Hi - just joined, found lots of useful content on thelatebay.com in the past so decided it’s probably appropriate I get involved with the community. We have a 1979 Westy - merino yellow called Billy and we are embarking on an 18 month sabbatical in June this year to roam one small town at a time around Europe. Been planning this trip for quite some time and Billy is our 3rd and current van who we think is up to the challenge of some miles across the continent. Just put a propex heater in him and this is us in December testing it out at a campsite - I should add we have 2 yr old daughter who approved and sealed the deal that winter camping is ok.
Hello and welcome! Looks like a nice bus, and great plan for adventure... will look forward to the updates
Welcome! 18 months in Covid Europe? Doable I'm sure but could be a little bit difficult I'd have thought.
Thanks for the welcomes- Yes complicated to manage this trip since Brexit and covid as now can only do 90 days in Europe then have to come out for 90 days - basically can only do 90 days in every 180 in Europe with some exceptions - we have my wife’s family in Italy so can take a bit of a break from time to time and my brother lives in Vienna so will for sure end up on his couch! Here is a pic of my engine rebuild ( original 43 year old engine )
I'm curious how you plan to manage the 90 days in 180. Are you British or Italian citizens and how will that work with insurance if the vehicle is insured in the UK?
I am British citizen - van insured in Uk and can be in Europe for 180 days per year - we will include UK travel as part of our travel plans and we also have plans to spend some time of our sabbatical without the van further afield Basically it will mean we can spend 180 days out of uk per insurance year in the van
Brexit is a bigger problem than Covid for travelling around Europe but this might help you with the 90 days in 180 rule. Assuming your route takes you into France come and see us while you’re here – and I know a few little places worth visiting.
I have watched these camper vibe ladies a lot on you tube and this video was really useful - they are great ambassadors of van-life and have some great tips! for sure will be passing through France!
Marino yellow busses and trips round Europe rule We only did a month though, good luck on your travels!
Have a great trip. I used to live in Spain and drove back and forth to England a fair few times. I will try and remember the places I liked best to stop in/visit. Unfortunately we used to write places down then lose the paper we had written in on so I have to scrape my memory banks we used to look on the road atlas for when it was going to lunch time and try and find somewhere small near a river (I like rivers/canals) to stop at. We found lots of pretty places that way.
Road atlas - I love the old days pre sat nav although I suspect less arguments now not relying on a co-pilot! So to get us in the grove pre sabbatical we are driving to Holland in April to do a little bit of work on billy in my friends workshop and will stop off at Dunkirk on the way and then on the way back we have booked a nights camping in Bruges which I am really looking forward to. Hopefully this will help us iron out any little changes we need to make before embarking on ‘the sabbatical’