The bulk of my day was spent working on my rig cover. In the end, I was very happy with the results, but I think it looks like my rig is wearing pajamas! Matt worked from home most of the day and we talked about alternative ideas for Texas. It was possible to drive east to San Antonio. Not ideal, but it was a backup plan if we couldn't come up with a better alternative.

During dinner, I told Matt about Vertical Limit Aviation. After we were finished eating, he pulled up their website and said I should call. The worst thing they could say was no. 

When I called, a woman named Karen answered the phone. I explained our situation. She told me that owner was out, but when he returned she'd talk to him and see what he said. Before we got off the phone, he showed up and she put me on hold. When she came back, she told me they could definitely help us! Awesome!

For $715 per hour, they'd take us wherever we wanted to go. I asked if that amount would be prorated and she said it was a minimum charge. I told her that I'd talk to my husband and call her back. $715!!! That's so much money.

I started calculating the cost to return to Texas. Two airline tickets ($450.00), hotel (100.00 or less), and car rental ($30.00) would cost >600 AND we'd be able to land at a real DZ with grass! If you add in two jump tickets, it's less $650.

UGH...if she had said $350, I would have said yes.

After a very short conversation, we agreed that $715 for two helicopter jumps was too much. However, I want to note the following:  Based on flight time and fuel consumption the rate of $715.00 per our wasn't outrageous - it's actually a reasonable rate. Just out of our price range.

I spent the rest of the evening packing and getting things organized around the house. Everything was ready to go by 9:30 PM so we watched TV.

Before I turned out my light, I set an alarm for 6:30 AM and a second one for 6:45 AM. As I was drifting off to sleep, I kept thinking about Texas. There are so many great drop zones in Texas - why aren't any of them in the western part of the state? How were we going to get Texas? We'd have to look for another solution once we got to El Paso.

Maybe we could find a Texas flight school and someone willing to take the door off their Cessna? Or maybe the pilot from Skydive El Paso could help us out? If they didn't have a full schedule, they might agree to fly us over Texas. What about that the small airport - Horizon. What's there? 

I needed to shut down my brain. What will be - will be. At least we will get New Mexico!