North American Travel update from our overseas correspondents Donna & Tony.

· On Travelling South from Anchorage, the 1st stop was planned for hiking at Girdwood, the North Face mountain trail, the Crow Creek pass trail (up to a glacier) and more. The sky was cross and weeping heavily so Girdwood was saved for the travel back north. Now heading North Girdwood has no sky, just cotton wall all the way to the ground. Someone above is crying like a baby and it's most unpleasant. Bye bye Girdwood.

· Driving conditions to, through and beyond Anchorage were stressful with fog and heavy spray. One vehicle was seen in the ditch - slow down everyone.

· Baby moose spotted roadside just North of Anchorage.

· A new resting place Palmer, famous for growing enormous vegetables due to long hours of daylight and ideal climate.

· Palmer exhibitors at the forthcoming Alaska state fair are hoping to break world vegetable records (previously set by Palmer Farmers). Cabbage - 138 pounds, carrot - 72 pounds, celery - 63 pounds, cucumber - 20 pounds.

· Farmer Palmer in Viz comics may be a fictional character but in Palmer, Alaska he is very much real.

· Other than Vegetables, Palmer has great mountains. Hiking plans for Lazy mountain and Matanuska mountain were also scuppered by low cloud and pouring rain.

· Headed towards the sunshine at Hatchers pass area for the day (more good hiking), only to be fooled with even worse conditions than Palmer.

· After driving around 5000 miles with very little radio signal, a selection of CD's was finally acquired from a thrift shop for one Dollar 50 each - Cher, The Corrs, The Proclaimers, Sheryl Crow and an 80's mix. We had never heard of any of the other artists.

· Bad weather seems locked in, will have to move on.

Join us again for further updates coming soon.