Fantastic. Enough said? Awight, awight, we know you can't start your week without an allseven injection, so hold on to ya swivel chairs, here we go! Thirteen weeks in Central America finally, at long long last, came to an end and we jetted into US airspace. It really hasn't been all that bad. Just jolly uncomfortable at times and more than a little hard going. Already, after a week in rather oppulant surroundings, we are already reflecting more favourably on our recent experiences. Having argued our way to an upgrade from a group A to group H hire car at the Alamo counter (not without reason), we headed into the night towards Estero on Florida's Gulf Coast. Unfortunately we didn't commit as much resource as was necessary in pinpointing the location of our friends holiday home. The gated communities here have mostly been built recently and therefore you can not rely on local knowledge to guide you to your goal. After one and a half hours circling the neighbourhood streets we ran into Chuck Baldwin and his pals. Or should we say, he ran into us. Pulling up behind a Buick, Phill called out to an old couple who appeared to be heading into their house. Chuck was the unknown element of the forthcoming scenario. The driver of the said Buick slipped his tank into reverse and gently drove over our 2006 model year Chevy! The daft old sod. Fully covered, we told the silver haired coffin dodger not to worry. 'Grab yaself a whisky mate', Phill suggested. 'What are ya sayin' the dodery old fool replied. We yelped with excitment as we turned the final corner on route to our destiny. Wearing smiles like we'd swallowed a banana sideways, we took possession of this wonderful pad. We wouldn't say it was expansive, but it took 45 minutes to find the staircase. 4 bedrooms, 28 bathrooms and its own pool and spa. All cloaked in icy air conditioning. The idea of sunbathing didn't cut it with us as we considered the benefits of cryonic suspension. A week later and fully recouped, we now head for the bitter realities of Peru. Sue has a packed programme which an aging Phill is struggling to come to terms with. Phill has indeed created a backpacking monster. Thanks Mike and Rikke for the loan of your gaff. We will be eternally grateful! We go in search of Paddington Bear. PaS