On 26 April we set off to drive from Panama to Alaska in our 1955 Jaguar XK140.  On 27 June we crossed the finishing line in Anchorage - spot on the scheduled time and with a great sense of relief.

 

Driving nearly 12,000 miles through nine countries - all of the time with the hood down - has enabled us to gain some powerful impressions of the Central and North American continent in a way which our normal more comfortable style of tourism wouldn't provide.  Over the nine week period we've changed from miles to kilometres and from litres to US gallons several times, we've paid in Lempiras, Cordobas, Colons,Quetzals, Pesos and four types of Dollar - and we've slept in 43 different beds!  We hope reports of our progress on www.globalrally.org.uk have offered some entertainment value to our friends.  Doubts about Stuart’s car maintenance capability have proved largely well-founded, but he's learnt a lot along the way.  The fact that three of the sixteen starters sadly didn't make it to the finishing line showed that this was a severe test for the cars and for their driver and navigator teams 

 

We’ve made this journey for our own pleasure and experience, but it has been a challenging venture - with not just a 53 year old car coming under strain!  We've therefore been pleased to use the rally as a means of raising money for a charity to which we're both committed - the Home Farm Trust.

 

We can all be moved by the tragedies of children affected by learning disabilities such as Down’s syndrome, autism and challenging behaviour, but their support is a life-long need - both for for them and for their families.  HFT takes on the responsibility for caring for adults with these disabilities by providing homes all over the country.  It isn’t a high profile or glamorous charity, but Angela has been involved with it for many years, and Stuart has now become a Patron.

 

Funds are always needed, and we hope that as you smile about our Panama to Alaska venture you’ll feel able to help HFT to meet what sadly is a rapidly increasing demand for this kind of care and support.