Corn Maze and Acorns

Today we took a drive out to Bradenton to Hunsader Farms because we thought that their Pumpkin Festival and Corn Maze would make the perfect exposure for our Southeastern guide dog puppies Bo and Coach. It is located at 5500 County Road 675 in Bradenton, FL.  You will need to pay $5. for parking, but there is plenty of space for parking.  

We arrived about 10 am and it the festival started at 9.  Of course, Coach was ready for his 10 am poo, which arrived right on time and just a few yards from some port-a-potties, so we were all set to enjoy the corn maze, poo free!

Melisa and Cheryl stand with Bo and Coach in front of the pumpkin patch.

 We were all prepared to pay the $8 entry fee, but we got a very nice surprize at the gate:

"Guide dogs get in free."

"Really? Thank you!"  We were all amazed.  We are used to getting hassled or questioned.  This was the first time we actually got a perk from having a puppy.  Go Guide Dogs!!

Fred and Melisa walk the puppies up to the corn maze entrance.

The corn maze is an extra $2 (puppies were not free 8-), and it takes about 20 minutes to go through.  The corn is about thigh high at this point.  Some areas had corn shoulder high.

Melissa and Fred are following Bo Peep's lead.  After all she found her sheep.

At first I lead, but I hit a dead end, so everyone called for me to quit leading.  Boo!  Then we let Bo lead for a while.

We came upon the tower to help guide walkers who are lost.  We asked to have the dogs come up and take a photo.

 As we rounded the North side of the maze we came up on the tower where two boys were sitting in hopes that someone would get lost and they could shout instructions to them.  I called up and asked if our puppies could come up for a photo.

Melisa is getting Bo settled for a photo on the wooden tower.

I think they were bored.

"Sure. Do you want us to get down?"  He called back.  I was thinking that would be a dereliction of duties so I assured him that he could stay there.  I just wanted a photo.  I didn't want anyone to "DIE" in the maze!

Bo and Coach peer out through the slats of the tower as the boy maze guards (?) watch.

 We hurried off the tower as a group with kids was coming up behind and their kids started up the tower as if it was a part of the maze.  Sigh.  People following people without thought.  Doh de doh.  I didn't want our nice maze guards to get in trouble for letting us up for a photo.  So we hurried on.

Moving on down the maze.  The children are finally coming off the tower behind us.

As we made it to the far North end, we stopped for a photo.

Fred and I and Bo and Coach at the far North End.

Then we moved on to the South end and trying to find out way out.  We let the dogs decide a few turns, but Coach took us in a big circle.

Melisa leads us again with Bo in charge.

 Then we saw the great pumpkin in the distance.  It actually held a wild bird show, so we didn't get to go inside, but it looked really cool!  There was also a pumpkin cannon that went off every hour.

As we walked to the South you could see the Great Pumpkin Tent in the distance.

 We passed a few people who grumbled about us having guide dogs and how they thought that was cheating or could they just follow us.  But Bo did lead us out.  Good girl.  

We've spotted the exit.  I raise my arm in joy.  

 It was hot work, so we got a drink after it all.

Everyone needed a drink after.  Here are Bo and Coach getting a drink from  Melisa.

There was a stilt walker outside the maze, but there was a long line, so we didn't wait.

There was a stilt walker.  Bo didn't care.

We saw some strange things happening in the distance and we headed over there.

We came upon the bubble kids area.  This is where small children were placed in inflated bubbles.

 What we saw was parents and grandparents stuffing their children into plastic bubbles.  They were inflated, sure, but then they would roll them around like Veruca Salt in Willy Wonka.  You know the blueberry girl?

We tried to get Bo and Coach to look at the bubble kids.

 Surely, the dogs would like this.  But no.  They couldn't care less.

Bo is staring away from them and Coach is staring at Bo.

 No matter how I tried, Coach would not look at the bubble kids.

Here I am instructing Coach on why he should care about the bubble kids.

 Even direct pointing and cajoling didn't work.

Bo is still staring in a different direction and Coach is ignoring me.

He was obstinate.  They just weren't interesting.  Bo agreed.  Acorns on the ground were much more tasty and interesting.

Finally, when a kid appeared upside down, he was partially interested and Bo looked over as well.

Finally, a kid came by and made it a little fun.  But he quickly grew weary and looked for an acorn.  Sigh.

Coach didn't care about the spinning water people either.

 He had the same opinion for the people in the spinning water bubbles.  So what?

Can you see the acorns on the ground?  Well, that's what Bo and Coach were interested in .

 Acorns, though!  OMG.  The acorns at the farm were AMAZING!  And they were everywhere.  I had to pick them out of his mouth all the time.

Bo is interested in Dinosaur land.

At least Bo liked Dino land.

Melisa and Bo at the tie dye stand.

 They had over 100 vendors at the booth area.  I got some cute Christmas presents.

There was a petting zoo.  Bo and Coach got close to a deer.

 Then Bo and Coach got to see a deer.

Stiltwalker with Melisa and Bo and Fred and Coach. 

And take a photo with a stilt walker.

Coach and Bo look at some llamas as a little girl tries to pet Coach. 

 They did find the llamas and the ponies interesting.

Coach sniffs at the ponies.

 Especially the ponies.

Bo and Coach are fascinated by the ponies and the llamas.

 Bo like the ponies as well.

Here we are with the Hunsader sign!  Come to the corn maze!

So, they did get interested in something at the end.  Corn maze at the beginning and ponies at the end.  It was a good day.