Life is good here!  Seeking solace near the ocean is something that’s accessible to us all.  Surprisingly though, an untapped resource that tends to be overlooked is the opportunity to soar above the great Monterey Canyon by helicopter.   It’s one thing to appreciate your surroundings, but something else entirely to appreciate them with a bird’s eye view.  Our friend Chris Gularte at Specialized Helicopters was kind enough to take us for an outing that left us grateful and absolutely speechless.  

If you’ve never ridden in a helicopter (which I hadn’t until this point), it’s kind of mind-blowing when you “take-off.”  I’ve flown plenty of times, and there is always that nervous excitement of speeding down the runway and finally lifting off of the ground.  I guess that’s what I was expecting, and I guess that’s why I was so surprised when that didn’t happen.  We heard Chris ask us if we were ready for take-off through our Bose headsets, and we eagerly replied “YES!” through the attached microphones.  A moment later, we simply lifted up slowly, hovering, and it just felt so effortless.  We all agreed that must be what it feels like to be a hummingbird.  That was just the beginning!

Taking in an aerial perspective of the Monterey Bay left me with an entirely new appreciation for the amazing world we live in.  I only wish everyone would take the opportunity to do the same, because it was awesome, in the true definition of the word.  Even more, at the prices these trips are offered at, this mind-blowing experience is attainable to nearly anyone.  Flights begin at a mere $33 and increase with the time and distance of the ride.  Treat yourself and a couple of friends to an experience of a lifetime, view the whales and dolphins, and better yet, skip the roses this Valentine’s Day and take your sweetheart soaring!

I asked Chris if there were any flights that stuck out in his memory.  He said, “Our minds work in such a great way- they have a way of remembering the really, really cool stuff.  Each and every flight has been really cool for me, so I literally remember them all.”  He went on to describe the countless marriage proposals that he’s been able to take part in, whether flying a couple over a beach and seeing “Will you marry me” written in the sand, or taking a flight to a winery for a day of tasting, and ending it with a newly engaged couple.  He said that he’s seen some pretty creative stuff, and he feels fortunate to be a part of such an exciting day in people’s lives.

Some of the most awe inspiring moments in life are those when we realize just how small we really are.  It’s easy to get caught up in the stresses of everyday life: work, school, money, traffic, illness- the list goes on; but today as we hovered over the Pacific Ocean and looked down at the life sustaining agricultural fields, I was quickly reminded:  I am just a small being on the amazing and vast Earth.  Soaring above it all allowed the small stuff to simply melt away.  We saw the sun set, over and over!  He would increase our elevation so that we could re-watch the sunset.  I’ve never met someone who is capable of making the sun rise and set by their own free-will until today…it was absolutely stunning.

A HUGE thanks to Chris Gularte at Specialized Helicopters!  As we landed yesterday, he actually thanked us for allowing him to have the greatest job on Earth.  I sincerely hope some of you jump on this opportunity; I guarantee it will be something you won’t soon forget.  Oh, and by the way, I am a huge fan of Yelp and the reviews really do speak for themselves!  (Don't forget to check out our gallery for the complete collection of photos)!