{"id":8057,"date":"2019-06-08T14:00:24","date_gmt":"2019-06-08T14:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/?p=8057"},"modified":"2023-04-06T16:49:59","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T16:49:59","slug":"round-the-world-atlantic-days-17-and-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/2019\/06\/08\/round-the-world-atlantic-days-17-and-18\/","title":{"rendered":"Round the World &#8211; Atlantic Days 17 and 18"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Caernarfon, Wales to Laddingford, England<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our first appointment of our day in Snowdonia was at &#8220;King Arthur&#8217;s Labyrinth&#8221;. This underground attraction is based in an old mine, the Braichgoch slate mine, and features a boat ride in to the mine followed by a walk around some of the mine tunnels, visiting animatronic displays that tell various stories about King Arthur. It was remarkably tacky and told us nothing at all about the old mine itself, which is what I had really been interested in, so we left rather disappointed!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-1\" data-gallery_id=\"8163\"> <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\/06\/2019-05-24-14.32.44-1.jpg\" title=\"Looking out from Harlech Castle\" data-rl_title=\"Looking out from Harlech Castle\" 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\/06\/2019-05-24-14.32.44-1-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Looking out from Harlech Castle<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-24-14.32.59-1.jpg\" title=\"Looking out over Harlech Castle\" data-rl_title=\"Looking out over Harlech Castle\" 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\/06\/2019-05-24-14.32.59-1-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Looking out over Harlech Castle<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-24-14.44.25-1.jpg\" title=\"Harlech Castle\" data-rl_title=\"Harlech Castle\" 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\/06\/2019-05-24-14.44.25-1-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Harlech Castle<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-24-15.07.21-1.jpg\" title=\"Harlech Castle\" data-rl_title=\"Harlech Castle\" 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\/06\/2019-05-24-15.07.21-1-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Harlech Castle<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From here we drove back north, along the coast this time towards Harlech Castle. We stopped in a town along the way to try a lunch of Welsh Rarebit (basically, melted cheese on bread!) Completed in the year 1289, Harlech castle was originally constructed by Edward I in order to help control Wales; it changed hands between the English and Welsh several times throughout its history, eventually being abandoned and partially dismantled in the mid 1600s. Happily, it survived the following centuries fairly well and is now open to the public to visit. We spent an enjoyable hour or so exploring from the top of the six-story tower, all the way down to the water gate, 127 steps below the castle!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-2\" data-gallery_id=\"8166\"> <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\/06\/2019-05-24-16.05.16-1.jpg\" title=\"Sightseeing in Snowdonia\" data-rl_title=\"Sightseeing in Snowdonia\" 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\/06\/2019-05-24-16.05.16-1-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Sightseeing in Snowdonia<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-24-16.06.39-1.jpg\" title=\"The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway\" data-rl_title=\"The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway\" 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\/06\/2019-05-24-16.06.39-1-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-24-16.19.39-1.jpg\" title=\"At the Sygun Copper Mine\" data-rl_title=\"At the Sygun Copper Mine\" 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\/06\/2019-05-24-16.19.39-1-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">At the Sygun Copper Mine<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-24-16.34.39-1.jpg\" title=\"In the Sygun Copper Mine\" data-rl_title=\"In the Sygun Copper Mine\" 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\/06\/2019-05-24-16.34.39-1-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">In the Sygun Copper Mine<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was only about 4pm, so we decided to take a drive through Snowdonia, based on a suggested route we found online. We headed north through Porthmadog, and soon came upon the Sygun copper mine, just outside of Beddgelert. This Victorian mine had closed down in 1903, and then been re-opened as a self-guided tourist attraction. Of huge vertical extent, the lower levels of the mine are all flooded, with a selection of the middle floors now being open for the public to walk and climb through.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-3\" data-gallery_id=\"8168\"> <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\/06\/2019-05-24-16.52.27-1.jpg\" title=\"Views from the Sygun Copper Mine\" data-rl_title=\"Views from the Sygun Copper Mine\" 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\/06\/2019-05-24-16.52.27-1-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Views from the Sygun Copper Mine<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-24-17.19.45.jpg\" title=\"Hydro-power near Snowdon\" data-rl_title=\"Hydro-power near Snowdon\" 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\/06\/2019-05-24-17.19.45-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Hydro-power near Snowdon<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-24-17.34.22.jpg\" title=\"Slate mine tailings north of Snowdon\" data-rl_title=\"Slate mine tailings north of Snowdon\" 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\/06\/2019-05-24-17.34.22-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Slate mine tailings north of Snowdon<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From here we continued through the hills to Llanberis, passing through Pen-Y-Pass. This is one of the most popular starting points for walking to the top of Snowdon, with three of the main routes up the mountain starting from here. Having flown around two of the UK&#8217;s highest peaks, it was nice to see the third, albeit from ground level! From here we continued southeast to Betws-y-coed, and then on to Blaenau Ffestiniog for dinner, and back to the B&amp;B.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We woke early on the Saturday, with a busy day ahead of us. After checking out the wonderful garden model railway around the back of the B&amp;B, we returned our Fiat 500 to Europcar at Caernarfon, took a taxi to the airport, and took off on the westerly runway, with a right turnout to follow the Welsh coastline towards our first stop of the day. This would be Leeds Bradford airport; close to the home of one of my closest friends from university, Ian, and his young family. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-4\" data-gallery_id=\"8170\"> <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\/06\/2019-05-25-07.58.55.jpg\" title=\"The garden railway at our B&amp;B\" data-rl_title=\"The garden railway at our B&amp;B\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-07.58.55-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">The garden railway at our B&amp;B<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-25-07.59.47.jpg\" title=\"The garden railway at our B&amp;B\" data-rl_title=\"The garden railway at our B&amp;B\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-07.59.47-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">The garden railway at our B&amp;B<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-25-08.00.35.jpg\" title=\"The garden railway at our B&amp;B\" data-rl_title=\"The garden railway at our B&amp;B\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-08.00.35-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">The garden railway at our B&amp;B<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-25-08.02.02.jpg\" title=\"Honk honk\" data-rl_title=\"Honk honk\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-08.02.02-1024x576.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Honk honk<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1002\" height=\"556\" src=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/rtw_day18.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8085\" srcset=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/rtw_day18.jpg 1002w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/rtw_day18-768x426.jpg 768w, https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/rtw_day18-487x270.jpg 487w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1002px) 100vw, 1002px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Back to Kent, via Leeds and Redhill<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we approached Leeds, I saw a number of familiar landmarks; my father and I had flown right past here a few days earlier! We flew a left base to runway 32, and pulled in to the Multiflight FBO just behind a slightly tatty old PA28 which seemed to be on a cross-country training flight. We were escorted land-side by a very friendly lady from Multiflight, who gave us a discount on the mandatory handling fee, as it was our first time in. Formalities completed, we wandered down to the cafe to meet up with Ian and Pippa, and spent a long time catching up. It had been a decade since we&#8217;d last seen each other!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-5\" data-gallery_id=\"8173\"> <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\/06\/2019-05-25-10.07.28.jpg\" title=\"Leaving Caernarfon\" data-rl_title=\"Leaving Caernarfon\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-10.07.28-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Leaving Caernarfon<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-25-10.12.04.jpg\" title=\"Bangor, with Anglesey behind\" data-rl_title=\"Bangor, with Anglesey behind\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-10.12.04-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Bangor, with Anglesey behind<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-25-10.17.19.jpg\" title=\"Bridge and Castle - a good name for a pub?\" data-rl_title=\"Bridge and Castle - a good name for a pub?\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-10.17.19-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Bridge and Castle - a good name for a pub?<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-25-10.27.12.jpg\" title=\"River Dee\" data-rl_title=\"River Dee\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-10.27.12-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">River Dee<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-25-10.30.56.jpg\" title=\"Passing Liverpool\" data-rl_title=\"Passing Liverpool\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-10.30.56-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Passing Liverpool<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-25-10.52.44.jpg\" title=\"Closing in on Leeds Bradford\" data-rl_title=\"Closing in on Leeds Bradford\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-10.52.44-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Closing in on Leeds Bradford<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From Leeds Bradford, we flew south, almost shadowing the route my father and I had taken a week before. The weather was still beautiful and, being a Saturday, there were a fair few other small airplanes buzzing around, as well as a couple of very active gliding sites to watch out for. We were going to the west of London this time, instead of the east. Luton ATC were very helpful and gave us clearance through their zone, crossing the runway just after an EasyJet 737 had departed. They handed us off to Heathrow who were far less helpful; they pushed us down low and sent us almost all the way around to the west of their zone, although we did at least get close-up views of the Dorney Lake rowing facility and Ascot horse racing course.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-6\" data-gallery_id=\"8175\"> <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\/06\/2019-05-25-13.11.55.jpg\" title=\"With Ian at Leeds Bradford\" data-rl_title=\"With Ian at Leeds Bradford\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-13.11.55-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">With Ian at Leeds Bradford<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-25-14.39.02.jpg\" title=\"Dorney Lake rowing facility\" data-rl_title=\"Dorney Lake rowing facility\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-14.39.02-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Dorney Lake rowing facility<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-25-14.41.25.jpg\" title=\"Ascot\" data-rl_title=\"Ascot\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-14.41.25-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Ascot<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our destination was Redhill Aerodrome, tucked into the northern edge of the Gatwick zone. We were planning to meet a whole group of pilots from the Flyer Forum, who were gathering here for the afternoon. We touched down on the westerly grass runway and taxied over to the restaurant, where most of the group had already gathered. One had even flown in his Mooney from Switzerland; although not exclusively to see us! Another had just arrived on a commercial flight at London Gatwick airport and had come straight over.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"rl-gallery-container rl-loading\" id=\"rl-gallery-container-7\" data-gallery_id=\"8177\"> <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\/06\/2019-05-25-16.05.20.jpg\" title=\"With the Flyer Forum members\" data-rl_title=\"With the Flyer Forum members\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-16.05.20-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">With the Flyer Forum members<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-25-17.41.26.jpg\" title=\"Leaving Redhill\" data-rl_title=\"Leaving Redhill\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-17.41.26-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Leaving Redhill<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-25-17.43.11.jpg\" title=\"Redhill\" data-rl_title=\"Redhill\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-17.43.11-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Redhill<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-25-17.46.45.jpg\" title=\"Stately homes in Surrey\" data-rl_title=\"Stately homes in Surrey\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-17.46.45-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Stately homes in Surrey<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-25-17.52.45.jpg\" title=\"An event at the Hop Farm in kent\" data-rl_title=\"An event at the Hop Farm in kent\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-17.52.45-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">An event at the Hop Farm in kent<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"rl-gallery-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/2019-05-25-18.03.21.jpg\" title=\"Meeting up with Charles at Laddingford\" data-rl_title=\"Meeting up with Charles at Laddingford\" 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\/06\/2019-05-25-18.03.21-500x300.jpg\" width=\"367\" height=\"220\" alt=\"\" \/><span class=\"rl-gallery-caption\"><span class=\"rl-gallery-item-title\">Meeting up with Charles at Laddingford<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We spent the afternoon swapping stories, chatting about the upcoming Atlantic crossing of two of the other forum members, and having the chance to view some of the historic aircraft tucked in the hangar behind the restaurant. As evening drew in, we made the short flight over to Laddingford where we were met by my mother, and also Charles; the founder of African Promise. We&#8217;d really hoped to have the chance to meet up with him while in he UK, and he had made the trip down from London to make it happen! We worked out that it was about 17 years since we had last seen each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/2019\/06\/10\/round-the-world-atlantic-day-19\/\">Click here<\/a><\/strong> to read the next part of the story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Caernarfon, Wales to Laddingford, England Our first appointment of our day in Snowdonia was at &#8220;King Arthur&#8217;s Labyrinth&#8221;. This underground attraction is based in an old mine, the Braichgoch slate mine, and features a boat ride in to the mine followed by a walk around some of the mine tunnels, visiting animatronic displays that tell various stories about King Arthur. It was remarkably tacky and told us nothing at all about the old mine itself, which is what I had&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/2019\/06\/08\/round-the-world-atlantic-days-17-and-18\/\"> 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":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-round-the-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8057","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=8057"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8057\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22758,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8057\/revisions\/22758"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katamarino.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}