That was a brilliant film. Would love to do it just once. But I guess given the political situation it's not going to happen any time soon again and anyway I don't have the money. However, I have driven my +8 in Russia & Eastern Europe in the late 80s and the Baltic States a couple of times in more recent times.

I see a yachting acquaintance of mine on the film, they bought a car that had previously done it so saved a bit,though I know that a large contingency fund was available if required. Most of the Aussies and Kiwis are fairly hands on and have seen rough off road conditions before.

Colin, I thought I might have known the OZ bod from our eMog days (-: At least you had what it takes to get out and about hacking arouned in Wales and I have no doubt created memories enough to find great pleasure in them over many a year, as it would seem Stephen888 has probably done too..?

Waikiore, I see the logic, re your thinking on the roughriders from OZ and NZ, but it seems Cannucks and Americans can be pretty well tuned up on self reliance too given the mix of wide open spaces and mountainous regions they live in too... Even in my little country it seems there are some who are up for an occasional challenge...(-:

Lorne and Button did quite a few miles in their Morgans, even I managed a few too, all without any support mechanism, and in my case with limited tools and spares all in whatever room was left after my good lady packed her little neccesities, that was adventure enough dependant on maps and no sat nav, but we did cheat using a mobile phone, though that phone was just that and not a camera and computer too, such as they are today..(-:

Apologies for the thread drift and I know I have typed this before, forgive me repeating myself, it`s just an old man thing... (-: My favourite phone call on the French/Italian trip was that which my wife made to her sister in law in Central Scotland while we were parked up in a viewpoing high up over the Bay of Naples over looking the towns of Vico Equoense and Sorrento... T`was Colin AKA Spanner Juggler, who put us on to the idea of using local tourist offices in whichever town we spent the night in to arrange accomodation in whatever town we hoped to arrive at the following day on our journey Southward.... Unfortunately by the time we arrived at our previous nights accomodation we were so hot and bothered by the Italian high temps, that all we wanted to do was shower and find an air con unit to sit next too...!

The phone call from the viewpoint to sil in Scotland went like this.... Can you find me the number of the tourist office in Sorrento and phone me back when you have the number..? Phone rings, number supplied, next call to said tourist office... Can you find me a hotel with a pool, safe parking and a balcony with a view out over the bay of Naples.... Reply, yes madam, and when would you like to make an arrangement.... Reply..tonight... Reply somewhat astounded, TONIGHT..! I will call you back.. Colin was dead right about the effectivness of local tourist officess. The chap phoned back within minutes and found a place that when we arrived at it, fitted the bill perfectly

Couple of pics hopefully attached, one from the balcony of our room, the viewpoint I mentioned is high up on on the road cutting down the hillside that can be seen across the bay in the distance. The other pic is of the Mog parked on the hotel roof.