This is a story about turning lemons into lemonade. Let me start by clarifying that we were never in any danger during the Coast Guard SAR exercise that coincided with Fleet Week in Portland, Oregon. I may have exaggerated the drama a bit as we were on our final descent for landing.
What had happened was…
We had been waiting in line for about an hour to see the USS John S McCain when a sailor informed us about the no backpack policy due to size restrictions at the bulkhead doors. Being a self-respecting super Dad, I thought I didn’t need instructions (right? lol), and unfortunately missed reading that policy on the Rose Fest Fleet Week website. My bad.
Never give up!
My 4-year-old son was heartbroken, devastated that he wouldn’t be able to see the cannons on the ships. So, I reassured him that we never give up and we would find someone to hold our backpack.
Witnessing Failed Attempts
We asked sailors if they could store our backpack, but it was a no. We approached people at the booths, but no luck. We even tried tipping the Humvee guys, but it didn’t work. We attempted to contact a friend and called grandma, but all attempts failed. By the time we reached the Saturday market area, my son had witnessed me failing numerous times, and he knew the whole routine by heart.
I was on the verge of giving up. I looked up and noticed the carnival rides, imagining the unhealthy food choices that awaited us and the money I would be wasting compared to the level of joy my son would experience.
Then I remembered reading an article about the average cost at fairs and carnivals being over $150, which was beyond my budget. Considering my son’s endless energy and desire to keep playing, it would likely cost even more.
Discovering Oregon Helicopter Tours
Thankfully, I knew there was a nearby helicopter tour company. I quickly searched for their contact details and gave them a call. The pilot, who was about to finish his next booking, had a couple of hours available. I informed him that we were on our way and turned to my son, emphasizing that we don’t dwell on problems but focus on finding solutions.
Helipad Picnic
When we arrived, the other booking was running late, so we had a delightful picnic at the helipad’s edge, making sure to stay within the designated safe zone as instructed by the Oregon Helicopter Tours staff. With my handy dandy notebook and my trusty dusty backpack, we were well-prepared with picnic supplies.
Emergency Maneuvers and Unexpected Surprises
As our pilot radioed in our flight path and we began our descent for a turn over the South Waterfront, turbulence hit us, causing a slide through the air as if we were on ice. Before I knew it, I found myself gazing straight down at i5 (see video).
Moments later, as we flew by the Rose Festival grounds, we heard the Coast Guard SAR team politely instructing us to get out of their way as they were approaching comin’ in hot. With my heart racing after witnessing the intense maneuver, I might be paraphrasing here, but our pilot calmly mentioned that we were making way for the Coast Guard SAR and instructed us to brace for a right turn (this part was cropped from the video for added dramatic effect, but rest assured, the pilot was in full control, handling it like avoiding a Portland pothole—perfectly normal).
Now, imagine this scene: we were in another steep bank turn, and as I looked down at the water, my son gleefully shouted “helicopter, helicopter” in sheer joy. I was the last to catch a glimpse of the Coast Guard helicopter on film during their initial approach.
After the emergency maneuver, I joined my son in chanting “helicopter, helicopter” to keep myself composed, even though all he wanted was to follow them. It was a truly amazing experience!
As we landed, we had another fantastic view of the Fleet Week ships. Our pilot informed us that the Coast Guard SAR might be conducting a water rescue or performing a demonstration for Fleet Week. Either way, we had the opportunity to stay and watch from the helipad (captured in the final clips of the video).
In conclusion, I must say that Oregon Helicopter Tours is absolutely amazing, and I wholeheartedly recommend their services. This was my first time in a helicopter, and ever since my son started dreaming, helicopters have fascinated him. This experience will undoubtedly be one for the record books, etched as one of the best adventures we’ve had.
A huge thank you goes to our pilot, who was extraordinary and ensured our safety throughout the flight. And of course, I want to express my gratitude to the Coast Guard SAR team for their service and for giving us an epic ending to an unforgettable day.
On our way back home, my son exclaimed, “We never give up! They told us no, so we got a helicopter cause we don’t have problems, we have solutions.” It was a priceless moment (that 2nd part is what I say, regularly).
I also took the opportunity to explain the concept of fun-to-dollar ratio once again, highlighting how spending around $100 for a helicopter ride and enjoying Voodoo donuts afterward was a far better value than shelling out $150-$200 for a stuffed animal at the carnival. Now, we have a new standard of fun-to-dollar ratio: “Are you sure you want that, or would you rather have another helicopter ride? …because that plastic disposable toy costs more for less fun.”
Thank you for taking the time to read and follow along with our incredible and sometimes crazy adventures.
