{"id":518,"date":"2019-01-12T21:05:46","date_gmt":"2019-01-12T21:05:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/?p=518"},"modified":"2021-04-14T16:46:05","modified_gmt":"2021-04-14T16:46:05","slug":"usa-coast-to-coast-southern-desert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/2019\/01\/12\/usa-coast-to-coast-southern-desert\/","title":{"rendered":"USA Coast to Coast &#8211; Southern Desert"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"603\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/borregovalley-lakehavasucity-1024x603.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/borregovalley-lakehavasucity-1024x603.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/borregovalley-lakehavasucity-768x452.jpg 768w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/borregovalley-lakehavasucity-459x270.jpg 459w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/borregovalley-lakehavasucity-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/borregovalley-lakehavasucity.jpg 1279w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption>The journey east begins<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Salton Sea lies just northeast of Borrego, and was on our route the next morning. This inland sea lies around 200 feet below global sea level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-1\" data-gallery_id=\"4554\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-1\" data-gallery_no=\"1\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040012.jpg\" title=\"Landing mishap\" data-rl_title=\"Landing mishap\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040012-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Landing mishap<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040015.jpg\" title=\"Pre-flighting\" data-rl_title=\"Pre-flighting\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040015-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Pre-flighting<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040021.jpg\" title=\"Borrego bird\" data-rl_title=\"Borrego bird\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040021-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Borrego bird<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our next stop was Lake Havasu City, a planned city on a lake shore in Arizona. The town excavated a channel from the lake, around a peninsular, to create an island; across which they placed London Bridge, purchased from the UK and shipped, brick by brick, to the USA. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-2\" data-gallery_id=\"4556\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-2\" data-gallery_no=\"2\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040022.jpg\" title=\"Heading to Arizona\" data-rl_title=\"Heading to Arizona\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-2\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040022-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Heading to Arizona<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040025.jpg\" title=\"Crossing the Salton Sea\" data-rl_title=\"Crossing the Salton Sea\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-2\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040025-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Crossing the Salton Sea<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040026.jpg\" title=\"Hydropower facility\" data-rl_title=\"Hydropower facility\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-2\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040026-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Hydropower facility<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040028.jpg\" title=\"Desert golf course\" data-rl_title=\"Desert golf course\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-2\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040028-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Desert golf course<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040031.jpg\" title=\"Hydropower facility\" data-rl_title=\"Hydropower facility\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-2\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040031-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Hydropower facility<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040033.jpg\" title=\"Arizona Desert\" data-rl_title=\"Arizona Desert\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-2\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040033-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Arizona Desert<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040049.jpg\" title=\"Lake Havasu City\" data-rl_title=\"Lake Havasu City\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-2\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040049-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Lake Havasu City<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We toured the &#8220;English Village&#8221;, which was a rather twee and embarrassing affair, and spent some time watching the preparations for a large jet-ski competition taking place the following week! <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-3\" data-gallery_id=\"4558\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-3\" data-gallery_no=\"3\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040054.jpg\" title=\"The English village\" data-rl_title=\"The English village\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-3\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040054-1038x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">The English village<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040055.jpg\" title=\"The English village\" data-rl_title=\"The English village\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-3\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040055-1038x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">The English village<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040056.jpg\" title=\"London Bridge\" data-rl_title=\"London Bridge\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-3\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040056-1038x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">London Bridge<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040057.jpg\" title=\"Lake Havasu City\" data-rl_title=\"Lake Havasu City\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-3\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040057-1038x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Lake Havasu City<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The attractions of Lake Havasu City were soon exhausted, so after one night we flew onward towards St John&#8217;s Industrial, where on-field camping was offered together with cheap fuel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"956\" height=\"629\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/lakehavasu-stjohns.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-535\" srcset=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/lakehavasu-stjohns.jpg 956w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/lakehavasu-stjohns-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/lakehavasu-stjohns-768x505.jpg 768w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/lakehavasu-stjohns-410x270.jpg 410w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 956px) 100vw, 956px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, while setting up our tent, one of the poles snapped. We determined to pack up and fly on to somewhere with accommodation, but the airport manager saw our difficulties and put us up for the night in a 50ft RV which he had parked out the back; he even left us the keys to his truck.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-4\" data-gallery_id=\"4561\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-4\" data-gallery_no=\"4\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040059.jpg\" title=\"Departing Lake Havasu\" data-rl_title=\"Departing Lake Havasu\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040059-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Departing Lake Havasu<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040061.jpg\" title=\"Map-based entertainment\" data-rl_title=\"Map-based entertainment\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040061-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Map-based entertainment<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040064.jpg\" title=\"Mine tailings\" data-rl_title=\"Mine tailings\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040064-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Mine tailings<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040065.jpg\" title=\"Arizone Mesa\" data-rl_title=\"Arizone Mesa\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040065-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Arizone Mesa<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040079.jpg\" title=\"Arizona valley\" data-rl_title=\"Arizona valley\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040079-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Arizona valley<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040095-1.jpg\" title=\"1MC at dusk\" data-rl_title=\"1MC at dusk\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040095-1-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">1MC at dusk<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040102.jpg\" title=\"Cessna 195\" data-rl_title=\"Cessna 195\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040102-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Cessna 195<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040122.jpg\" title=\"Twin Beech refueling\" data-rl_title=\"Twin Beech refueling\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-4\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040122-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Twin Beech refueling<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After enjoying a very comfortable night, we took off the next day to fly to Albuquerque Double Eagle II and meet my father who was joining us for a week of flying. En-route, we stopped off at Grants-Milan Municipal Airport, to practice some takeoffs and landings at high density altitudes.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"558\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/stjohns-doubleeagle-1024x558.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/stjohns-doubleeagle-1024x558.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/stjohns-doubleeagle-768x418.jpg 768w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/stjohns-doubleeagle-496x270.jpg 496w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/stjohns-doubleeagle-300x163.jpg 300w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/stjohns-doubleeagle.jpg 1100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On arrival in Albuquerque, we borrowed the airport crew car, and found a hotel before going to meet our new passenger from his flight.  <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-5\" data-gallery_id=\"4563\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-5\" data-gallery_no=\"5\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040128.jpg\" title=\"Coal power plant\" data-rl_title=\"Coal power plant\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040128-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Coal power plant<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040132.jpg\" title=\"Greeter at Grants Milan\" data-rl_title=\"Greeter at Grants Milan\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040132-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Greeter at Grants Milan<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040148.jpg\" title=\"Freight train\" data-rl_title=\"Freight train\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040148-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Freight train<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040150.jpg\" title=\"New Mexico Desert\" data-rl_title=\"New Mexico Desert\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040150-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">New Mexico Desert<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040156.jpg\" title=\"Flight planning\" data-rl_title=\"Flight planning\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040156-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Flight planning<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040157.jpg\" title=\"Some of the souvenirs so far\" data-rl_title=\"Some of the souvenirs so far\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040157-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Some of the souvenirs so far<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040161.jpg\" title=\"Meeting another 1MC\" data-rl_title=\"Meeting another 1MC\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-5\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040161-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Meeting another 1MC<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We had planned to meet my father at Santa Fe, but internal flights there were not available when he landed in Atlanta. We were therefore carrying slightly more fuel than I had intended, and at risk of being overweight, so we mailed home a 30kg parcel of camping equipment, books, and other unneeded equipment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We returned to the aircraft at Double Eagle II early the following morning and loaded up; with another passenger and bags, there was rather less space inside. The takeoff run seemed to last forever, particularly given the high altitude and warm air, but we eventually climbed away and enjoyed the views of the Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon Festival which was starting that day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-6\" data-gallery_id=\"4565\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-6\" data-gallery_no=\"6\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040172.jpg\" title=\"Albuquerque balloon festival\" data-rl_title=\"Albuquerque balloon festival\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-6\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040172-1038x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Albuquerque balloon festival<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040195.jpg\" title=\"New Mexico hills\" data-rl_title=\"New Mexico hills\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-6\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040195-1038x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">New Mexico hills<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040197.jpg\" title=\"New Mexico\" data-rl_title=\"New Mexico\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-6\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040197-1038x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">New Mexico<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040204.jpg\" title=\"New Mexico\" data-rl_title=\"New Mexico\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-6\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040204-1038x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">New Mexico<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We set course to the southwest, and obtained flight following from a very friendly military controller who had been stationed in England; he was keen to hear where we were from and swap stories of places we all knew. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"813\" height=\"481\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/doubleeagle-caverncity.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/doubleeagle-caverncity.jpg 813w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/doubleeagle-caverncity-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/doubleeagle-caverncity-768x454.jpg 768w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/doubleeagle-caverncity-456x270.jpg 456w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 813px) 100vw, 813px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We approached Cavern City Airport, and were on final approach when the radio operator decided to inform us that the runway had just been closed. A hasty go-around re-positioned us for another runway; given that there were 5 runways, we were spoiled for choice. We rented an SUV and headed for the Carlsbad Caverns.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-7\" data-gallery_id=\"4567\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-7\" data-gallery_no=\"7\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040202.jpg\" title=\"Aliens..?\" data-rl_title=\"Aliens..?\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-7\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040202-1038x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Aliens..?<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DSC04474.jpg\" title=\"Not much room in the back\" data-rl_title=\"Not much room in the back\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-7\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DSC04474-1038x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Not much room in the back<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DSC04535.jpg\" title=\"New copilot\" data-rl_title=\"New copilot\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-7\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DSC04535-1038x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">New copilot<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040207.jpg\" title=\"Unloading at Cavern City\" data-rl_title=\"Unloading at Cavern City\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-7\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040207-1038x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"388\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Unloading at Cavern City<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Carlsbad Caverns are an enormous underground cave system, only discovered in the 1890s. It contains the 7th largest underground cavern in the world. The second largest room in the caverns was only discovered in 1966, long after the caves had been opened to the public as a national park! The caves are open to visitors, and you can walk from the surface down to the lowest caverns where, in true American style, they have installed a restaurant, gift shop, and elevators back to the surface! Guided tours are available of some of the lowest, and most dramatic, caves and are well worth taking.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-8\" data-gallery_id=\"4569\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery rl-basicgrid-gallery rl-hover-effect-2 rl-hover-icon-2\" id=\"rl-gallery-8\" data-gallery_no=\"8\"> <div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040214.jpg\" title=\"Entering the caverns\" data-rl_title=\"Entering the caverns\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-8\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/P1040214-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Entering the caverns<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DSC04486.jpg\" title=\"Carlsbad Caverns\" data-rl_title=\"Carlsbad Caverns\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-8\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DSC04486-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Carlsbad Caverns<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DSC04504.jpg\" title=\"Carlsbad Caverns\" data-rl_title=\"Carlsbad Caverns\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-8\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DSC04504-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Carlsbad Caverns<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DSC04506.jpg\" title=\"Carlsbad Caverns\" data-rl_title=\"Carlsbad Caverns\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-8\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DSC04506-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Carlsbad Caverns<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DSC04508.jpg\" title=\"Carlsbad Caverns\" data-rl_title=\"Carlsbad Caverns\" class=\"rl-gallery-link\" data-rl_caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-8\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/DSC04508-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Carlsbad Caverns<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/2019\/01\/12\/usa-coast-to-coast-the-south\/\">Click here<\/a><\/strong> to read the next part of the story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Salton Sea lies just northeast of Borrego, and was on our route the next morning. This inland sea lies around 200 feet below global sea level. Our next stop was Lake Havasu City, a planned city on a lake shore in Arizona. The town excavated a channel from the lake, around a peninsular, to create an island; across which they placed London Bridge, purchased from the UK and shipped, brick by brick, to the USA. We toured the &#8220;English&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/2019\/01\/12\/usa-coast-to-coast-southern-desert\/\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-usa-coast-to-coast"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=518"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18718,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518\/revisions\/18718"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}