Just don’t look down!

Arriving in style
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Today we went to the Grand Canyon. In a helicopter!

Given the fact that to visit the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and the Canyon under our own steam, or on a coach tour, would have taken about nine hours – we decided to do it in style with a fantastic company called Sundance Helicopters. This was thanks to Jackie’s mum and a very early Christmas and birthday pressie to us both.

They said they’d pick us up from our hotel (we hadn’t appreciated it would be in a stretch limo!) and took us to the airport close by. On the way we picked up a Scottish bloke staying at the Luxor and two Dentists who were on the skive from the American Dental Association’s annual conference being held at the Mandalay Bay. Apparently we Europeans don’t look after our teeth and we really should be flossing more.

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Once we had registered our details, solicitor’s name, next of kin etc.., we were weighed and, strangely, we were both obviously so far over the weights we had claimed when we booked, that we were immediately moved to another helicopter that had other less heavily-boned passengers. Well there’s no point trying to diet in California; it’s going to have to wait until Sydney!

Anyway, there was us, three people from Liverpool and one of the skiving dentists…and the pilot. Mike got the front seat next to the Pilot due to some skilful negotiating (picked up from Jackie at Heathrow) so was put in charge of the camera. The flight was 90 minutes long and absolutely AMAZING!!

Lake Mead
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The route first of all took us to The Hoover Dam which has to be seen to be believed, and then over Lake Mead which goes on for miles and miles. And every time you think it’s finished, there’s more of it emerging in the distance. We followed the Colorado River for some of the way and flew over where its heavy brown silt merges with the vibrant blue of the Lake.

All the time, the pilot gave a commentary and pointed things out whilst playing such suitable stuff over the headphones as the Top Gun and Mission Impossible themes. At one point Pachelbel’s Canon came over the system but I think that was a mistake and it didn’t last long. Wrong tape I imagine. They do in-flight weddings too.

The Hoover Dam
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Then we flew over a high ridge and he said something like “Well done folks, you made it. Welcome to The Grand Canyon”. It’s at times like this I wish I had half the wordsmithing talents of Paul ‘Squadron’ Walker but given that I don’t, you’ll just have to believe me when I say that it was something else. Awesome. Magnificent. Humbling. Just take a look at the pictures. We flew along some of the length of it and then, at the point where helicopters aren’t allowed to go any further, turned back for home via such historical oddities as old gold mining ghost towns and Area 51 where all the aliens from outer space are kept. No, really, they are. At one point, we could see in to four different States – California, Utah, Arizona and Nevada.

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The last hurrah was flying straight down the length of the Las Vegas Strip before landing. Over 300 photographs later, it was over and I have to say that it was worth every cent and was an experience that will never be forgotten.

Finally, can somebody tell me why Jackie is a nervous flyer … unless it’s a helicopter then it’s no problem at all? Strange.