A former student told a few days ago of her 10 or so years working for Stars air Ambulance in the promotion department. She had an official looking photo of herself in a helicopter with the helmet and all.
This reminded me of my helicopter rides in the Arctic. The ice breakers would come in and do a medical check on all aboriginals. This is where the dreaded tuberculosis was picked up and people were taken south for treatment. Most people were taken to the ice breaker on the tender. However some where taken by helicopter...me included.
One summer an ice breaker was doing sounding at the end of Wakeham bay. They were preparing for shipping ore from one of the mines about 50 km inland.
One day the helicopter came over with a message from the captain. He was inviting us for dinner. Well, yes we'll come for dinner. The helicopter came back to pick us up at the appointed time and take us to the ship.
Well the 10 minute ride was pleasant but The ship looked awfully small from 10 miles away. When we got closer we could see the circles the helicopter was to land in. The circles were very, very small. So all of a sudden down we go and guess what? We landed exactly in the circle.
We had a nice dinner with the captain and then the helicopter took us back to our house.
That's a pretty tight landing pad. What did the captain serve for dinner? Fish? Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteWe had not had fresh food for a year and the captain had fresh produce so we enjoyed the salad. We had lots of fresh fish.
DeleteGlad to hear you hit the bullseye! It could have been damp otherwise.
ReplyDeleteActually these landing pads are usual, just not on a ship.
DeleteYou've had a very Canadian life.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed ever minute of my Canadian life.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI was spooked on my first helicopter ride in Kauai but the views are gorgeous. Take care, have a happy day!
In Kauai there are very steep hillsides to make things interesting.
DeleteYikes! That is a small area to land on, but what an adventure. I bet I am the only one of your readers who has actually jumped out of a helicopter. I did it half a dozen times during my years skydiving.
ReplyDeleteI never thought that you jumped from helicopters. Actually these circles are used in many places to designate landing pads.
DeleteI would have to close my eyes, I think, when it came to landing! Exciting trip for you, Red!
ReplyDeleteYou'd soon get used to it.
DeleteWas it difficult to return from that corner of the world to the 'real world'? or were you ready to move into the next chapter of your life?
ReplyDeleteIt was one of the more difficult things in my life to return south. I hadn't planned returning to the south.
DeleteThat sounds like quite a nice ride on a helicopter. Interesting way to go out for dinner.
ReplyDeleteThere were many helicopter rides.
DeleteThe helicopter flyer did a wonderful job landing. Glad he made the bullseye. :)
ReplyDeleteThese pilots go through rigorous training.
DeleteMy heart would be in my throat landing on that vessel! Great experience though!
ReplyDeleteYou know that they do this every day so it works well.
DeleteApart from a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon (can't say I recommend it) I have only been in helicopters twice and both times it was unconscious to hospital - so my experience is pretty low.
ReplyDeleteWell, I would not like to have a helicopter ride in those conditions as I'd like to enjoy the fun.
DeleteYikes that does look like a small spot to land!
ReplyDeleteAll hospitals have a similar landing pad.
DeleteI had a short helicopter ride once from the roof of my tv station in Phoenix up to a landing in the driveway of Senator Barry Goldwater's house. Yes, they do land in fairly small spots.
ReplyDeleteWow! Barry Goldwater yet! That's an interesting story to look back on.
DeleteTHAT was an adventure! Great tale!
ReplyDeleteWow, I wonder if any of your other followers love this post as much as I do. This is another great experience you had and I seriously think you should write a book. First of all, I looked at the large view of the first image and, wow, what a tiny community to be living in on the edge of nowhere. I’ll guess you could look at that photo and put an X on the place you were living. I took the words “Wakeham Bay” and searched for it on Google Maps. It took me to Kangiqsujuaq, QC, Canada. (I understand why you call it Wakeham Bay!) There are even pictures of the community. So, you were between Hudson Bay and Labrador Sea up at the latitude of Greenland. I hope you will tell us some more stories about what it was like to be there all winter. What do people do there to keep themselves entertained? Dinner with the Captain and the helicopter ride is a great story. Thanks, Red, for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHow fun. I've been in small aeroplanes, but never a helicopter. I always left the flying to the pilot.
ReplyDeleteThe north was all adventure.
ReplyDeleteI have never ridden aboard a helicopter myself. It must have been quite an experience flying out across the bay for a tasty meal with the skipper.
ReplyDeleteThose helicopter pilots certainly know what they are doing. You've had an interesting life Red.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a capable helicopter pilot. I had a chance to ride a helicopter on the island of Kauai many years ago, BUT my mother made me promise not to go on the ride because there had been a couple of crashes recently. Sooo... my husband and two kids got to go and LOVED the experience. I glad you got to go too.
ReplyDeleteQuite an adventure.
ReplyDelete