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| AERO ENGINES AT RAF COSFORD |
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NICE PAINT JOB ON
JAGUAR AT RAF COSFORD |
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| LIGHTNING & JAVELIN (IN BACKGROUND) AT COSFORD MUSEUM |
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| RUBI WITH FRIENDS STEVE & HIL |
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| HF DOLSERAU HOUSE |
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| OUR EXCELLENT SUITE IN DOLSERAU HOUSE |
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| SCULPTURE OF FALCON SEEN ON WALK |
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| VIEW FROM ARENIG FAWR |
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| LUNCH ON ARENIG FAWR SUMMIT |
Thursday 15th August and we were on our way to Snowdonia where I (Steve) would be walk-leading for HF Holidays from their house in Dolgellau, named Dolserau Hall. On the way, however, we visited the RAF Museum at Cosford, arriving at the around midday. As well as looking around the aircraft on display, Rubi had arranged for me to visit RAF Cosford air base itself where they train aircraft technicians using retired Jaguar and Tornado aircraft to practise on.
The museum closed at 5.00pm, although we could easily have spent longer there. Continuing our drive into Wales, we headed to Barmouth where we would stay with friends Hil and Steve in their static caravan for two nights before starting at HF Dolgellau. Having not seen them for two years, we had lots of catching up to do. High winds and heavy rain kept us indoors for most of the following day, but we enjoyed a round of Scrabble (won by Hil's Steve). In the evening we ate at 'The Captain's Table' restaurant in Barmouth.
Saturday morning we drove to HF Dolgellau in time for the usual 12.30pm pre-holiday meeting. The guests started to arrive mid-afternoon and the walk programme commenced the following day. The weather was dry and I took ten guests on a level walk around the Mawddach Estuary whilst Rubi took to the hills overlooking the estuary with another leader (also called Steve). Dinner at the house was of the usual high standard and third leader, Roger, organised a music quiz.
On Monday the weather was drizzly in the morning but improved as the day progressed. I led three guests, including Rubi, up Arenig Fawr where we enjoyed lunch and spectacular views out of the wind in the stone shelter at the top. Our evening dinner back at the house was an excellent 7-course taster menu comprising local dishes.
Tuesday was a rest day from HF leading. Hil and Steve visited us at Dolserau Hall and, after showing them around the house, we all took a walk to Dolgellau town where we had a picnic lunch.
We were back at the house by 4.00pm so that I could prepare for the following day's walks. We arranged to see Hil and Steve again before we headed home.
