'We drove our camper van Trudy around the world'

A couple from Shropshire who set off in January 2020 to drive around the world in a 20-year-old camper van have completed their adventure.

Chris and Marianne Fisher are now waiting to be reunited with their Fiat Ducato, called Trudy, which is on a container ship off the coast of Spain en route from South Africa to Southampton.

Once Trudy is back in the UK, a celebration cavalcade of camper vans will follow them back to Shropshire.

Having being waved off from Ironbridge four-and-a-half years ago, the couple want to end the journey next to the world-famous bridge.

Chris and Marianne have built a big following on YouTube, racking up more than 27m views and 180,000 subscribers

"Without Trudy, this journey wouldn't have been possible," said Chris.

"She's just done so well. When we left, everyone said: 'You can't drive around the world with a two-wheel drive Fiat Ducato.' But she's done it."

"She should not have done what she's done, and that why we love her so much," Marianne added.

"She is a real character to us."

Trudy in Japan with Mount Fuji in the distance

"I really feel if we do nothing else in our life, we've done something fantastic," said Marianne.

"Two hapless grandparents with an unlikely vehicle can do it and if we can do it, anyone can do it."

"It's been life-changing," Chris added. "I can't believe we've done it."

BBC News asked Chris and Marianne to reflect on their adventure and compile a list of 10 special memories.

1. Driving the Dempster Highway to the Arctic Ocean

Chris and Marianne could not believe the amount of dust that surrounded them, inside and outside Trudy, as they made their way to the Arctic Ocean

Chris: "We'd always had this idea to drive to the Arctic Ocean. It was a thousand-mile round trip on a dirt road up to Canada's most northerly point. If we broke down, we were told it was a minimum $5,000 to be recovered."

Marianne: "It was a really tough road, but it was great because we went to the end of the earth and we braved, in our swimmers, the water, which was absolutely freezing. It was dire, I had complete brain freeze. It was an epic challenge - we should not have been there."

2. On the beach in Baja, Mexico, with fellow travellers

Chris and Marianne became friends with other couples who had decided that recording camper van life on YouTube was the life for them

Chris: "Baha was that little bit of calmness after going to the Arctic Ocean. We hung out with our YouTube family as we call them and it was such a special moment, hanging out on the beach."

Marianne: "It is one of the most heavenly places ever for us to be parked up with Trudy. We were so lucky to cross paths with our friends there. It was just fabulous and when I'm asked on the top 10 list, it's right up there."

3. Wildlife in South Africa's Kruger National Park

Chris and Marianne were amazed when a leopard strolled by as they were filming in Kruger National Park

Chris: "Whoever thought our faithful camper van Trudy would be driving past elephants? Nature-wise, Kruger National Park in South Africa was absolutely phenomenal and we were so lucky to see what we saw. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Marianne: "Kruger National Park for me, I think my expectations were quite low. A lot of parks we've visited just have big roads that you drive through, but you are blown away by the expanse of the African bush. It's just so beautiful."

4. Driving to the remote village of Ushguli in Georgia

Don't look down - Chris and Marianne managed to get their camper van along a very narrow road above a steep ravine

Chris: "We were in a bar and a woman said: 'You've not seen Georgia until you've seen Ushguli'. It's a village way up in the north, in the mountains, and the roads to Ushguli were the worst and the scariest roads we've ever driven on."

Marianne: "It was hair-raising for Chris filming. I was too busy concentrating on the sheer drop on one side, the waterfall coming down the other side."

5. Driving in India

Marianne spent most of her time driving in India using her horn with huge amounts of traffic at every turn

Chris: "The plan was never to drive across India, but we had to do it without much research. That first morning it was carnage. We opened the blind and I was just like 'where are we?' It was just a sight we didn't expect to see. It was overwhelming."

Marianne: "It was very, very different to anything else we have experienced. The noise was incredible. People horn as a way of communication. The horn is the most important thing, more than brakes or lights. It was a phenomenal challenge, but one I'm really pleased I did."

6. Hitting the headlines after being stopped by police in Malaysia

Chris and Marianne posted a video about being stopped for speeding and it led to a police investigation into the conduct of the officer involved

Marianne: "There's always a risk with a foreign number plate. In Malaysia an officer flagged us down and said I was speeding. He said 'on the spot fine' was quicker and easier. We put the film out and it turned out we were being conned and it went viral."

Chris: "We were getting messages saying: 'You're on the news - Malaysian police are looking for a couple who may be in another country. Police wanted the unblurred footage of the officer.' We arranged to go and meet them and it all got sorted."

7. Meeting a hotel owner 27 years after meeting him on their honeymoon

Chris and Marianne reunited with Mr Wee

Chris: "It was 27 years ago we ended up in Thailand on our honeymoon. We got on really well with Mr Wee where we stayed. We said we have to go and find him as the route was within about an hour of him. His brother was at the hotel and he called him. He walked in and he cried and recognised us straightaway."

Marianne: "It was wonderful, such a moment. We were so blessed to meet them and he said it was wonderful that we'd come back to see him."

8. The mechanics that saved them

Trudy was left in the capable hands of Ricardo in Tijuana, Mexico

Marianne: "I love fabulous mechanics. There is no other way of saying it. Living on the road without any mechanical experience, we have met the most fantastic mechanics. In particular Ricardo and Sean who are skilled mechanics who are car doctors. We would not have been able to do this trip without their support."

Chris: "Sean on Vancouver Island let us live at his garage for four to six weeks. His garage was our home. We were so lucky that people like Sean were there for us when we needed them."

9. Spending 95 days during lockdown in a Turkish car park

Marianne produced a weekly email newsletter during the trip

Chris: "Istanbul was wonderful for the first three days before the borders closed due to Covid. Nobody knew how the pandemic would end up. We just decided mentally this is what we're going to do and we'll just make the best of it."

Marianne: "Having an Istanbul car park as a permanent address was not something I expected in my life, but it was wonderful. Loads of neighbours in a tower block behind who would be waving to us, and throwing bread. It was a really special time in the worst time."

10. Supporting a turtle project on a beach in Turkey

The couple met Seher working on Bogaz Beach at Manavgat in the Antalya region of Turkey

Chris: "We met this woman on the beach and she said she was looking after turtles. She'd quit her job in a law firm and lived in a tent to look after turtles that nest on the beach and the turtles were in trouble. She said she had permission to build a conservation centre, so I made a video, and within a week we'd raised £12,000."

Marianne: "She really touched our hearts. It's the proof that humanity is alive and kicking. She was so desperate to protect the turtles and we need heroes like Seher to pick up the pieces."

Chris and Marianne's thirst for travel took hold in 2018 after the deaths of close friends and after Marianne had donated a kidney to a seriously ill friend

Chris and Marianne will be talking about their experiences at the Motorhome & Caravan Show at Birmingham's NEC on October 19-20.

And they are staging a welcome home dinner dance, raising money for the Turkish turtle project, in Telford at the end of September.

"This has been the best adventure," said Marianne. "But this isn't the end for us at all. It's lit a fire."