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intro

- We have Paris

- Five fatherly decades

- La de da and dee dee dee

- Five motherly decades

- Four score for Grandad

- Christ-mouse Day

- Grand ole Canyon

grand ole canyon

'The ultimate experience of your life' the advertisement read, which is what led me to being strapped into a helicopter preparing for take-off. My mind and body tingled in anticipation of the sights I had been promised to witness.

Dawn had just broken over Las Vegas but the sidewalks still bustled with gamblers, the neon signs flashed and the debauchery steadily oozed from every slot machine. However, it was slowly becoming a distant memory as our pilot flew his passengers on to their destination.

Through my headphones stirring classical music and commentary accompanied the stunning sights below, I was treated to God-like views of the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and the vast Nevada desert, which stretched as far as the eye could see.

Our pilot, Matt Jahnke, interrupted the soundtrack to announce that we would shortly be approaching the Grand Canyon; I think my heart missed a beat as adrenaline flooded into my bloodstream. He moved us ever closer keeping the helicopter just below the outer ridge, ensuring that we could not see over the top, until it seemed as though we would crash.

In an instant the granite curtain lifted and our senses were overwhelmed, my ears absorbed Ride of the Valkries, my throat dried and my eyes were filled with the mighty spectacle called the Grand Canyon.

Matt described that as the 'WOW' moment and I could not disagree, your brain desperately searches for an adequate adjective but you do end up mouthing wow. It was then I envied his position to experience that feeling everyday. He said: "Every time I fly over the ridge it is different, the colours, the weather and the passengers. It is the best job in the world."

Laid out before us was a beautiful array of yellow, red and white sandstone chasms and canyons which stretched to infinity, the shadow of the helicopter looked so insignificant flitting across the rocks below.

Gracefully we began our descent towards the Canyon floor with millions of years of erosion around us and the roaring Colorado River below. Matt settled the helicopter back down upon terra firma and invited us to exit.

We are directed to a covered terrace on the banks of the Colorado where each of us receives a flute of champagne and a light breakfast, a perfect combination when recovering from an emotional assault on the senses.

After our light refreshment our combined pilot, tour guide and waiter informs us that we may explore, have a photograph with a cactus and test an Indian legend concerning the lucky waters of the river, which sends the gamblers racing to the waters edge eager to garner as much luck as possible.

Sadly, we were eventually asked to return to the helicopter for the flight back to the gaming capital of the world. One Australian passenger then said to me: "It maybe just a big hole in the Earth but it really was the best experience of my life." I tend to agree with him.