Wow!
There are all sorts of ways to spend money while visiting the Grand Canyon, and those ways reached deeply into my pocket yesterday and today. I figure I will only get to do this once, so why not add a couple more things to the bucket list.
Although I have already seen the IMAX movie about the history of the Grand Canyon, I remembered how good it was and went again. The movie is well done and the action scenes make you feel like you are actually running the river and flying through the canyon.
This morning I drove to the airport and purchased a ticket for a scenic, helicopter flight over the canyon. It was expensive but well worth it. They fly two different helicopters – the Bell 130 and something called a Eurocopter. Most groups were flying in the Bell but our group was shuttled over to another area where the Euro Copter are kept. I overheard someone say they have more glass and a better view. There were 6 passengers plus the pilot. I was lucky to get the best passenger seat – front right side – while a family from the Netherlands filled in the back seats.
It is an experience that can’t be described. Everyone was taking tons of pictures, but the Grand Canyon will never be captured to an image. It is just too vast. Probably the best part is when you break over the rim and fly out above the thousands of features on display. When you arrive at the North Rim, the pilot flies up through a gorge for a while before banking over a ridge and heading back. It was fun, I can’t put it any other way.
I rode into the park late in the day yesterday. I wanted to make sure the afternoon thunderstorms were over. Even at 6:00 pm there were four lanes filled with 6 cars each waiting to pay $30 each to get in. My senior card keeps paying for itself over and over. I think I will go back today because I have a lot of dirty clothes and it is the only laundry near here.
Sounds like a great trip. If only our geezer passes would pay for that also, life would be even better.
We took a helicopter ride there–the last of the day because it was so windy he had trouble controlling the vehicle. As we landed, I began throwing up. A flier I am not!
I flew a Cessna 172 over the canyon about 1974. I didn’t dare drop below the rim, but it was still spectacular. A helicopter with someone else flying would be even better, I’m sure.
Yeah, it was a little bumpy even early in the morning. I can’t imagine how wild it would be when the storm came through this afternoon. Did you at least get it in the barf bag or give everyone a shower?
Wow, that sounds awesome! I might put that on my bucket list.