Last month repatriated Kiwi Richard Soult started his two-part story on crossing the Alps by 4x4. This month he completes his amazing story.

Our second night in Italy was to be spent at the Colle de Bandia. The Roadbook that we were using as a guide, showed amazing photos for this leg. Stunning mountain views and an old military fort. The map showed a vast mountainous area with one road in and out surrounded by very high mountains and no sign of habitation. We were eager see if it would live up to expectations.

After an hour or so on tarmac roads and the day coming to a close, we found the turning and started to climb……

The next few hours were simply amazing, with views opening up as we gained altitude and the light changing on the mountains as day started to give way to night.

With light starting to fade, we found a saddle and headed off the main track to find a suitable place to camp for the night. The going was pretty rough but we found a suitable flat piece of ground and claimed it for the night.

After a fulfilling meal and amazing sunset, Imogen and George retired to the tent leaving Alex and I to discuss the previous 27 years in the cab of the Range Rover, enjoying several bottles of fine Italian wine with the heating and music on. At 2800m, the temperature fell quickly as the sun descended.

The following morning was the same as in the past few days; up with the sun and breakfast. We had established a routine for pitching and striking camp. With few words needing to be spoken, we set about our tasks and within a short time, we were ready to continue our journey.

Final check of the area, nothing left behind, everyone in the truck, key in the ignition and click……….

Alex and I looked at each other, both wondering what we must have left on before having retired the previous evening. Headlights were off. Both of us trying to piece together the final events and deciding that “user error” was the most probable cause for our predicament.

The problem, apart from the flat battery, was that we were not on the main route but about a kilometre up quite a steep rough track. There were a few hikers with cars, but nothing that was going to get up to where we were.

After a walk down to the main track and no sign of a suitable rescuer, we decide to walk the several kilometers to the main fort. There was a German couple with a Lada Niva. Unsure of whether it was even worth asking them, I consulted Alex. Alex runs an environmental business and regularly spends time in former Soviet countries in the back of beyond. “That”, he told me, “will go anywhere”.

So we asked and the owner was happy to assist a fellow 4WD enthusiast in trouble.

Once mobile and running under our own juice again, we continued down the mountain and back into France.

Our final night was to be spent at the Col de Tende. The Col, or saddle, is a high mountain ridge sitting on the French border with Italy dominating the valley and the approach route for any attacking forces from the south. There are a series of forts and ancillary buildings, all now disused except for 4WD explorers and hikers.

The Italian side is a ski resort, whilst the French side, to the south, is a very steep slope and winding road, now made redundant by the tunnel, which now links the two sides.

We had seen photos of campfires in the route book so had foraged wood to make ourselves a fire for the evening.

The previous night’s campsite had been amazing and tonight’s was just as impressive.

After a great evening watching the sunset around the campfire, deciding the winner of “the most stupid question of the trip “award (easily won by Imogen, who could not understand how a small electric pump could hold enough air to inflate a mattress), it was with heavy hearts that we packed up camp for the final time.

Alex and Imogen would soon be on a plane back to the UK and George and I would be returning to Burgundy to finalise plans for my return to NZ.

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To read the full story in the October 2018 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (September 14) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.