In Las Vegas we had a scrumptious buffet dinner from the biggest buffet you have ever seen then we went to see a show called, 'The Rat Pack is Back". It was fun to see Frank, Dean and Sammy singing again. The cast were excellent impersonators. The next day we opted to take a helicopter flight from Las Vegas into the Grand Canyon.
I love helicopter flights. This one was the best! I was sitting next to the pilot.
We flew over the Hoover Dam
Then we dipped down into the canyon and followed the Colorado River. It was a heart in your mouth experience.
We landed on the bank of the river. It was stunning even though it was overcast.
There were seven helicopter groups. We were given a Champagne lunch.
Then it was lift off.
Rising above the river.
Then up up up to get over the rim.
Will we make it?
Easily! The river snakes away into the distance.
The road too. The Americans sure know how to build roads. All the roads we travelled on were dual carriageways and made for a very comfortable ride.
I was wondering if you had been to any shows when I read your last post. The photos around Las Vegas were fantastic, as were these. Those rock formations are incredible and the helicopter ride looked very exciting. Enjoyed Bill's videos too.
ReplyDeleteAmazing photographs detailing what must have been a thrilling, once in a lifetime experience! You both looked so much the part and I loved the nice touch of champagne for breakfast and the cute wooden lunch boxes you were each given!
ReplyDeleteyou are very brave going up in a helicopter. i don't know if i'd be brave enough. the views would surely be worth any discomfort though. what spectacular views (i use that word a lot on your posts don't i?) fantastic
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing expierence. I didn't do the helicopter flight and afterwards I always regretted it. It is such a beautiful nature.
ReplyDeleteYou had the best seat in the house (helicopter)!! and Wow! those views are superbe - you have seen so many stunning places and I'm sure many wonderful memories!
ReplyDeleteWhat a very cool adventure for your both. I can't think of a better helicopter trip than that. Bill's videos are very good indeed as are your photos. The colours in the rock formations are quite mesmerizing.
ReplyDeletewow, what a trip. just this would be a fab vacation all by itself. the video is great. and the shots from the sky came out really good and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWow! What magnificent photos. I envy your great trip and I've resolved to do it too when my little son is able to accept all the wonders and pictures. Maybe we'll do it in 3 or 4 years. May I ask you about some interesting places, some insiders' tips? I hope you're arrived at home safely.
ReplyDeletewhat an adventure you 've had!
ReplyDeletesitting next to the pilot in a helicopter looks and sounds amazing!
love your photo!
extremely beautiful views!
thanks so much for sharing.
have a great long weekend!
betty xx
Wow, how I would love to have been in the helicopter too! Photos are wonderous and Willy's movies throughout the blog are great as well. Are you going to get this trip blog finished before you venture off again to WA? Ann J
ReplyDeleteWOW!
ReplyDeleteO wow, we took a flight over the Grand Canyon so did not get so up close and personal with it. My husband took squillions of photos which looked very much the same as each other but it was an awesome experience ... he was the photographer of the family 30 years ago.
ReplyDeleteWOW-Wow-WOW.. This may be the most favorite thing you did for your entire trip... I would LOVE that... How neat to land on the 'floor' of the canyon and eat lunch there... WOW--incredible...That is awesome.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
I am so much enjoying your adventure through your wonderful pictures. Keep coming east a little bit and you will be in my "neck of the woods."
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I would have done the helicopter but it sure give great landscapes to see. Once when I was flying up to Salt Lake a passenger asked the pilot if he would buzz the Grand Canyon. He had to get permission of course and was able to do it. Wow! Was that ever a neat ride!! We got as low as a passenger jet could go safely. Another trip up there same thing happened but this time the pilot said no or he couldn't get permission or something. :(
ReplyDeleteWow, thank you for the helicopter preview...that looks fantastic. I know what I'll be doing next time I visit the Grand Canyon. The little airplane ride isn't half as much fun, as we did not get to land at the bottom and have a champagne lunch. I like the music Bill added to his video too.
ReplyDeleteYou have the very best of adventures Diane - truly Amazing. xxx
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeletei forgot to say that the video is great. well done
ReplyDeleteGreat video and some fantasic shots really looks like a wonderful fight.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is WOW! Your photos (and Bill's video) are stunning. It had to be the experience of a life time. I thought we had experienced the Grand Canyon while we were there, but now I want to go back and have a ride like this one.
ReplyDeletePoints!
ReplyDelete1. Concentrate on the flight path not the pilot, ( I presume as shown in last photo?).
2. Why has BB got so many bandages on?
3. "Champagne", well now it has to be French due to multiple court cases. The French did win that battle.
4. Great photography - spectacular indeed. Lucky you - 2.
5. I look forward after WA trip the spoken version.
Cheers
Colin
WOW Diane, what an exciting ride that must have been. So glad you got to go back for another view of the awesome Grand Canyon. I love the way they packed you lunches in mini hampers.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been a fantastic feeling flying over that country. Spectacular. You look quite at home in the co-pilot's seat Diane :D)
ReplyDeleteI love the third photo - the colours are so spectacular. Have you listened to the Grand Canyon Suite lately? it will bring back memories for you. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteBoth braver souls than I - a whirring chopper would have me freaking out! Such fabulous photos though - what a buzz it must have been.
ReplyDeleteWe did fly over the Grand Canyon in a tiny wee plane a while ago. Jez fell asleep on my lap at takeoff and woke when we landed. Heights and I do NOT agree!
I have been in Las Vegas 3 times, but we never made a helicopter flight, that must have been wonderful when I look at your pictures.
ReplyDeleteWe always stopped there on our roundtrips because the hotels are so cheap, lol ! The first time we stayed in the Dunes, but that doesn't exist anymore. Then it was the Flamengo or something like that, we had a slotmachine in the toilet and a jacuzzi in the bedroom !
Fabulous pictures -- still and video! I'm impressed. And your smile (in the video especially) tells it all. Great post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place for a helicopter ride, Diane. Your photos are wonderful and I enjoyed Bill's video!
ReplyDeleteDiane, I had to tell you how much others enjoy your photos as well as I do.
ReplyDeleteLast night I was looking at your blog, and my ex-husband stopped and was looking too. He said, "Oh, this is your blogger friend who takes those beautiful pictures!"
Phil was shocked when I told him we had the same type of Canon cameras. We enjoyed reviewing the photos he had not seen yet.
my next tick on my bucket list. When my sis went on a helicopter ride, I was so jealous.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Diane.
ReplyDeleteThe photo you took of Fox on Bills blog - beautiful, the light to me is perfect :)
How brave of you! I cannot imagine how exciting it was..maybe this will be on my bucket list :-)
ReplyDeleteThat looks like it was so much fun! I love helicopter adventures, too. Took one over the volcano on the Big Island in the spring and it was amazing, but the best one of all was over Bangkok. Wowzer, that was some flight.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing my country though your travels. Thank you!
this is such an inspiring entry, loaded with gorgeous pictures!!
ReplyDeleteyou look like you have been the "co-piolot" before!?!
and those lunches were soooo cute!!
AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteWOW!! Bill's video is top notch! I didn't want it to end. I loved the lunch served in a basket. The helicopter ride was magnificent!
ReplyDeleteSeeing as there is no post today from your CURRENT USA trip I have decided to go back to your last one. I realised that I haven't seen this post before! WOW I wanna do THAT when we get there!
ReplyDelete