Ok..... Finally.... We are at the most anticipated Heli ride
The limo driver met us at the casino VIP entrance and we did a much better job loading it this time. Oh, if we had been wearing skirts, there might have been a "Britney" shot, but we all had on shorts and we tried a little harder to be less obnoxious when entering.
Panic sat in when the limo driver said he didn't expect 6 of us and that he would have to call that in. And he said he was picking up another passenger from another casino on the way. We all kinda freaked out as we heard him call the headquarters and tell them that we had added a 6th person. Now we are all freaking out, because we feel sure that Wes' ride wasn't added like it should have been. So when we get to the other casino a cute little Irish girl (I think Irish) got in the limo and started introducing herself. I was halfway listening to her due to the fact that when she said, "Oh I am just here for a convention and I thought I would treat myself to a helicopter ride. I just called like an hour ago." Although she was cute and nice and had a really cool accent, I was just sure that the place had double booked our heli.
When we got to the Heli place (which is called Sundance Helicopter Tours), we immediately inquired about our 6th person to relieve the fears that little Irish girl was going to be taking Wes' spot on our trip. Quickly, we realized we were on two different tours. SHWWEEEEEWWW!!!!
When we registered, they wanted our drivers license and we had to get weighed on a scale. They offered us cold bottled water and we sat in the waiting area where we could see all the other helis land and take off. We were told that the tour would be 90 minutes long and there would be no restrooms, so we better go now. We viewed a safety movie (over and over again) and learned that we really are not to do ANYTHING unless the pilot tells us to. That means don't push buttons, don't pull rip cord on our inflation packs, don't open the door, don't eject anyone, don't sneeze.......
As you can imagine, we were not amused by all this and we were bored waiting... see picture
We watched other groups get off helis as they finished their tours and we watched other groups meet their pilots and load their helis. Then, it happened. He entered the building and approached us. (It was easy for him to find us, as we all had name tags on that said #313) He strutted toward us with confidence all debonaire. The only think missing was the background music to accompany his stride. He was around 30something, probably about 6'3, well built and handsome. He introduced himself with handshakes calling us all by name. (again, we had on name tags) His name..... TONY FERRARI. Perfect!!! It all fit so snugly together, like a Harlequin. The perfect man with the perfect look, with the perfect name, with the perfect job. And we are supposed to believe this. But, we are all so excited we quickly dismissed the obvious type casting and scripting of this scene in our romance movie so that we could just get on with this thing.
Tony escorted us to our red heli and we joyously trotted behind him waving goodbye to our cute little Irish girl. Tony showed us how to put on our inflation packages (which prompted us to start making jokes with each other about who had the best package etc.) and told us were to sit in the heli. He says it has to do with our height. So he asked Wes and I to sit up front and Chris, Susan, Sierra and Dad in back. Dad should sit directly behind him because he has the longest legs and would need more room. That was perfectly ok with me... who ws I to argue? So, I would have to sit up front? Happy birthday to Me!!
Once we were all our heli, we giggled like school girls with excitement as we traded looks to determine if this was really happening. I sat directly next to Tony in the middle front with Wes on the other side. I had a perfect view of everything outside as well as all the buttons, knobs, lights, gages, etc in front of Tony. I watched Tony as he pulled out a laminated sheet with what looked like stereo assembly directions and referred to it step by step as he twisted knobs, pushed buttons, talked into his headgear, nodded at lights and gages on the console to start the blades and engine. Um, this concerned me a little, but again.... the thrill of excitement let that go. We all put on our head phones and tested our microphones by telling each other how cool this was. Tony quoted some lines from Top Gun and the next thing we knew..... we were beginning to hover. This feeling was so emotional and exhilarating very similar to the feeling of a million butterflies in your stomach when you are performing. It was all I could do to keep the tears of emotion from starting as we hovered over the airport and could see the surrounding Las Vegas area. Intoxicating!!!