My sister suggested we visit the North Carolina State Fair today. From a caloric consumption point of view, the visit was a total disaster, but in every other regard, it was a blast. Mayela and Stephen attend almost every year and know the fair intimately. Except for the midway rides, which none of us have an affinity for, we visited every nook and cranny of the fair grounds. I enjoyed the bonsai exhibit and blacksmithing demonstration most. Jeanine ensured we experienced the dog, pig, and camel show; hard to describe with words but thoroughly entertaining. Mayela and Stephen guided us to all the best foods and local artisans. The giant pumpkins (watermellons, gourds, sweet potatoes, etc.) were truely hard to believe. When the sun went down we boarded the State Fair Flyer for a dramatic aerial view of the grounds at night.