We had gotten our tickets but our friends were not able to make it this year so Sally and I went by ourselves. We rode the Sportster and found a place to park in the shade along the fence that is directly behind the stage. We had taken folding canvas chairs but were not allowed to take them in so we left them on the bike. Others waiting to go in had beer that they were not going to be allowed to take in so Sally accepted the offer of one. 
Security was very tight and everyone and everything was inspected on our way into the venue. As usual this time of year the weather was very hot and so we sought about to find some a bit of shade to sit down in but were thwarted at every turn due to our late arrival. The bleachers that last year were in the shade of a large tree in the center of the fairground were now placed in the sun so there was no respite there either. The heat proved to be problematic, I can't say for sure how many were stricken by the heat but I personally saw a few folks being helped by medical personnel due to the heat.
The first band was Hot Apple Pie, then came Mark Wills, Hal Ketchum, Craig Morgan, and Tracy Byrd. We tried to go the front of the audience for one or two songs of each band but were worn out by the time Hal Ketchum was done so we headed out to where the bike was parked. We set up our chairs and sat comfortably in the shade, listening to Craig Morgan. We watched while some folks left, others still arriving and spoke with a group that had decided to spend the entire show along the fence, in the shade, and had even put down blankets there. We went back for Tracy Byrd and even though the show was coming to a climax many people were leaving. One got an invitation from security. 

We were laying peacefully on the grass in the shade and these girls got in their car, we started to get up but they said we were okay... Then they started the car to run the AC and blew hot exhaust on us... cough! cough!
		We caught one of the T-shirts that were tossed from the stage		She insisted I take one more...

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