DEL MAR, Calif. — The San Diego County Fair is best known for its food and rides, but fair goers can also be entertained by dozens of shows. In this Zevely Zone, I humped it down to Del Mar to meet the birds and camels.
Perhaps the best part about the San Diego County Fair is meeting new friends. "I am going to show you a few neat things about this camel," said Gil Riegler with his camel Sampson.
His show was well attended by visitors but if I told you they were the biggest hit at the fair I could possibly ruffle some feathers.
"Can you say, hello? Hello. Good girl say hello. Hello," said Nancy Riegler with one of her many birds.
Gil's wife, Nancy, is an animal entertainer too.
"So, he is going to go for a little mountain bike ride," said Nancy while giving me a taste of her show Camp Squawk A Lot. "See look he is going for a ride, because this show, the bird show has super high production value," said Nancy.
Her birds can sound like roosters, chickens and kitty cats on demand. They say that opposites attract.
"Gil is more like a camel and I'm more like a bird," said Nancy.
30 years ago, Gil stared in silence at a camel and heard a voice in his head.
"I just looked in this big, beautiful eye and I heard a voice say if you have camels in your life, your life will turn out great," said Gil. "I met Nancy, and my life has turned out great."
Nancy then said, "Now if the voice had said we were going to be rich that would have been so nice but great works. What else did the voice say?"
Nancy and Gil have been married for 22 years and thank both birds camels for their success. I asked about Gil's star Sampson's personality.
"Very sweet, very sweet, he is in charge of the herd so he will run after them and keep the peace but then he'll come over to you and give you a kiss," said Gil.
If you're thinking that's 'Camel Hump Hyperbole'? Nope. After laying a kiss on Gil, Sampson gave me a kiss too.
"Ha, ha, ha, and it's only our first date," I said. Nancy then told me her bird Squeak wanted a peck on the cheek too.
"See how her eyes are pinning right now she is super attracted to you. Super attracted to you. You got a way with the chicks, until you make that face," said Nancy.
Gil and Nancy's animal shows will continue throughout the fair. If you want to see the camels and birds after the fair, they live at the Oasis Camel Dairy & Foundation.
The Oasis Camel Foundation sponsors senior camels and camels in need to insure they have a long, healthy, productive and social life. For more information click here.