Billy

Discussion in 'Show Us Your Ride' started by DamonW, Jan 25, 2022.

  1. DamonW

    DamonW Supporter

    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.
     

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  2. G'day & welcome
    Nice Westy
     
  3. Beautiful Westy and striking photo. Sure looks up to the task. Happy travels.
     
  4. Day

    Day

    Welcome along from Italy, nice colour bus. :thumbsup:

    Don't get many Damon's on here.
     
  5. Welcome to the mad house :)


    Happy adventures :thumbsup:
     
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2022
  6. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    Looking forward to following your adventures :thumbsup:
     
  7. CollyP

    CollyP Moderator

    Howdy! :)
     
  8. scrooge95

    scrooge95 Moderator and piggy bank keeper

    Hello and welcome! Looks like a nice bus, and great plan for adventure... will look forward to the updates :)
     
  9. MorkC68

    MorkC68 Administrator

    Welcome to the forum fella, that's a nice looking westy!
     
  10. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    Welcome!
    18 months in Covid Europe? Doable I'm sure but could be a little bit difficult I'd have thought.
     
  11. DamonW

    DamonW Supporter

    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 )
     

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  12. DamonW

    DamonW Supporter

    To give some context this is before
     

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    Zed likes this.
  13. DamonW

    DamonW Supporter

    A great colour! my wife’s Italian and looking forward to exploring Italy the slow way
     
  14. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    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?
     
  15. DamonW

    DamonW Supporter

    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
     
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  16. 77 Westy

    77 Westy Supporter

    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.
     
  17. DamonW

    DamonW Supporter

    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!
     
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  18. Marino yellow busses and trips round Europe rule
    [​IMG]

    We only did a month though, good luck on your travels!
     
  19. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    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 :oops:

    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.
     
    Razzyh, Day, art b and 1 other person like this.
  20. DamonW

    DamonW Supporter

    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’
     
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