It started as anxiety, and then quickly changed into alarm, then to pure pleasure. Sound like something interesting? You bet it was interesting. My first helicopter ride was an unbelievable experience. This was no ordinary ride around the beach front or up and over some county fair somewhere. We went over desert, up over mountains (lowish, but damn they looked tall from above) and then, drum roll, into the GRAND CANYON. First over, then into.
Anxiety began to build the day before the ride. I can’t stand heights or edges. Even standing on a second floor balcony I usually hold on to the railing. Tall buildings? I don’t even like to look down from a window. So this ride posed some scary scenarios. The day arrived and the trip was delayed. More anxiety. We finally sat in a small “theater” and watched the safety film. Seat belt, water landing, fire, DEATH at every turn. Then onto the tarmac, into the bird and the jet starts to whine. I sat on the outside by the door that was one sheet of Perspex (or some kind of plastic) and could look almost straight down ---- a long way down.
The rotor turns slowly and anxiety turns into alarm. Am I actually going up in this plastic and tin can? The rotor begins to really move and suddenly we lift a foot or so off the ground and spin slowly. Man, this is beginning to be cool, not scary. Then the pilot (a child really) moved the controls and off we went. Up and forward, gaining altitude and speed. There wasn’t time to stay alarmed or scared or worry about the fact that only ¼ inch of plastic and a belt was between me and a long fall. There was too much to see! It was just plain pleasure. Fun. Exciting. Glorious. We cruised over the desert and mountains to the end of the Grand Canyon, and flew up over the rim. Then, we dropped about 1500 feet below the rim and cruised around inside, looking at the sides, the river, the --- everything!!
Because we got a late start, we flew west back to Las Vegas as the sun set and by the time we got there it was dark, and the “strip” was ablaze with lights. Treat after treat after treat. When we landed I realized that there was never a moment of anything but awe and wonder the whole time. No fear or anxiety or even airsickness (the pill might have helped here). I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Thanks Sue and Bob for a wonderful experience.
Image: www.partner.viator.com/en/2511/search/3422_G02
Anxiety began to build the day before the ride. I can’t stand heights or edges. Even standing on a second floor balcony I usually hold on to the railing. Tall buildings? I don’t even like to look down from a window. So this ride posed some scary scenarios. The day arrived and the trip was delayed. More anxiety. We finally sat in a small “theater” and watched the safety film. Seat belt, water landing, fire, DEATH at every turn. Then onto the tarmac, into the bird and the jet starts to whine. I sat on the outside by the door that was one sheet of Perspex (or some kind of plastic) and could look almost straight down ---- a long way down.
The rotor turns slowly and anxiety turns into alarm. Am I actually going up in this plastic and tin can? The rotor begins to really move and suddenly we lift a foot or so off the ground and spin slowly. Man, this is beginning to be cool, not scary. Then the pilot (a child really) moved the controls and off we went. Up and forward, gaining altitude and speed. There wasn’t time to stay alarmed or scared or worry about the fact that only ¼ inch of plastic and a belt was between me and a long fall. There was too much to see! It was just plain pleasure. Fun. Exciting. Glorious. We cruised over the desert and mountains to the end of the Grand Canyon, and flew up over the rim. Then, we dropped about 1500 feet below the rim and cruised around inside, looking at the sides, the river, the --- everything!!
Because we got a late start, we flew west back to Las Vegas as the sun set and by the time we got there it was dark, and the “strip” was ablaze with lights. Treat after treat after treat. When we landed I realized that there was never a moment of anything but awe and wonder the whole time. No fear or anxiety or even airsickness (the pill might have helped here). I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Thanks Sue and Bob for a wonderful experience.
Image: www.partner.viator.com/en/2511/search/3422_G02
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