Can you call it a vacation if you're working? Typically on my trips I have anywhere from 11 to 16 hour layovers in a city. Circa 8 of those hours are for sleeping... another 0.5 for getting ready for bed/wake up routine... and whatever is left over for food consumption and/or personal interest. Well this month I landed a 30 hour layover in Helena, Montana.
Captain Sara
30 hour layovers are either something you're into, or not. With a family at home, I try to avoid these trips because I want the time I spend away from them truly to be productive and work related. But these are also opportunities to explore, while being paid!
Our last leg of the day was from MSP to HLN. My wife listed to fly standby on my flight and was able to join me! We had care for our boys for a couple nights which gave us the opportunity to have some quality respite... all while being "on the clock."
We learned Helena was a gold rush city... once one of the wealthiest cities in America... Wikipedia says $3.6 billion extracted in gold over 2 decades. We took the hotel shuttle downtown to grab some breakfast and hot coffee, and then set out to hike up Mt. Helena.
Breakfast Sandwiches and Coffee @ Park Ave Bakery
Walking through Reeder's Alley
Hiking and biking in the Sonoran Preserve in Phoenix had become such a regular part of our lives there, we seemed to have forgotten how much we missed that kind of slow and steady work that hiking is... that affords so much wonder and marvel in the midst of God's creation, and time for uninterrupted conversations... well between the catching of our breath. Oh and we also met Sasquatch at the summit.
WARNING: Extreme Fun Ahead
Sasquatch Sighting
View from summit of Mt. Helena
After hiking we spent a few hours at the local library. What set out to be our "Pimental Planning Day" (our monthly planning of next month's work and life schedules for our family...since no two weeks are ever the same), became a full on reflection on where we are in work and life, sharing our anxieties and fears about what is next, and remembering God's faithfulness to us all along.
October Scheming
Eventually we got hungry again and walked to lunch at a bar/restaurant that used to be a brothel up until the 70s. Good food though... and enjoyed some local beers. We grabbed some homemade chocolates from the Parrot Candy store and then visited the Cathedral of St Helena. It was such a quiet town every where we went, and especially the cathedral... we took a moment to kneel and pray and thank God for the way he has been providing.
Cathedral of St. Helena
One of the *perks* of a job in the airlines is the flight benefits... we've been looking forward to taking advantage of these, and have here or there as time allows, but this was the first time Sara and I have been able to go out on an adventure kidless.
A Flower
Some Grass
Man, respite is wonderful! Who said it? "Take breaks, but don't turn your life into a break." Does this count as a break though if I was technically working??
Last month my wife and two boys were able to not only join me on one of my trips in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but were able to get there by means of me flying them!
My oldest son examining the cockpit of the CRJ
This was the first time ever I've gotten to fly Sara, Isaac, and/or Percy as an airline pilot on a jet! This was only Sara's fourth ever flight with me. There was the time she got to come with me for a night flight as a private pilot, for a Twin Cities scenic tour, and our family flight over the Grand Canyon when I was an instructor in Phoenix. So that also made this flight Isaac's second, and Percy's first!
(Video Credit goes to Sara!)
I had a unique schedule this trip as all three nights were located in Fort Wayne, Indiana and I had two long layovers (a 16 hour, followed by a 30 hour)... so we were able to spend most of the weekend together.
My crew was absolutely fabulous and so kind to welcome my family along for the shuttle rides to and from the airport and letting me help them through security on the way home.
Thinking back, this truly was an ideal location to have my family (especially given my boys' ages) join me. The company had us staying at the Hilton Downtown at the Convention Center, where breakfast was free and there was lots of room for Isaac to run in the hallways and swim in the pool. The city was dressed for Christmas and we loved seeing all the lights. We ventured out to the Botanical Conservatory across the street and enjoyed a scavenger hunt and seeing lots of plants. Upon several recommendations, we ate at a great local brewery called The Hoppy Gnome.
The hotel was a great location because of the options within walking distance. We only brought along Percy's car seat so we knew exploring the city by car was not an option. Swimming took up another one of our mornings, but if we go back we said we'd like to check out these other things within walking distance:
and the Fort Wayne Youtheatre [we had hoped to go see Charlie Brown Christmas...but Isaac came down with a virus at the end of our trip! :( ]
With several flights in and out of the city operated by our airline, I noticed several other crews in the same hotel and I even ran into my buddy Justin who I had roomed with for sim training! It was great to catch up and introduce my family.
Back at MSP, saying goodbye to the CRJ
All in all, I could not have asked for better passengers :) ;)
