
‘This truck is our home!' How Bobby Bolton found love and purpose on a 42,000-mile road trip
She pleaded with him to come home and live with her in Wigan, but Bolton refused. 'It felt like the ultimate defeat.' He compromised on a weekend visit instead. Driving the 200 miles north, Bolton soon ended up in the pub with old school friends. Several pints in, he saw something that would change his life.
'This battered old Land Rover Defender filled with kit pulled up outside the pub and a couple got out. The man had a big shaggy beard and the woman had wild hair and they both had this look of adventure in their eyes,' he says. 'The Land Rover had a bumper sticker on it that read 'Family Expedition', and I suddenly realised what I needed was to get out on the road like them. I wanted to rediscover my purpose, and that boiled down to three questions: working out where I wanted to live, who I wanted to live with and what I wanted to do.'
Three years later, Bolton has travelled through three continents, 53 countries and more than 42,000 miles in an adapted four-wheeler MAN truck. Along the way he has amassed more than 380,000 followers on his Instagram account – and fallen in love again. He and his fiancee, Marie Deleval, are now back in Wigan to plan their wedding and next adventure: a journey through Mongolia and Siberia in a converted eight-wheel-drive military truck. 'I ended up answering all those questions: I want to live in the truck, I want to live with Marie and I want to be an overlander, exploring the world,' Bolton says. 'Throughout this journey I came up with a kind of mantra that sums it all up: 'Don't let who you are today stop you from being who you could be tomorrow.''
That platitude, crafted to be overlaid on a dramatic Instagram image of a sunset, is typical of Bolton's attitude to life: no matter how tough things might be, you can always change. It was an impulse that set him on his journey and it is seat-of-the-pants impulsiveness that has seen him through to the other side. 'We approach everything with a big smile and plucky British attitude,' he says. 'Whether it's policemen, border guards or even terrorists stopping you on the road, you give a big thumbs-up and that's how you talk your way out.'
Speaking from his mum's front room, Bolton has lost the layer of dirt that he often sports on Instagram. He has a dark tan, a trimmed beard and eyes that look more tired than full of adventure. Next to him on the sofa is Deleval, the 30-year-old French woman he met in the second week of his travels and who agreed to travel the world with him on their third date. Her bleached blond hair is tied into a messy bun and she sports the same tan and somewhat glazed look. The couple have been off the road for all of 72 hours and even over video call you can sense their eagerness to get moving again. 'It's amazing to be able to do laundry and have home-cooked food – we both smell good and look cleaner,' Bolton laughs. 'But we will get itchy feet. We have a taste for it now and we're looking forward to the next trip.'
Bolton describes himself as an 'overlander' rather than 'traveller' or 'backpacker' – the distinction being the independent, uncurated nature of the experience. 'Rather than a backpacker who is constrained by a hostel or a traveller who might be going to tourist spots, we go on dirt tracks and back roads, travelling through society,' he says. 'We get an insight into people's lives and might reach places where they've never seen a foreigner before. You have interactions.'
Those 'interactions' form the basis of Bolton's new book, Truck It! In a fast-paced conversational style, full of that 'plucky British attitude', Bolton recounts his journey from relationship and business breakdowns to selling all his possessions to buy his truck, meeting Deleval in France, then driving together with their dogs through eastern Europe, central Asia, Russia and south Asia to end up in Thailand.
Along the way, the couple encounter regular setbacks, from being shaken down by Russian police, to fighting with an Azerbaijani man at a border crossing and being held at gunpoint by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Each time, Bolton faces his problems with relentless optimism and a naivety that will be read as either charming or irritating. He has to research the history of Russian-occupied territories in Georgia on his phone while wondering why the locals seem suspicious at the sight of trucking tourists, for instance; in Afghanistan he fires off a pistol round with a group of young men who turn out to be Islamists, before being questioned by the Taliban.
'People had repeatedly told us that we were taking unnecessary risk by going through Afghanistan. Our conversations had always concluded with 'We'll be all right,'' he writes. And miraculously they are. At times Truck It! reads like Top Gear without the introspection.
Was the reality more messy? 'Nothing will top those lads coming up to us with a pistol when we were parked in Afghanistan, firing off a round into the distance and then adding me on Facebook, which made me realise they're part of a terrorist group,' he says, shaking his head. 'Then, when the Taliban arrived, we thought we might get our heads chopped off.'
Deleval adds that Afghanistan did have other challenges. 'I couldn't do anything; you don't talk to people if you're a woman there,' she says. 'I was completely ignored. We had two separate experiences.'
Money is another issue that is more complex than it might seem on the surface of Bolton's travelogue. He left the UK with 'just £600', he writes, and it was an impromptu decision to start filming his travels on Instagram that financed the rest of the trip. Once his first two videos explaining his plans to truck the world went viral, sponsors offered to pay for his Eurotunnel trip or provide him with free gear and cash to produce branded content. 'I never really had any social media before and it's actually been one of the hardest bits of the trip because it can invade our privacy,' Bolton says. 'Me and Marie met as an organic couple but then it was a shock to realise that she had to be on camera and be part of capturing this journey. I never plan the content, so it's on from the first thing in the morning to the last thing at night, and it can be hard to keep things just for us. Still, without it we wouldn't be able to keep going. It's a necessary evil.'
Bolton's romance with Deleval is one of the more miraculous and charming episodes of the journey. While sitting with his dog, Red, on a hill just outside Saint-Tropez only weeks into his travels, Bolton saw Deleval running with her dog, Rubia, and was captivated. He plucked up the courage to say hello, and later Deleval found his Instagram and messaged asking to meet up. After two more dates, during which she revealed she had a boyfriend who needed dumping, she agreed to join him on his odyssey.
'Often you hear about couples going travelling and it breaks down because it's so intense – but it just worked,' Bolton says. 'Our 4 metre by 4 metre cab was our home and it really felt easy because we like the same adventures. It supercharged the relationship and the hardest thing is actually being back staying with the in-laws because home is in the truck.'
Aside from the couple he saw outside the pub, Bolton describes his parents as his biggest inspirations for the nomadic lifestyle he has now built. His dad was a truck driver and taught him from an early age how to tinker with engines and make repairs, while his maternal grandfather was in the merchant navy and used to regale the grandkids with his travels. 'Both my parents are baby boomers and all they did was work,' he says. 'They just want us to enjoy our lives and see the world. The hardest part was saying goodbye to them at the beginning but they're really proud of what we've done.'
Deleval, meanwhile, says that it was her mother who convinced her to go off with Bolton despite barely knowing him. 'I had backpacked in South America for a year and a half and my parents knew that I loved travelling,' she says. 'I told my mum and she said: 'You have to go.' That was that.'
While Bolton's parents have visited the couple on their journey, his dad even driving the truck for a while, there have been downsides to being away for so long. 'The last time I went to see my nan, dementia had fully taken hold and she didn't recognise me, which was tough,' he says. 'But my grandparents on the other side of the family have gotten an iPad to follow us on Instagram and it's given them a new lease of life. I think it's brought a lot of the family together.'
That iPad will be in frequent use as Bolton and Deleval are planning another trip, this time to the US via Saudi Arabia and Siberia – with a stop in October to tie the knot on the Saint-Tropez hill where they first met. 'I began thinking I would drive to Australia and that's still the finish line, but we have a longer-term plan to reach there now,' Bolton says, smiling. 'We've even talked about starting a family on the road. I just want to inspire people to go after life like we have, whether that means travelling or something else. You don't have to go from stacking shelves to climbing Everest, but you can reinvent yourself.'
Truck It!: The Drive Around the World That Saved My Life, by Bobby Bolton, is published by Macmillan (£20). To support the Guardian, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scottish Sun
4 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Becky Hill shares peek inside Lake Como hen do as she poses in a white bikini and says gig helped pay for trip
Becky and her partner are due to marry later this year crazy what love can do crazy what love can do Becky Hill shares peek inside Lake Como hen do as she poses in a white bikini and says gig helped pay for trip POPSTAR Becky Hill has shared a peek inside her luxury Lake Como hen do as she prepares to tie the knot to the love of her life. The Wish You Well hitmaker revealed she'd earned enough money off one concert to be able to pay for the luxury hen do getaway with her pals after suggesting she had previously been left struggling to plan anything abroad. Advertisement 11 Becky Hill wowed in a bikini as she enjoyed her glam Lake Como hen do Credit: Instagram 11 Becky looked glam in an all-white number for the getaway Credit: Instagram 11 The singer confessed she'd banked enough cash from one gig to splash out on the trip Credit: Instagram 11 She is due to marry her fiance later this year Credit: Getty Becky, 31, looked absolutely gorgeous as she wowed in a white bikini top on the trip ahead of marrying her longtime boyfriend Charlie Gardner later this summer. In one snap, she could be seen posing on a pebbled beach in the tiny bikini top as she donned a 'bride' veil and held up two cocktails in both of her hands. She kept her bottom half covered up as she wrapped up in a towel as she let her hair down for the pre-wedding celebrations. Sharing a slew of jaw-dropping snaps from her seemingly perfect getaway, Becky wrote: "I got a gig through that paid for my hen do in lake como..! Advertisement Read More on Becky Hill what the hill?! Becky Hill launches attack on 'daddy's boy' Jack Whitehall over Brits jibe "Safe to say the girls were much happier as we were going to Snowdonia 😂 "Lucky for love, lucky for friends, lucky for job, lucky for life." In another snap, Becky could be seen posing on a boat as she looked elegant in a classy white outfit. She could be seen fanning herself with a fan which read "better off with you" - a cheeky nod to her hit track Better Off Without You. Advertisement In another snap, the bride-to-be looked incredible as she wowed in another all-white ensemble. She exposed her tanned arms in a strapless top that came complete with a ruched skirt and ankle-high white boots. I went to an all-girls sex party to work out if I was gay - I still don't know but I'm engaged to a man, reveals Becky Hill Her hair and make-up looked flawless as she enjoyed an intimate dinner with friends in Italy before partying on into the night. Becky's fans and celebrity followers were quick to shower the star in compliments with radio star Harriet Rose writing: "Love this hope you had the best time." Advertisement Another of Becky's die-hard fans said: "Looks like you had an amazing time! the next chapter is going to be amazing." Before someone else posted: "Hope you had the best time queen." 11 Becky treated eleven of her friends to the hen do trip Credit: Instagram 11 She rocked a number of different outfits for the celebrations Credit: Instagram Advertisement FUN-FILLED TRIP Earlier this week, The Sun exclusively revealed that Crazy What Love Can Do singer Becky was spotted partying with eleven of her closest friends at the Filario Hotel. Paparazzi caught the star enjoyed a day of activities ahead of her big day. An onlooker said: 'Becky was having an absolute ball. 'She had a lovely group of women with her and they spent the entire time in the water laughing and joking. Advertisement 'On the beach they gave Becky what looked like a memory book which they'd all written messages in. 'Becky started welling up when she was reading the messages and was wiping away tears from her eyes. 'It was clear her mates had put a lot of thought and effort into the book and Becky seemed so touched. 'They weren't the rowdy hens you might expect, they were just having a good time and splashing around in the water. Advertisement 'It was great to see Becky out and having fun like other brides-to-be.' 11 She could be seen donning a bride veil in a slew of snaps Credit: Instagram 11 They appeared to be having a ball on the getaway Credit: Instagram As well as visiting Lake Como, Becky took her hens on a night out to watch her perform at a venue close by last Friday night. Advertisement Her close pal, singer Gareth Gates, was also spotted hanging out with her pals. Becky and Charlie's wedding will take place later this year. DELAYED DAY She was forced to postpone her nuptials by a year after her hectic schedule meant she was too busy to walk down the aisle in 2024. Becky and Charlie announced their engagement in January 2022 after he popped the question in the Maldives. Advertisement On her album ballad Man Of My Dreams, which came out last year, Becky gushed over finding The One in Charlie. Becky said: 'My partner used to be a trance DJ and is now a festival booker. 'He has helped not only with the inspiration for me to write the album but also then bringing the album to life. 'One of the things that attracted me to him was my Spotify playlist. Advertisement 'I had all the big dance bangers from the Noughties and all the tunes he used to play.' 11 Becky has been at the top of the charts for the last 10 years Credit: Instagram 11 She got engaged to her partner in 2022 Credit: Instagram 11 The star was forced to delay her wedding owing to a busy schedule Credit: Getty


Scottish Sun
4 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
A Place In The Sun's Laura Hamilton defies trolls who say she's ‘too old' to wear a bikini as she shares sizzling snaps
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LAURA Hamilton has slammed a cruel troll who told her she was 'too old' to wear a bikini. The A Place In The Sun beauty, 43, got candid about a cruel comment she received on social media recently. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Laura Hamilton has shown off her sensational figure while defying cruel trolls Credit: Instagram 4 The camera panned out to show off the lavish location in which she lounged on a day bed with her daughter Credit: Instagram 4 She was seemingly enjoying time in a place in the sunshine Credit: Instagram Taking to Instagram earlier in the week, Laura revealed how she had been told not to wear a bikini because of her age. Defying the cruel trolls, the television siren has now shown off her figure once again in a tiny bikini while clapping back at the critics. In the snap she shared, which was the cover snap for the video she uploaded, Laura was seen sitting poolside while donning a blue and white bathing suit. Meanwhile, in the video, she could be seen lounging on a day bed with her daughter as they waved while the camera panned out. In the caption of her new post, Laura asked: "Who decides when we're 'too old' for anything?" She then revealed how she was recently trolled and told she should not wear a bikini because she's "too old". Laura explained: "I recently read a comment saying I was too old to wear a bikini… and it honestly made me stop and think for a second. "But then I reminded myself, life's way too short to worry about what other people think." She defiantly said: "Today I'm wearing a swimsuit, not because of the comment I read but because I wanted to and I feel comfortable in it!" Opening up about confidence, the stunning TV star went on: "We all have days when we feel self-conscious, but we deserve to enjoy the sunshine, the beach, the pool, whatever makes us happy, no matter our age and whether we choose to wear a swimsuit or a bikini!! A Place In The Sun's Laura Hamilton stuns in a bikini after revealing she's cruelly trolled by claims she's had a secret boob job "Live your life and feel good in your own skin," she concluded. Fans were quick to comment on her post, with many stunned that she had been told she was "too old" to strip off to a bikini. "Wow people really are sad!!! "You keep going and you look amazing. While you've got it flaunt it," said one. "Absolutely not! Bikinis don't come with age restrictions—just confidence requirements! The only age limit is the age you stop caring what other people think," penned another. A third then said: "Ignore. You look amazing." While a fourth penned: "People that say negative comments are just jealous! Do whatever makes you feel happy." And a fifth said: "Wow, glad you didn't listen, some people should keep their comments to themselves. "We are all different and we should do and wear what makes us happy." Last month, Laura spoke to The Sun at the TRIC Awards. Speaking about her amazing figure, she said: "I was in the gym yesterday and I do lots of weights. I know loads of women in their mid-forties who are always talking about weights massively. "I was always into cardio, but since I ran the London Marathon, I've got more into weights." Laura, who shares son Rocco, 11, and daughter Tahlia, 10, with her ex-husband Alex Goward, often squeezes in workouts before the school run. She said: 'I sometimes get up at 5am to do so. My friends and I joke that we're in the 5am club. I don't do it every day, but most mornings.'


Daily Mirror
5 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Netflix rom-com star joins cast of eye-opening WWII thriller as sinister new trailer drops
A new teaser trailer for upcoming historical thriller Nuremberg has left film fans with chills as they're all saying the same thing about the upcoming World War II drama Film enthusiasts have been left spellbound by the debut trailer for an eagerly awaited World War II drama that promises to be utterly compelling. Boasting a stellar ensemble of British and Hollywood stars, this gripping thriller will delve into one of the most pivotal post-war moments in unprecedented detail. No Time to Die and Oppenheimer actor Rami Malek takes on the role of American psychiatrist Douglas Kelley in the Sky Original production Nuremberg, the specialist charged with evaluating one of Adolf Hitler's most loyal Nazi associates. Prior to the landmark Nuremberg Trials, Kelley was given the responsibility of assessing the psychological state of senior Nazi officials before proceedings could commence. Gladiator legend Russell Crowe transforms into Hermann Göring, the Nazi military commander and Hitler's most devoted aide, reports the Express. The historical drama's synopsis states: "The film unfolds as a gripping cat-and-mouse drama. "Nuremberg features a stellar ensemble cast, including Michael Shannon, Richard E. Grant, and Leo Woodall as translator Howard Triest. "Set in the shadow of the unimaginable crimes committed during the war, Nuremberg explores the human mind at its most chilling and complex." Viewers will undoubtedly be thrilled to witness One Day heartthrob Woodall tackle his most demanding performance to date, appearing dramatically different from his charming romantic comedy persona. With Nuremberg set to hit UK cinemas this November, cinema-goers have been expressing their excitement, with one particular element of the production capturing widespread attention. Russell Crowe's latest role as Hermann Göring has certainly caught the attention of movie buffs, with one YouTube user expressing surprise: "I never thought I will see Russell 'Maximus' Crowe as Hermann Göring. "But here we go. Packed with great actors. I put on my watchlist 4 sure." Another viewer anticipates the release, replying: "What a great cast, and original storyline. Looking forward to it." A third chimes in with praise for the star-studded lineup: "So many excellent actors, it's going to be awesome," and adds, "This is how movies should be made." Get Sky's new TV and film bundle This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more £25 Sky Get Sky Cinema here Product Description Echoing the enthusiasm, another comments on the film's visual appeal: "Cast and cinematography look stunning." However, not everyone on Reddit shared the same excitement, with some critical of the trailer. One user didn't mince words: "I can't think of anything worse that a bombastic movie about the Nuremberg trial featuring Russell Crowe butchering another accent," and sarcastically remarked, "Jesus what the hell was this trailer? Bwaaaaaah." Another Reddit user was unimpressed by the teaser: "This trailer kinda sucks lol I know it's a teaser but is it really going to have this weird a** style with that subject matter?" Yet, even the critics acknowledged the intriguing casting choices: "Very interesting cast though." With opinions divided, are you eager to see Nuremberg when it hits cinemas, or will you be skipping this WWII drama? Nuremberg will be released in UK cinemas on 14th November, 2025.