Trains, Blades, Props, and Boots

We had a couple of weeks at home in Arizona before it was time to pack our bags and head down under.  As usual, we NEVER have enough time at home, but we tried to get it all in and then some.  I flew home the 20th of September, while Aaron flew to Boise to get his recurrent night vision google training all cued up for this season.  After that he made 2 trips to Vancouver, but once that was done…we had some of our own flying to do!  Our first order of business was going to pickup the R44 in Utah.  So Aaron and my dad flew to Salt Lake City, rented a car, drove a few hours south to where the chopper was being stored and Aaron picked it up and flew it to Spanish Forks, Utah for the night and they would leave in the morning.  Once it made it to Buckeye, a few hovering lessons were in store for my dad as well as a few rides around the valley for the family, including a Sunday Brunch in Chandler at the airport.  

Aaron wanted to get some more time in the Piper, so we took my parents to Bermuda Dunes Airport in Palm Valley for lunch one day and to Sedona for breakfast one Friday morning.  Sedona Airport at the moment is my favorite fly in restaurants, not only for the unbelievable scenery but the food was amazing as well!  Dad and I were able to get in a few more lessons with the Red Rocket and take some trips around the patch which are always fun….I will continue my flying lessons when I get home.  

Aaron’s dad had to take the ranch helicopter to the owner in Carson City, so we picked him up in the Piper and were able to stay at the ranch for a few days and catch up with his dad and check on the cows.  The ranch never gets old….it’s just one of those places that does something for your soul….we get so used to being tied to our electronic devices that it’s nice to unplug for awhile and just enjoy nature’s beauty.  It was a short but sweet trip and we are always grateful for our time with Mike as we don’t get to spend as much time as we’d like together.  

Normally when we fly our plane to the ranch we leave pretty early in the morning as it’s a smoother ride…but we had been tracking the weather in Buckeye and the winds were ridiculous, so we didn’t leave John Day until around noonish and bucked a headwind the ENTIRE trip home, which normally takes us about 5.5 hours.  This trip home took every bit of 7 hours which put us home at dark….so a nighttime landing was in order….but before I get to that…one of my most memorable moments on this trip was flying by the Grand Canyon on the way home at sunset watching all the helicopter tour machines on their way in for the night below us, listening to game 7 of the NCLS in my headset!  WOW!  

My mom promised Aaron a train ride out of Cottonwood, Arizona for many years now for his birthday present and he just has never been home long enough to collect on it….well, we did this time home and it was a great getaway!  Super cute little town, awesome hotel, and the train ride was fantastic….best part of all was the company!  Thank you mom for a wonderful gift.  

We were able to enjoy our own bed for awhile, see the bushes, shrubs, and flowering plants bloom which we are never around for, catch up with friends for a quick visit, start the 56’ long enough to put it safely back in the garage lol, and mark off a few honey do list items as well!

My time home was amazing but also bittersweet at the same time.  My mom and I have shared two kitties for 15 years and I knew when I left it was time to say goodbye to our precious Dee Dee girl.  Pets are remarkable creatures that bring us nothing but absolute joy and unconditional love.  Both my mom and I have relied on these two beautiful cats for many years as sometimes they were all we would come home to during the week and it always felt like we had someone waiting and counting on us to come home when the boys were hard at work or away for months on end.  So they become your “kids” and it isn’t easy to say goodbye.  I’m grateful she is no longer in pain and am grateful for all the love and lap cuddles she gave us for the past 15 years….but her presence in our home will be greatly missed.  If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever Dee Dee….