"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Monday, July 12, 2010

Back to the trip . . .

So do I have you confused yet? I talk about the trip, then I talk about side trips, then I go to other ideas that are not about trips - well . . . that is the story of my life . . . and my life goes.

Today is the end of Hoover Dam. We decided to be big spenders and go on a helicopter ride. It was $30 - not bad we thought - when we got there is was for two minutes! Of course you could spend $75 for 5 minutes, but we did the two minute ride.

The helicopter sat on top of a hill and they took you up there by way of their van.


We got there early to be the first ones on - and we had to wait a few minutes for them to open.


This was the cool temperature at 8:30 am.

My husband got the front seat - which we wanted, because he LOVES flying.


Lake Mead.

The marina at Lake Mead.

Closer look - wouldn't it be nice to have one . . .

The mountains around Hoover Dam.
Hoover Dam.


Hoover Dam.

Ole Chatty getting out of the helicopter. It was fun.




My friend leaves today so I will start catching up on checking your blogs. Thanks for understanding.

Happy Birthday Henry David Thoreau - many of us have heard his quotes - here is his beliefs according to Wikipedia - it was full of information about this man.

"Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind."

Thoreau was an early advocate of recreational hiking and canoeing, of conserving natural resources on private land, and of preserving wilderness as public land. Thoreau was also one of the first American supporters of Darwin's theory of evolution.

He was not a strict vegetarian, though he said he preferred that diet and advocated it as a means of self-improvement. He wrote in Walden: "The practical objection to animal food in my case was its uncleanness; and besides, when I had caught and cleaned and cooked and eaten my fish, they seemed not to have fed me essentially. It was insignificant and unnecessary, and cost more than it came to. A little bread or a few potatoes would have done as well, with less trouble and filth."

Thoreau neither rejected civilization nor fully embraced wilderness. Instead he sought a middle ground, the pastoral realm that integrates both nature and culture. His philosophy required that he be a didactic arbitration between the wilderness he based so much on and the spreading mass of North American humanity.

He decried the latter endlessly but felt the teachers need to be close to those who needed to hear what he wanted to tell them. He was in many ways a 'visible saint', a point of contact with the wilds, even if the land he lived on had been gifted to him by Emerson and was far from cut-off. The wildness he enjoyed was the nearby swamp or forest, and he preferred "partially cultivated country." His idea of being "far in the recesses of the wilderness" of Maine was to "travel the logger's path and the Indian trail," but he also hiked on pristine untouched land.

In the essay "Henry David Thoreau, Philosopher" Roderick Nash writes: "Thoreau left Concord in 1846 for the first of three trips to northern Maine. His expectations were high because he hoped to find genuine, primeval America. But contact with real wilderness in Maine affected him far differently than had the idea of wilderness in Concord. Instead of coming out of the woods with a deepened appreciation of the wilds, Thoreau felt a greater respect for civilization and realized the necessity of balance

On alcohol, Thoreau wrote: "I would fain keep sober always... I believe that water is the only drink for a wise man; wine is not so noble a liquor... Of all ebriosity, who does not prefer to be intoxicated by the air he breathes?"

22 comments:

BECKY said...

Hi Chatty! Loved the pics of your helicopter ride! And you look adorable, too!! Also loved reading a bit about Thoreau. I don't know if you've noticed, but one of my favorite quotes is by him, and I have it posted right at the top of my blog. Have a great week and try to RELAX!! :D

Melanie said...

Great pictures, Sandie.
Looks like the helicopter ride was fun, even if it was for only 2 minutes! :)

Jane said...

Great pictures from the helicopter. Even tho the ride was short, you have to spurge at times!

Hope that you and your friend had tons of fun,

Jane

^..^Corgidogmama said...

What a neat thing to experience!
I don't know if I'd have the nerve...great pics from up above too!

Unknown said...

do you know there is a city under lake mead? st. thomas. i've gone boating there before and it kinda creeps me out knowing folks had lives there before hoover dam was built. beautiful photos! looks like you had a grand time!

Changes in the wind said...

Glad you splurged....You only live once:)

ClassyChassy said...

Never been in a helicopter before. A 2 seater plane, yes, but not a helicopter. That always looked like it would be fun!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Wow -- all those great pix from a 2-minute ride? I'm impressed.

You know from my blog that jumping around doesn't confuse me -- that's how I live and how I blog too.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I love the helicopter ride! How much fun and 2 minutes was at least long enough to see a little bit and enjoy the view! Great to see you yesterday!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

That looks like like so much fun, Sandie! Loved seeing this, and neat that it's Thoreau's birthday.

XO,

Sheila :-)

Sue said...

Good Monday Morning....you are sure a brave soul to fly on a helicopter..I went on one once..and it was a huge one...like a flying bus...Never again..it scared the heck out of me...were you really only up for 2 minutes...you sure saw alot...and I love your last post...how fascinating and touching...I have seen pictures of dogs doing this before but never a bird...

Together We Save said...

You rpictures are wonderful!! I am a big chicken so I probally would never do that but wow - what a view!!

betty said...

you guys saw a lot in those 2 minutes Sandie!! all great views/pictures!! we did a 45-minute airplane trip over the Grand Canyon on our first time there; mind you this was in 1983 and it was $45 each which to us was a lot of money, but we were glad we did because we got great pictures and great views! always good to splurge like this on a trip!

I am sure you will miss your friend now that she is returning home :(

betty

Joyce said...

It would take me more then 2 minutes just to get in and out of the helicopter:-)
Joyce

Mevely317 said...

OMG ... you're a brave gal, Miss Sandie! I get the "willies" just looking :)

Annesphamily said...

I love Boots as my BFFC! You are so silly, I just love that quality in a friend! HA HA! Have a wonderful evening. You post such great stuff. I never tire of vacation photos. Your family is precious. Anne
P.S. My word verification is BLESTING

Carol............. said...

I certainly love your quote of the week!!!!

As well as all the pictures...I've been to Lake Mead and Hoover Dam (when you could still actually drive over it) and it is beautiful.

You're brave with that helicopter ride..........I would have left something of my lunch everywhere!!! LOL

Mimi said...

Hi Chatty!!
i have seen that sign a dozen times, every time to drive to Vegas I think about it, but A HELICOPTER ride is on my bucket list and I am saving that ride for somewhere truly spectacular, it was suppose to be the BIG iSland of hawaii, but the wind and weather was Never cooperative!!!So I am saving it!!!
Great pics and great fun I am sure!!!
I love your trip pics!!
hugs,
jamie

Love Of Quilts said...

Now thats a ride I would like to take.....I went on a helicopter ride once but not over hoover dam. Trish

Nancy's Notes said...

Oh how fun, I love all the details and your photographs are awesome! I have had one wild helicopter ride, that was enough for me!

Have a great day! I am finally getting to read some blogs, my mom is visiting and not much time! We have been out and about each day! I have missed my daily reading! Getting it in early today!

Nancy

Terry¨*♥ ♥**♥ ♥*¨¨*♥ ♥*¨¨*♥ said...

i love all your pics! So exciting xo

Rose said...

wow! what a ride. the photos are wonderful. have a good day