HELICOPTER
This morning we awake with the anticipation of the helicopter tour. We had to catch the water taxi across the harbour to Dartmouth and then walk a short distance to the ‘helipad’ which in reality was an unmarked piece of carpark soon to be a building site. Every trip these days will likely provide a couple of obstacles for Ben - stairs are difficult for him now if steep and especially if slippery [read uncarpeted]. The water taxi was not too bad however and he perched himself smartly on one of the upholstered benches once inside the small cabin.
It was maybe a 10 minute ride across with Mike the owner of the taxi and yet we were told firmly but politely that our money would be no good there. He knew of Ben’s story and would not be charging us, either way. That famous maritime hospitality again. Tim the helicopter pilot and owner of Vision Air Services had also heard of Ben and his story and was looking forward to taking his first doggy passenger up. We all strapped into the Jet Ranger and I wondered how Ben would react as Tim went through the starting procedure and the noise level grew to its crescendo. The three humans wore headsets to communicate but they don’t make them in doggy sizes! It should have been obvious that Ben would take it under his notice about as much as you or I would worry about the washing machine starting up. Up we went and the only reaction from Ben was to look out of the large window, peer at the view with interest and revel in the cool breeze ruffling his coat.
We took in the city and the harbour and then off to Chester and Peggys Cove. Landed on a small uninhabited island to take a walk around and then retraced our steps. An excellent flight seeing trip in absolutely ideal conditions. Ben snoozed on the way home - clearly he had not spotted the seal colonies and the odd deer we had been fortunate enough to see.
PEGGYS COVE
The water taxi was in the little harbour just as we arrived and so before long at all we were back on the Halifax waterfront enjoying a hearty cooked breakfast. A perfect way to spend an early morning.