Livin' the high life!

We had a wonderful day with our friends (and neighbors, and home group leaders) Jason and Krystal on Sunday. We told them we wanted to take them out for a long lunch. We didn't tell them where, or exactly how we were getting there.

So I hope they were a little surprised when we arrived in North Scottsdale to find our ride waiting...

This was originally supposed to be a surprise trip for our anniversary. My mom bought the trip at the PCS fundraising auction, and gave it to use for our anniversary (thanks Mom!!!) However, after I had the surprise all planned, the morning we were supposed to go, there was several inches of snow and a severe crosswind and the Sedona airport. We delayed and delayed the trip, until Tom (our pilot) finally called us and said he wanted to go before it got too hot.

As Jason and Krystal said... "We're glad it was snowing and windy on your anniversary!" :)

Packed into the plane like sardines. Actually it was very comfortable. More room in the plane than in my boss's Infinity that we took to lunch.

Jason, sitting up front on the way to Sedona, getting the lowdown on watching for other planes in the sky.

Rolling down the runway for takeoff.

Scottsdale from the air.

Approaching Sedona.

Then we made a loop around Sedona. Absolutely unbelievable scenery, from not very high above the cliffs (and sometimes below them.) Jason said he got a little nervous when he kept hearing the "Terrain! Terrain!" alarm in his headset. :)

Humphreys Peak in Flagstaff on the horizon.

Approaching the runway in Sedona. It doesn't really seem like you are going that fast in this little jet... until you come hauling into a runway perched on the edge of a cliff. Our pilot did an excellent job though.

Then we jumped in a rental car and headed for our lunch at L'Auberge de Sedona (part of the whole package trip.) Good music, good company, good conversation. And the food? We were so busy enjoying it, I didn't even manage to take a picture. It was a buffet, but let's just say not even in the same class as the Golden Corral and a step (or whole flight of stairs) above Hometown Buffet. There was lamb, salmon, sushi, fruit salad, made to order omelets, artisan cheeses, lemon tarts, chocolate mousse, and about a dozen other selections. All of it delicious.

Oh, and did I mention that you literally could have jumped from our table right into Oak Creek? This was the view from my seat at the table...

And our waiter (who was also excellent)? Totally reminded me of Emilio...

"I fear you're underestimating the sneakiness sir..."

After eating enough for two meals (seriously, neither Paige or I even were hungry for dinner) we had to head back to real life.

But not before the requisite touristy photo op.

I stopped to take a picture of the cool engines on the plane. Cause I'm an engineer, and think things like this are pretty. Even though my wife called me a nerd...

Back onto the plane for the return trip.

Coming in for the landing in Scottsdale.

It was a great trip. I'm thinking I might have to swing by the PCS auction this year, and see if Tom has donated another trip like this one. And we won't wait so long to take it next time...