.

 

 

 

Kristin thought the guy reading in line was really ridiculous.  She also ridiculed that I had a book in my backpack.  I ALWAYS HAVE A BOOK WITH ME.  GET A GRIP!

 

 

Finally, the 'Vette!

 

 

Unfortunately, you needed someone to ride along with the driver in the 'Vette.  This was Kristin's "ride along" dude.

 

 

As passenger, I couldn't even get into the car.  I obviously had misjudged how low it was.  (Used to driving a van, here.)  The lady holding the door is my driver...and I think she had some NASCAR in her.  It was a great ride!

 

 

Finally settled.

 

 

Kristin in the driver's seat.

 

 

 

'Vette luxury.

 

 

 

Flowers, landscape showcases, and sculpture are all over the fair.

 

Time for breakfast--Kristin chose the Mac-N-Cheese Slider above and below.

 

She said it wasn't all that great.

 

For me, the alligator sausage on a stick.

 

It was a bit more lean than a regular sausage, but very tasty.  I am squinting because she made me sit facing the sun while biting...

 

 

 

And now, the Texas Star.  I'd never been on it before (it is very high).  Two people will do more than one person alone....or perhaps it is that Kristin is persuasive. 

 

 

 

Are we tall enough to go on?  Me just barely, but Kristin had it made.

 

Looking up while waiting.

 

The ferris wheel operator.  Most of the pictures were taken by Kristin, except when she handed it to me or to a passerby.  And Kristin loved everything at the fair.

 

 

Four people sharing a ferris wheel cage.

 

 

Look ma, no hands.

 

Looking down from the ferris wheel.  This is part of the bungie swing that Kristin later did.

 

The track we were on at the test driving.

 

And the midway.

 

 

Leaving the ferris wheel, Kristin became fasciated by this 1/4 of a midway barker.  He was talking to people and laughing and waving his stick around and people couldn't figure out how it worked.  I knew, though, having once been a circus costumer.

 

Next we went by a Day of the Dead scape, which also fascinated Kristin. 

 

LOL

 

Next, the bird show, which Kristin also enjoyed.  I always love it too...it was me who convinced her to go.  This turned out to be the 25th and last year the bird show will be at the fair.  The trainer and main director of the show has now got shows in a number of zoos across the country and in Disney World and just doesn't have enough birds to do everything.

 

During the parrot act--it has been on TV--the blimp flew over.

 

The poor parrot froze--thinking it was an eagle or other bird of prey.  It would not do anything and they almost had to take it, perch and all, backstage.  That would have been disastrous, because, as terrified as the poor parrot was, think how much a moving perch would have terrified it.  Finally it jumped onto the trainer's arm and was carried back.

 

It was the first time this had ever happened in 25 years of fair performances.

 

The blimp did not bother this fella, though.

                                                                              

The new Big Tex.  (Last year, Big Tex burned up during the fair.)

Besides being big, he booms out, "Howdy folks" moving his lips and his arms.

 

 



The big guy's boots.

 

 

This archway leads to the main street of the fair.

 

 

This is a small house carved out of a log.  Kristin went in, but the stairway looked a bit treacherous to me.  I was probably just being silly.

 

 

More pictures of the log house.

 

 

 

Because the introduction of the new Big Tex, he was a pretty big deal this year, so the exhibit at the Hall of State was pictures and parts of past Big Texes.  Kristin wanted pictures to give an idea of his size.  These are past ones...this years was the biggest yet.

 

 

 

A past year's belt buckle.

 

 

The ramp I needed to climb at the Hall of State was pretty steep.  I had to take a running start at it to get up.  Kristin thought it was pretty funny.  The attendants there were impressed, though and said they should have filmed me to show others how to do it...

 

We then met friend Michelle and her family (I think Joshua and Jonathan, but don't quote me on that) at the Creative arts building to see the photographs they had won ribbons for.  Michelle is pointing to hers.

 

Joshua beside his winning picture.

 

 

 

And Jonathan beside his.

 

 

And next, all five of us proceeded to the pig races.

 

 

I was only allowed to have one friend accompany me up front, so Michelle and family sat high in the stands.  The seat next to me is Kristin's, but she had both her camera and Michelle's to take pictures with, so she was very busy. 

 

 

She took pictures of the little pigs waiting in their pens.  She was so excited, I wasn't sure that she'd ever seen little piglets up close and personal before.

 

 

 

The pig track.

 

 

Then they walked a big mama sow around the track.

 

 

Then the piglets got to run.

 

We went through the Food and Fiber building, and Kristin became fascinated with this calf. 

 

 



 

And Elsie, her mother. 

 

 

 

I got two chances only to have one taste of wine each at the wine garden.  That is about how long Kristin was able to sit for.

 

 

 

 

 

Becoming enamored with the idea of flying.  She asked if I wanted to do it with her.  I said, "No."

 

 

Getting hooked up.

 

 

 

Ready to fly.

 

 

Being pulled back, back, back, and higher, Higher, HIGHER.

 

 

 

I swear I snapped the picture as she was half-way toward me and this is what the camera got.  She was already past.  That is how fast she was going.

 

 

 

 

 

It was easier to get her on the second, slower pass.

 

 

Then we had to race to get to the ostrich races in time.  I told Kristin I could keep up with her if she went at a slow jog.  She kept up that jog across the whole fair grounds and so did my scooter.  I was very proud of both of them!

 

Of course, again, Kristin had to take pictures of the ostriches before the race.  She made friends with a couple of them.  To be fair, I'm not sure I ever had ever seen live ostriches myself (live as opposed to on television or in movies.)

 

Finished loading the ostriches in their gates.

 

The jockeys are introduced

 

 

Jockeys are mounted.

 

 

Mishap at the beginning of the race.  There was a second race in which there were no mishaps.

 

The running of the birds with no jockey.

 

Just barely time for supper before the parade.  Kristin chose fried food again.

 

I had spanakopita and a giro.

 

 

The horses getting ready for the race.

 

More to come.....