Our latest post comes from Tony & Teresa, who have a fantastic catch phrase ‘Traveling In a Tin Box And Loving Every Minute Of It’. They have just set up their website so please bob over and say hello…they are a lovely couple and Tony, well he is a right character!
1. Tell us a little about yourself, like what is your name and where do you come from.
Hi All. Our Names are Tony and Teresa Bateman. I’m originally from Birmingham, but moved to Weston Super Mare in the 70s. Teresa is Welsh, and comes from Newport, and moved to Weston, 7 years ago where we met. I’m retired and Teresa is practising retirement. (and making a dam good job of it )
2. What sort of motorhome traveller are you?
We are full time Motorhomers and have been for the last 5 years, actually nearly 6 now, even when we pitch up back in the UK. We live in Trusty. Our campervan.
My brother owns a Farm and we just sit there and watch the world go by. Or that’s what we pretend. In actual fact it’s a time for us to sort Trusty for either the return or onward Trip. And occasionally use their spare room. Plus fix all my Bro’s Broken Machinery. He saves it up for me. Bless him!!
3.When did you first start motorhoming and what inspired you to start?
Over the years I personally have owned a few Motorhomes, but only used them in the UK. For short periods. Got fed up and sold them. Normally for a profit. I then switched to narrow boats, a great life, but it’s only a big hole in the water, you chuck money into, and at 4 miles an hour. More about that in our blog. After a holiday with Teresa in Portugal. We sat in the bar one night, as you do, and decided after watching a Motorhome opposite. To go back to the UK and build and travel, and that’s what we did. At the time we were running an 18 room B&B. We bought, built, and moved into Trusty in 3 months and kicked everything else into touch, and have never looked back since.
4. Tell us about your current motorhome like make, model, name, age and why you chose it?
Trusty. Our Motor Home. We chose Trusty a 1996 Transit mk5 high top LWB van, as a starter van, to cut costs and to see if we liked full timing. 6 months was the time we allotted, before we changed her up for something bigger. 5.5 years later we still have her. Super Reliable easy to fix, good on fuel for what she does. and what we ask of her.
5. Where is the best place you have ever been and why?
This is defiantly a hard one. As most places are great. And it depends on what you are looking for. For us up to now its not one place, but more one Country, And that has to be Portugal. With out a doubt the best so far. People are super friendly. Food is both cheap and top quality. Wall to wall Sunshine. The winter months are very good. Admittedly you get wind and rain. And Portugal can certainly do it big time sometimes. But for us it’s the best. Our favourite laid back village is Paderne in the Algarve.
6. Where is the worst place you have ever been and why?
Has to be Sintra in Portugal. Many will disagree. But we pitched up in August. Probably the complete wrong time. Sintra does not lend it self to Motorhomes. It’s narrow every where and packed, wall to wall traffic. And endless one way streets. The main sites are virtually impossible to visit with out a motorcycle. As most of the roads are impassable to most Motorhomes. Not much of a problem if you are a hardened walker. But we are Southern softy’s nowadays.
7. What 3 places are on your bucket / wish list?
- Italy. Got to do it.
- Greece.
- Croatia
8. What things (apart from the obvious) do you always travel with?
Good will. Good humour and Patience (The Latter is the Hardest to do for me)
Teresa? She’s Welsh. Patience of Jobe
9. If you could share one handy motorhome hint or tip, what would it be?
Fit solar panels. Saves so much money and hassle.
10. Any finally, what’s your funniest motorhome moment?
Has to be The Aire at Caceres Spain. Involving a French Motorhomer.
Before I go on. We have met some Lovely French People. But this Guy was a king size Asshole.
After a hot day travelling though the centre of Spain on the way to Portugal, we stopped at the Aire around 6 pm. Only to find it full. Then I noticed this French guy with two spaces. He had his table, chairs, and dog and dog bowl in the empty one. So, Politely I asked him to move them so we could get in. Well you’d a thought I asked to Rodger his missus the way he reacted. Not that I would have. She was a ugly as a Hatful of Assholes. And just as mean as he was. Now as I stated above, patience is not one of my virtues. And I got to the point of thinking if I clock him could I get away with, when out of the blue I noticed a little guy walking up behind him.
Next thing he’s emptied a glass of water complete with ice cubes over the French guy and darted back round the back of the motor home, so quick the French guy just did not see him. Well we just keeled over laughing. The French gut tears off round the back after him with his ugly missus in tow. And we can hear a big argument going on. Next thing the Guardia civil turn up. Stop the argument and march the frog down to his Motorhome where they issue him with a 120 euro fine for camping and taking up two spaces.
We then parked in next to him. Turns out the guy who chucked the water over him was Spanish, and the French guy had threatened him before we got there. And not only that the French guy argued with the cops. He up staked 10 mins later and left. So we put our Table and chairs in his space. Not Really!!!
If you would like to check out Tony & Teresa’s website then click here or bob on over to TrustyRustyTravels.com. Have a read and say hi, they would love to meet you all one day!
Thanks to Tony & Teresa for their interview and here’s hoping they enjoy the Somme and the rest of the September sunshine as they head through France towards Spain. Enjoy guys xxx
If you would like to join in the fun and share your story then drop is an email at ourbumble@icloud.com
Hi guys..cant seem to find any activity from you lately..hope youe all good..inc Mac and Tosh..our website private at the mo..as re-writing some of it..were in Portugal as I write this, till beginning of April 2020..when we return to our narrow boat..for the summer..Please note our new email for trustyrustytravels.com..hope to hear from you soon. tony and teresstyrustsblog@yahoo.com
Hi Tony and Teresa, nice to meet you on here. I’m interested to hear more about Portugal as it’s a place we are seriously considering to spend some time, not just in our moho, but perhaps finding a little unit and stay put for a few months. Do you have any knowledge about such things?
Hi Ruth..nice to hear from you..sorry for late reply..didn’t see message.. Portugal for us is the best..others will disagree.. First before I write this I must say I’m not a Spain or Spanish hater. Spain is good but Portugal is better.. People for a start are 10 times more friendly.. Climate suits us. Yes it does howl wind and rain,but not a lot and not for long. We are in the algarve most of the time nowadays. Best place. But we have been all over Portugal in past times. We love the North but it gets to wet and cold in the winter. So The Algarve is for us..Property is easy to purchase. The process is less complicated than Spain.. Depends on your budget. But the step back and look at twice rule applys here as well. Some lovely places to be had. Your Better off being around 8 k or so from any sea front..bigger and better properties available for much less bucks. Hope it helps Tony
Hi again Ruth..forgot to put…Rentals are available for around 400/ 600 per month euro that is..Aires and campsites ate either free or cheap..stay off the Orbit or chain.as they are expensive without an asci card. And that only is for off season. Better off council or camera Aires as they call them here.. Campsites ate none expensive in off season
Most sites here are half or more than half the Spanish/French prices
I was going to ask about your camper when I noticed a comment below..so you built it all yourself? I am thinking of building my own mainky because of funds but not sure on base vehicle. Can I ask why you chose a transit and how long did it take you to complete?
hHi Paul. Yes indeed we built it our selves, from start to finish in 3 months. Reasons for the quick build were mant. but most people do builds like this over a period of time. They use weekends and spare time. I used 3 months solid. but to be fair. alot of the time was also used on research and finding cheap materials. to keep costs down.. I suggest a quick visit to these site pages on our blog.
About us Tony and Teresa. and trusty’s build. Hope it can all help you all the best Tony
https://trustyrustytravels.com/trusty-rusty-travels/trusty-rusty-travels-2/
https://trustyrustytravels.com/trustys-build/
How lovely and very glad you are starting to write your own blog. How we love travel, but these days we fly through to the warmer climes of Spain and Portugal. Hearing about you full time even in UK makes me shiver, I bet it gets cold but I am a big softy. Not leaving until after Christmas this year so your blogs are making me yearn for an earlier start. Happy days!
Hi Penny. I have to say .we have never been cold in the camper. In any weather. Trusty is well insulated, and had a heater which we rarely use. But also to be fair, we don’t spend winter months in the UK. We are on the road around 11 months a year normally. Portugal is a biggy for us, as the climate is the best. Either that or the Costa ..Leaving Portugal after Christmas for the Costa and around March. Head back to Uk. Arriving April hopefully.. Then sort our next Adventures.. All the best…Tony
Tony did you fit the solar panels yourself or do you get someone to do it? I have always plugged in but would like to try this wild camping milarki.
Fitted them my self. In fact I do it all myself..solar panels are fairly straight forward to fit..easy job really. If you can drill a hole or wire a plug. Its on your Menu.when we first started we plugged in. Started looking in the wallet. And instead, decided to use them all the time. Well worth the small expense of buying them. Saved us hundreds. All the best Tony
Can I ask a question? The motorhome seems a wee bit small for full time living. How do you fit everything inside?
Hi. Josh. Nice to hear from you. Your not wrong. But we manage fine. More room inside than it looks from the outside. We should have called her the Tardis. I spent a fair bit of time sorting out how we would do it before we built her.. Plus a few mods as we go..its worked well for us. But I’m looking to upgrade poss after march next year.. All the very best. Tony..PS. Trusty thanks you for calling her a Motor Home..made her day
Great good luck to you both enjoy everyday and it certainly sounds like you do ,Serves the greedy French man right,no consideration he he like it
Hi. Robert. He certainly needed cooling down..best laugh we’ve had almost ever since we have been on the road.. And like most, We’ve seen some sights. Thanks for the contact. Safe and Happy Travelling. Tony
Love the things you travel with…good humour. Essential!
Hi Lucy. It fails some days..but its an essential part of the Travel Kit. Teresa’s best at it. She laughs at me. Keep safe Tony
Thanks for sharing another motorhomers story…I love reading about travels.
Hi. John. Glad to share. And glad you enjoyed it. Communication , the greatest force in the world..We love it. Keep em coming…. Tony