On the road again.

We picked up a hire car - a Suzuki something or other - and drove the 60 kms to Urabamba to the gorgeous rally hotel. We're not sure what size engine the car had but the Model A went up the hills more easily. We couldn't find the fuel filler switch either and had to call Hertz; it was helpfully hidden under the carpet. It also developed a fault that I am embarrassed to tell you about when all the old car are struggling so much but the result is that the Suzuki has now metamorphosed into a Toyota Land cruiser.

I found Cusco quite enchanting and enjoyed it much more than last time. On the way here we saw the evidence of all the heavy rain Peru has been experiencing; landslides everywhere, many still being worked on. The valley is beautiful, a rich tapestry of beautifully cultivated fields all with the most dramatically folded, green clad mountains you can possibly imagine.

We 'Hertz rallyists' waited patiently for the first cars to come in. One by one they came all looking better after the rest day in Puno and easier driving conditions in Peru. We've lost loads of altitude now too and are dropping even further here on in so everything should become a little less punishing for cars and crew. Some cars are having problems, sadly. Bill and Biddy's Bentley has a water filter issue and the Carrero of Mark and Charles has a fast disappearing clutch. Even our good friend the indestructible Max and his son, James, had steering trouble but seem to be fixed now.

We're all off on the 0630 train to Macchu Picchu in the morning. Quite a few of us have been before but we're all still excited about it. I'm afraid that some will not make it though as cars have to be worked on.

Time for a request.

Those of you reading of our adventure may like to consider helping some of the poorest children in the world in rural Cambodia. Many of you know that I am deeply involved with a wonderful organisation there that has one aim: to get children into school and to keep them there. 25% of children in the areas that I work in will not reach the age of 40 and only 16% will reach secondary school. So long as the children come to school we feed them once a day, put clean wells into school, look after their medical needs and provide all school supplies, uniforms etc. We equip the schools with libraries and improve the training of the teachers. The children mostly are living in desperately hard conditions and school is the life raft that they cling too. Education is the key to getting these children out of the cycle of poverty and you can help with that.

Just go to our website: www.shootersdrivetheworld.com. There is more information there and a link to our Virgin Giving web page. If you are a U.K. Taxpayer you can gift aid and that will benefit even more children. The 2,500 children that the foundation supports thank you and a deeply heartfelt thank you from Barbara and Adrian too.