Flight to the Big Island

In between all the work on the house, preparing to move to the East Coast, family, and living at the base 'motel'... Nick still has to work, surprise surprise!!! I guess that's kind of why we are here, right?

Tuesday Nick went into work to brief for a flight he was part of today.  The squadron flew 3 helicopters to the Big Island of Hawaii with a General on board.  The flight left around 5:30am so he was up and at the hangar by 4am. 

 Once on the island, the General was off on an island tour (for work, of course) and so the pilots' REAL WORK began.  Most of their planning for the trip, was for the hours they would spend ON the island.  They had to unload all the extra chairs, grill and coolers CARGO they had in the back of the bird.  Some of it was marinated steaks and potato salad time sensitive and needed to be dealt with right away.

As you can see above, while waiting for the General, there was NO time for horsing around or lolly gaggin'.  There was lots of work to be done. NO REST FOR THE WEARY!

Nick has really been working hard since he's gotten back from Afghanistan and I am really looking forward to being back in Iowa with family so that he can sit back, relax, and smoke a cigar or two.  He really deserves it!  Hard to believe we are leaving paradise in just 2 days.  Nick has yet to fly his last flight tomorrow afternoon, too!  He is flying with Col. L'Heureux!

I'm off to do some final packing!