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Youtube comments of (@michaelformaini7053).

Looking forward to this next episode of Mike's travels with his sister. Great to see the rapid increase in the number of subscribers.
13
Congratulations on nailing this deal Mike. You so deserve it with all the great work you have done and shared with us over the last few years. You have been a great positive force for so many people since the scourge of COVID hit our world, especially to us Aussies who are natural travellers and have been frustrated (even within our own country) by the restrictions on our movements. Now we are gradually coming out of that issue, our next challenge is climate change, so much denied by conservative governments and corporate raiders. I'm sure you will be a great inspiration to your own generation and those behind you through your sharing of the positive side of the world in which we live. Looking forward to many more offerings from you.
9
Wow! SFO has changed a lot since I was last there (when you were in diapers, Mike). Now this is one video which I must tell my professional association about (The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia). You have covered areas of Airport Operations that rarely, if ever, get media attention in the way you have presented them. You also have promoted SFO as a destination in itself, let alone the city and its own attractions.That big bunny could well be the mascot. And the museum - how many hours would it take to view that, take in the comfort animals, a comfort meal and a robot served cappuccino? Who could get bored at a place like this!! You'd need to stay at least one night at the hotel. Looking forward to your next surprise. Cheers from Michael.
6
As Riley put it, you left the best until last. Great location, cute critters, oh, and the welcome hamper, wine, beer and bathrobes! The hospitality at this place was just awesome and reminds me of my stay at Windsor Guest House on West 11th Avenue in your home city. The great interior of the cottage has given me some great ideas for my planned rebuild here (subject to budget). Now I'm looking forward to your next tree house adventure. This one sways? Did that put Riley off? Wonder if the local racoons will put in an appearance. You've had practice now with the alpacas. Cheers from Michael downunder and stay safe.
6
Sunday morning downunder in Melbourne (we've been set free after 8 months) and here you are (a month ago) enjoying a great rail trip with your dad in the wildest part of your country before your second lockdown. Really looking forward to next week with the polar bears. Loved that you shared the train trip with a couple originally from my part of the world (Aussie accent noticed). They must be real adventurers too. And Britney at 4 in the morning!! She really lightened up the trip - what a great advertisement for ViaRail she is! You were blessed to see the northern lights. The southern equivalent turned up in Tasmania earlier this year. Glad that your dad took the opportunity to share this experience with you. I'm sure he was pleased to tick this adventure off the bucket list before it becomes too difficult to travel in adventure style. Now the next prompt from YouTube is to check out Pannier P's clip celebrating Puffing Billy's return to the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne yesterday, Saturday 28th November. (Pannier P is a young railfan friend and has really taken to YouTube - he's half your age, Michael!) Looking forward to the Polar Bears next week. Stay safe!
6
Hi Mike, so sad to hear about the good folk in Lytton as well as the overall death toll from the heatwave. Several fellow Aussies have already echoed my own thoughts so I'll confine myself to wishing you and all your loved ones the best for the remaining summer. Especially hope your parents and older relatives are keeping cool and hydrated. Great that you have changed from your usual tack to highlight the issue of changing climate and stimulating thought on how to adjust to it. As you probably know, a great deal of southeastern Australia suffered wildfire devastation two summers ago and people are still trying to rebuild their lives and cope with Covid too. Stay safe and I look forward to next week's story. Cheers from Michael downunder in Melbourne.
5
Thank you Mike for this interesting 'behind the scenes' tour of the Canadian F1. You sure were looked after by the Alpine F1 Team - that food!!!! - Now it's time to work off those calories. Your event seems to be on a much grander scale than the Aussie Grand Prix in my own city of Melbourne (Albert Park circuit) but I can relate to the atmosphere, especially around the public transport to/from the venue. Albert Park is fortunate to be served by Light Rail and street tram networks connecting with the wider heavy rail Metro network so it's a no-brainer on how to get to the race. For those with sensitive ears and not-so-deep pockets, the race action can be heard from quite a distance away from the track and there is television coverage as well. Nearby pubs and eateries do very well catering for those who don't/can't get into the race venue. Even the animals know something loud is going on. No self respecting dog, cat, possum, swan, magpie or seagull can be found lurking near the track during race time. Thanks for sharing your excitement at being at your local F1 race.🙂🙂🙂
5
Mike, with this video you made me feel half my age (errr, about your current age, I think). I spent a day around Boston Bar and North Bend with my good Canadian friend Kevin way back in 1989, photographing freight trains from both CN and CP. The Anderson Creek Trestle was one of my favourite spots and we managed to get two freights running parallel on opposite sides of the Fraser. We got there by car but back then I rode a motorcycle here in Australia (a Honda 750 4 cylinder touring machine). While I no longer ride (although still have a motorcycle endorsement on my license), I feel the same euphoria as you when on the open road touring my own country. I used to do a lot of motorcading of trains out of Melbourne but not so much now as, unfortunately, there are nuts out there that don't have the same regard for safety (both road and near the railway) as you and me. I'm really glad you made those safety comments about proximity to the rail line in your comments. Quite by coincidence the previous YouTube Clip I watched to this was Comeng998's coverage of a steam train trip from Melbourne to Warrnambool and return Saturday last (29th October). The weather was atrocious most of the day but Adrian (Comeng's real first name) captured the atmosphere really well. I recommend you view it sometime soon if you can spare the time. Simply type in YouTube Comeng998 and select the video from the list. Goes for about 34-35mins. Looking forward to YOUR next week's offering. Cheers from Michael in Melbourne.🙂
5
Mike, you've reached a whole new high by plugging for Tru Earth on this wrap up of your time in Stanley Park. You are a true marketing ambassador for Canadian Industry as well as promoting your homeland and other places with your travel adventures.This video is of special interest to me as a transport and logistics professional in that you show the supply chain of the laundry product from go to whoa. I will be letting the CEO of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia know about this video as it demonstrates a great initiative by small business of a great product, especially for travellers. I'm glad you enjoyed your month in one of Vancouver's greatest attractions. Now it's back to the Condo until you find some other form of escape.....not too hard for you, I guess. Looking foward to next week's offering. Cheers from Michael in beautiful locked down Melbourne.
5
You sure know how to pick 'em Mike. You were blessed to have a cool travelling companion all the way to Rutland and a great place to stay on arrival. Wow! That marble house is truly a destination in its own right - and the breakfast!!! I don't think you would need anything else for the day after wolfing through what was in front of you, apart from keeping up the fluids of course. We have some real stunning bed and breakfast places downunder as well, as some of my Canadian and New Zealand friends can verify. Looking forward to your next surprise! Cheers from your namesake in Melbourne.
5
Great coverage of a beautiful part of your homeland Michael. When you get to come downunder, pencil in Cradle Mountain Wilderness Resort in Tasmania as a must do destination. Cheers from Melbourne.
4
I rode the Cable Cars in San Francisco way back in 1989 and visited the Museum and Cable Powerhouse as well. Haven't been to New Orleans but you captured the atmosphere very well. Now, as Jordy mentioned in comments below, ya gotta come downunder to ride Melbourne's tram network. Interesting challenge to cover the whole system in a day (I haven't tried that yet), but our historic W Class trams run a circuit around downtown during daylight hours and that ride is free. You need a Myki card to ride the system outside of downtown (I kid you not - our transit smart card at present is called Myki !!). Cheers from Michael.😀
4
This week's offering is a great way of welcoming a first time visitor to Vancouver. The fact that you did it on a wet day and addressed the baser instincts of a new arrival is the thing that hit me most. As you know from my previous posts, I've been there several times now and this video really hit the spot with me. Everyone arriving at a new city for the first time needs something like this, Michael. I think that you have hit on a great idea for worldwide tourism here. The major airlines, travel agencies and regional tourist authorities could use videos like this as a "welcome to" introduction to specific places for budget travellers. Combined with selective inserts from Google Maps (with permission, of course), this would be a great research tool for prospective travellers. Such a pity about the Hotel Patricia, though, and its location. Every city has its down and out areas where human misfortunes are rawly displayed. You handled this side of things with great sensitivity and, no doubt, some editing of film. At first glance, the interior of the lobby and the room to which you were assigned was indicative of an effort to clean the joint up. It instantly reminded me of several places (minus the bed bugs) I have stayed at on my travels, as I look at hotel accommodation purely as a base for sleep and freshening up. Obviously the housekeeping there needs a swift kick up the derriere. I hope your experience is seen by someone in the local tourist authority and the health authority so that the issue can be addressed. While it is located in a dodgy part of town and some of the rooms are probably let on a, shall we say, hourly basis for nefarious activities, the bare minimum of health regulations requiring a change of bedding following the departure of every guest should be enforced. The eateries you chose showed what bargains are available if one cares to look carefully and be a little adventurous. My first meal after arrival in Vancouver in the late afternoon of the Saturday of Labor Day weekend in 2018 was at Fatburgers on Broadway, just down from City Hall and close to where I was staying on West 11th. It was there and open on a Holiday weekend and patronised by lots of folk looking for an easy option that didn't involve a trip downtown. The following night I had a great salmon steak and salad meal at the Waterfront ex-Canadian Pacific Terminal that you promote. Your selection of Queen Elizabeth Park, Lonsdale Quay and Chinatown/Gastown as places to see were spot on. Had the weather been nicer, a circuit of Stanley Park on a bicycle would have been a nice inclusion but I understand the limitations you faced with the weather, COVID restrictions and the possible need to keep the video within a 15 minute attention span. Great work and please keep the entertainment coming! Best wishes from Michael in Melbourne.
4
Well Mike it's great to see you travelling again away from your usual haunts around Vancouver and British Columbia. I long for the day to get outa Melbourne again. In 1995 I had the pleasure of viewing Niagara Falls AND Toronto's CN Tower and rail terminal from 30000 feet on a beautiful fall day during a flight from Denver to Boston. Thanks for sharing your ground level experience and I'm looking forward to your ongoing travels across your beautiful country by ViaRail. As an aside, you probably have heard that the earth moved for me and a fairly large area of southeastern Australia on Wednesday last. Only my second shaky earth experience of any significance and, apart from adrenaline rush, no harm done and, fortunately, no deaths or injuries reported. The wall of a hamburger joint came down in one of Melbourne's inner suburbs but no one was close by due to our lockdown. Cheers from Michael.
4
Well I came in late to the livestream so had to press the replay button, but, hey Mike, you have it much better than we poor folk down in locked-down Melbourne. We were supposed to be set free next weekend, but it looks like an extension is likely. Anyway, whatever happens, it will be great to be able to go for a road trip again, even if some places are closed or there are irksome procedures to go through. You were blessed to find that natural hot spring near the Fairmont (better value than the resort pool) and the family mini-golf was heart warming to watch. The hoops you had to go through to access the hotel pool, gym and restaurant could be tiresome for some people but at least you had access. The world has changed so much and a lot of people have lost their jobs and their sanity. Yes, it is worth checking out the small towns once the opportunity comes. Looking forward to Cranbrook next week as I was there two years ago staying with my friend Kevin in his home on 6th Street South and saw the rail museum adjacent to the resort you stayed at. I bet the old Canadian Sleeper Car will be a great reveal. Thanks again for sharing so much of your lovely homeland and congratulations on the ever expanding subscriber list. I'm sure your channel has put a great deal of hope for a positive future for so many people that follow you and, possibly, has saved a few lives as well. Cheers from Michael.
4
Hey Michael, you've really got me thinking about a selection of Melbourne's Public Art that you can see when you get downunder. There's quite a few 'out there' things to see here, some within metres of each other, some not so well known, others quite quaint. Off the top of my head, there's the Yellow Peril, the Sinking Tram, Hosier Lane, Federation Square, The Federation Bells, The Vault Sculpture.......Oh Dear!...I'd better stop there to allow fellow Melburnian James Walker to list his! Great expose of Vancouver's weirdest public art and interesting social comments by your fellow contributors. Keep up the good work and stay safe. Oh, and I have a not so well known place for you to experience the Aussie Bush and Fauna for free.
4
If anyone dares to come onto my property and tell me I must wear a mask on that property when I am alone on it, they will incur my wrath and an almighty curse.
4
G'day Mike from downunder. This clip has filled another gap in the places in Vancouver I haven't got to....well, not below about 10000ft anyway. Indian Arm and Deep Cove are away from the usual visitor destinations unless one knows somebody who has a boat. What a great way to reveal this beautiful part of the upper Burrard Inlet to us. And you got to qualify basic training to go out for the fireworks night. This was a great way to promote the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue organisation and the great work they do in such settings as a busy harbour during summer. Thanks so much for sharing this one with us. I'm sure our own water police in Melbourne and Sydney would appreciate seeing this.😀
3
That was a great way to have a strategy planning retreat, Mike. It's amazing what people don't realise is in their own backyard. During COVID lockdowns, I found some amazing things, even within my immediate neighbourhood, I didn't know existed during my confined exercise walks. You certainly opened up the experiences of Vancouver Island with Matt and Warwick. Warwick HAS come halfway around the world by all accounts. I thought I detected an Aussie accent there. Great to know you have a down to earth pair of friends to back up your YouTube channel. Keep em' comin'! Cheers from Michael downunder in Melbourne.
3
Great to see the appreciation your generation have for the wilderness and preserving what The Creator has given us for our enjoyment. Sure there is a need for harvesting timber to maintain our lifestyle and the logging companies do their bit in regrowth (although too dense in some parts and too sparse in others - need the hydrologist experts to assess groundwater flow so you don't end up with dry creek beds due to excessive water draw from new growth) ; but I agree that accessible areas of old growth need preservation so we can enjoy what Our Creator has gifted us. By the way, hope the bathroom seat has been properly planed. You don't want to get splinters in your butt! Hope you are enjoying the new spring season and lockdowns are a thing of the past. Cheers from Michael downunder.
3
Just catching up with a backlog of YouTube only to discover you were here back in October. You certainly packed a lot into the three so far posted and I'm looking forward to your rail trip from Cairns down to Brisbane and any other clips yet to be posted. I'm curious to see if you finally got down to my part of the world and found Downie Street in Melbourne. The Australian experiences you have shared so far are so indicative of the many hidden treasures many of my fellow Australians don't even know about. I'm not a golfer but the world's longest golf course video opened my eyes to a way of exploring the Nullarbor that many would be inspired to experience. And you have promoted a great relaxing experience of a sample of the outback and outback twitching with the Murray Trail Tour that I might be tempted to do myself as Renmark is within a day's drive from Melbourne. Wow! The day you experienced the Cassowary, the Daintree and the Barrier Reef I was on a day trip by rail from Melbourne to Maryborough and return, checking out updates to rail infrastructure and having a meal at the Station Cafe. I visited the Daintree once last century and am reminded of what a magical place it is. I certainly picked a great day to catch up on my backlog.......it's 26th January - Australia Day (for most of us anyway, but I won't go into that debate). Hope you enjoyed your visit and please come again if you can.🙂🙂🙂
3
@DownieLive We have a store in Bayswater (Eastern Suburb of Melbourne) that does 57 varieties of Pie. Must see if they're still operating.
3
Yeah, Mike, I'm a bit slow replying to this one, but, hey! You hit the jackpot with this experience. Back last century (1984 to be precise), I travelled on the parallel road through this area enroute to Mount Egmont and was lucky enough to photograph a Stratford bound freight train. You and Seb got the real Kiwi experience with this trip. Great country, genuine people along the way and friendly animals too! This one is on my bucket list for my next trip to New Zealand. Cheers from your Melbourne correspondent.😀😉😊
3
Sunday night in Melbourne and I've just watched this week's offering from you, Mike. Yes, no matter where one lives, there is always something new to do and explore. I love your promotion of the pantavus jacket. I have a similar blue waterproof jacket but it's a poor man's version of pantavus without the hood and reflective stripes. You hit the spot nicely with the enjoinder to go out when you can and explore what is around you. You have given so much joy to people over the last 18 months since the scourge of COVID put our world into panic and depression, so PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK. Great that you have Matt on board to assist with editing, He's a cool dude and it's great you are friends as well as having a professional relationship. Loved the adrenalin rush of those tree-top suspension bridges. Had a chuckle at the icecream sandwiches. Those are giant sized choc wedges you both had. Great to see you are enjoying your summer. Here in Melbourne it's mid winter and I'm having a love affair with my gas space heater. We are relatively free to travel within our own State of Victoria at the moment and enjoy some measure of normal life after a five week lockdown but now it's Sydney's turn to suffer. Interstate travel and our travel bubble with our Kiwi mates across the ditch (Tasman Sea) has been suspended for now (Just in time to stuff up the plans of many families trying to get away for the mid year school holidays). Oh well, at least I have managed to avoid the virus so far by following the rules. I'm content to do just what you suggest - explore locally and discover what's new! Until next week's offering; Cheers, enjoy the summer and stay safe.
3
Well Mike, you've done it again with a great surprise for us viewers. Congratulations to Jess on her Masters Degree and it was really nice to see you enjoying a fun adventure together once more. This would have to be one of the best day trips Vancouver based that a wildlife lover could take; and it wasn't just Orcas! Those seals seem to not be too worried about being on the Orca menu and I had to really laugh out loud when I saw all those sea lions basking on the log float. Now it would be really interesting to see how the lumberjacks deal with these critters when it comes to harvesting the logs for processing at the sawmill. Oh, and I have a new title for this clip; "Free Willy 4". Now, I wait with baited breath to see what you come up with next weekend. Cheers from Melbourne.
3
Absolutely loved this clip, Mike. West Coast Railway Heritage Park have done a fantastic job and is a must see for anyone visiting Squamish. Was great to see the Royal Hudson locomotive 2860 which I rode behind between North Vancouver and Squamish back in 1989 on my first visit to your part of the world. It was great to see you with your sister and mother enjoying family time. I notice from your listings that you are a keen motorcyclist as well as a railfan and general traveller enjoying great experiences. I rode for 22 years myself when I was younger (last bike was a Honda 750 road tourer). Best wishes from downunder.
3
Wow, Mike, viewing this clip reminded so much of my earlier life when I used to ride almost every Sunday with the Motorcycle Touring Club of Victoria back in the 70s and 80s (my 20s and 30s years). Of course, that meant going to church on Saturday evenings to pray for good weather and a safe ride. My last ride was in December 1994 when some idiot came around a corner on my side of the road and I had to take evasive action. Love your comments re unusual attractions, the scenery of the upper Fraser Canyon, Lillooett and Highway 99 overlooking Howe Sound. The moon through the bridge shot convinced me you are blessed. When I was over there in '95, my Vancouver Host and I had a day railfanning the Fraser Canyon as far as Lytton. The standing joke on this is that we were 'beyond Hope'. Yes, well, we were of course. Anyway enough from me for this week. Cheers from Michael locked down but well downunder in Melbourne.
3
I was wondering how long it would take you to discover Train Mountain. I've seen a few video clips of it before, but nothing like the coverage you have given it. The drone shots of the major features and the way out there main line views really highlight what a great miniature railway this is. We have a few such venues around Melbourne, but nothing like the size of Train Mountain. The best known of these is the Diamond Valley Railway in Eltham Lower Park which runs most Sundays and Public Holidays, also Wednesdays during school holiday periods. While nothing like the length of Train Mountain, a circuit of DVR's track takes something like 12-13 minutes (covering around 2 miles). There are several YouTube videos of this Railway worth viewing. Cheers from Michael.🙂🙂🙂
3
Great insight into the practical work the armed services perform in peacetime and the interaction with civil emergency services. You have done a great job over the two episodes in showing the importance of defense capability and interaction with civic services in remote areas. I've not been to Prince Rupert or the remote villages of North B.C. (closest I've been is Prince George) so your coverage of the naval visit and training exercises has filled a travel gap for me. The early shots showing the intermodal port/rail facility was an eye opener for me. I have seen photos and google maps views of the area before, but seeing it from the naval vessel puts the size of it into perspective. Keep up the good work! Cheers from down under.🙂🙂🙂
3
Wow, Michael. You've outdone Sir David Attenborough on this one. And with a wedding proposal too! You are truly blessed to have encountered two separate bear families with cubs. Just hope you don't have to endure Covid Jail for your entire winter like the bears in Churchill during spring/summer. We are now free downunder (although there was a scare overnight with two German tourists not being adequately checked/quaranteened - hoping they test negative). It's going to be a very strange Christmas for a lot of folks this year - at least we will have some normality. Stay safe and looking forward to next week's episode.
3
Another surprise post Christmas for me as I approach my 70th birthday. Thanks for the coverage and the fond memories they bring for me, Mike. I rode both 'The Canadian' and ' Super-Continental' back in August 1989 so had the privilege of riding both legs now covered by 'The Rocky Mountaineer'. Also managed to ride North Vancouver to Prince George on 'The Cariboo Dayliner' RDC train in September 1995. So you see, I am familiar with your part of the world. The train's interior has changed a bit since those days, but the scenery is everlasting. Looking forward to more of your adventures in Northern Europe (viewed your Sleeper Train to the Arctic Circle - Finland earlier today.) Cheers from your friend in Melbourne downunder.🙂
3
Mike, you've really nailed it this time! It's 1pm Friday 1st September in Melbourne and you have 4.1K likes and 274 comments ahead of me on this fantastic coverage of the former BC Rail line from North Vancouver to Prince George aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. What a blast doing this magic rail corridor with 3 mates along. Now back last century, I rode the Royal Hudson from North Vancouver to Squamish (1989) and later the full journey from North Vancouver to Prince George on the 'Cariboo Dayliner' Rail Diesel Car (1995). You and your friends have done it in 5 star luxury and the scenery is priceless, isn't it! The delay you incurred appears to have been beside Lac La Hache (how appropriate, having your rail trip axed temporarily there). At least you got to Williams Lake and missed only the Williams Lake to Quesnel section on rail (Did you know one of the sidings in that section is named "Australian"?). I smiled in the earlier section where you went beside Birkengates, Anderson and Seton Lakes with the quote "It doesn't get better than this". I made a similar comment to my travelling companion in the forested section north of Quesnel (near those big bridges) as the sun was setting and we were standing at the open top stable type door of the Rail Diesel Car listening to the deep whistle scaring a moose off the track. Great to see you back on the rails, Mike. Now as I type this, one of your fellow countrymen is on his way downunder to visit my part of the world. He is a retired ViaRail and West Coast Rail Conductor and i'll be sure to remind him of your channel when he gets here. Also being Vancouver based, I'm sure he will be keen to meet up with you when he gets back there. Don't know where you are going next, but looking forward to being there with you on this wonderful thing called YouTube. Cheers from Michael.🙂🙂🙂
3
Well that was a blast! I could see this Uber flight app could have a great following downunder if us Aussies could get our act together. Had a chuckle at your luggage scooter. What a great idea! I see you have taken on a new hairstyle (mullet) without losing too much on top. Suits you well. The views to the mountains from the Million Air Terminal at YVR really complement this location. The terminal was "not too shabby" either - so much more relaxing than the usual airport zoo most travellers endure. Great to see Riley again too. I see the Easter Bunny had a spot in the Terminal too. Hope your reunion with Riley and his wife made for a great break away from the big smoke. Looking forward to your next adventure. Cheers from Michael in Melbourne.🙂🙂🙂
3
Wow, Mike! You never cease to amaze me with your travel content. Makes me wish I was half my current age and a bit fitter for long distance travel (So glad I did my UK/Canada trip back in 2018 - not sure if my energy levels will allow me more 7 week marathons). You posted this a little late for Christmas just gone but just in time for my upcoming 70th birthday. I've seen other videos on train journeys in Finland, Norway and Sweden but you have really excited me about this series with this first episode. Looking forward to the rest of the series. Hoping also you can come downunder before I become unable to travel. You have a lot of friends here who will be thrilled to show you around. Cheers from Michael.🙂
2
@DownieLive Good to hear. Now I'll post something for you on your email address assuming it's still the icloud one. Cheers.
2
Well there you go! Another fascinating behind the scenes demonstration of something we take for granted on the road while travelling. Now let's see you get into a Rail Dispatcher's office for one of the main line operators. That could be a challenge for you.
2
Mike, you've aced with this coverage of the Strasburg Railroad! Just prior to this, I was viewing Pannier P Productions coverage of Saturday's local Steamrail Victoria tour to Warragul with their restored A2 Class Steam Loco and veteran diesel A66 (I was there) and YouTube linked me directly to this episode. Next in line is Dylan's Travel Report on an absolute bargain train ride in the UK from London to Birmingham with LNWR/West Midland trains. My three favourite YouTube channels all linked together.....WOW! You will no doubt have a bigger following on your channel after this great linkage. I have promoted your channel to quite a few of my railfan friends here in Melbourne. I never got to Strasburg on my travels but you have shown me what I'm missing. Last week's episode on Brightline in Florida was great too. Looking forward to future episodes of your USA travels by train. Hope you get to come downunder sometime soon and see what we have to offer. Cheers!😃😃😃
2
Mike, what can I say? So many superlatives in this episode I could write a 1500 word essay and it would probably not be enough. I do hope the Civic Authorities in Winnipeg award you the freedom of the city as a result of this episode. The Province should also award you for this episode. Manitoba is not on the bucket list for most visitors to Canada but you and Will have certainly raised the bar. Great coverage of The Canadian as the lead up to Winnipeg, Gimli and other places you visited. The Canadian journey had me pause the video and reach for my Scenic Rail Guide to Central and Atlantic Canada, published in 1983 by Bill Coo, a ViaRail Conductor of the time. Pages 138 to 147 cover the journey across Ontario to Manitoba and a photo of Sioux Lookout station appears on page 146. I note that you resisted the urge to point out the fact that Winnipeg has one of the largest rail complexes in the world. but I suppose your USA cousins might get snooty over that, claiming that Union Pacific's Bailey Yard in Omaha is bigger. Enough of that! I certainly hope TruEarth, Canadian Television and all Provinces will fund you and Will for a chance to do a repeat series travelling in the opposite direction, visiting places that you haven't covered in this series. It would be great if TruEarth funded your trip downunder to Australia and New Zealand to meet me and many other of your YouTube fans and to be shown around our part of the world. Enough from me this week. Looking forward to your next installment. Cheers from Michael.
2
It's just after 12 45pm Sunday Aust.East.Daylight Saving Time and I'm just catching up with both Quad Tandem videos. Wow! This International Challenge is so great to raise funds for mental health. We all need to step back from our daily routine from time to time to take in the air and chill out. Touring through Southern British Columbia on YouTube really does it for me and brings back fond memories of a road trip with my Canadian buddy Kevin in September 1995 (Yes, 28 years ago). I recognise several scenes in and around Kelowna and approaching Revelstoke. Poor Sam taking a tumble on the gravel reminds me of several I took as a young lad many years ago, although when my bike's frame gave way I saved myself from falling, but part of me was very sore for several days afterwards. Had to chuckle when I saw the cows joining in (lucky it wasn't mumma bear and her cubs crossing the road). Thanks for sharing a wonderful experience and looking forward to more. 🙂🙂🙂
2
Mike, you aced it over Dylan's Travel Report on the same train. Better weather, great food, unusual stop-overs and a daylight trip over the Sierras. Pity you didn't have more time at Fraser/Winter Park, but I guess you and Will and several others might have had to be poured back onto the train after that distillery. Looking forward to next week's surprise. Cheers from Mike downunder.
2
That has to be the best way to travel the Inside Passage. Forget the upmarket cruise ships! This is down to earth relaxation with excellent food (not the skimpy plate creations of a five star restaurant where one pays megabucks for titbits), great scenery, great social interaction and interesting stopovers enroute. Thanks Mike for this latest offering. Now let's see the moose on the loose next week.😊😉😊
2
G'day Mike from your namesake downunder in now free Melbourne. Absolutely love this first episode of your big trip across your homeland. Arrived on my laptop today (Sun.13th Feb.) just in time for my birthday on Wednesday next. Probably the best birthday present you could give me, given the physical distance apart. I simply fell off my seat with mirth when I saw you get a postcard from Dildo off to your mum. Obviously your folks have a great sense of humour. I had no idea there was a place of that name anywhere in the world, let alone in a place like Newfoundland. I do hope you weren't under the weather after all that wine tasting, although I'm sure the level of alcohol must have been low or you would have had to walk (stagger) back to your accommodation rather than drive. TV support crews do come in handy at times like this, eh! Now here's something for a laugh for you. Angus (from the Tramway/Trolley Bus Museum) sent me a Christmas Card that duly arrived in my mailbox last Tuesday (8th Feb.) Boy, was that carrier pigeon tired (and stressed from having to avoid the skies around Tonga on the way). THE MAIL MUST GET THROUGH. Enough from me this week. Looking forward to viewing the remaining 9 episodes over the next couple of months as part of my Sunday rituals. Cheers from Michael.
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I'm a day late with my comment this week, but good to see you are keeping fit and well and finding ways to share with us some more of your home city given the lockdown conditions you currently experience. Melbourne is out of it's circuit breaker 5 day lockdown but couldn't have come at a worse time for our florist industry (Valentines Day rose trade trashed) and tied me down on my birthday, of all days. Now I recall almost losing the heels of one of my Blundstones while trekking around Stanley Park on the Sunday afternoon of Labor Day Weekend 2018. I was surprised that the only wildlife I encountered were Canada Geese and one solitary black squirrel. I didn't know about the big storm that wrecked parts of the park that you mention in the video. That must have really cleared a lot of the critters out. Sorry to hear that coyotes are going rogue there at the moment - the La Nina weather that your continent is experiencing must be making it hard for them to find food naturally. Now that I'm free to travel outside Melbourne again, I've been using my free public transport pass to do regional day return train trips for country lunches. Hoping your turn to escape (beyond Hope) comes soon. In the meantime, keep up your creativity in showing us more of what Vancouver has to offer beyond the usual tourist haunts. For example, what neighbourhoods have been invaded by friendly raccoons? I recall a mob of them on West 22nd Street when staying with a friend there in October 2018. I'm sure you will come up with some surprises. Cheers from Michael.
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Great coverage of the Expo Line and what is under it, Mike. Many familiar locations came up in this clip and it was great to see Jess join you part of the way. During my first visit to Vancouver many years ago, I stayed in Downtown but commuted along the Expo line to hook up with a friend who lived in a condo on Carnarvon in New Westminster near the Columbia station, later saving on accommodation by being invited to stay there. Bucky the beaver hospitality! Got to visit the Edmonds Maintenance and Train Control Centre while I was there too. In recent years, we in Melbourne have acquired our own version of Skyrail by removing all the level crossings (grade crossings between rail and road) from Caulfield to Dandenong, raising the tracks in the air as appropriate and creating a linear park underneath, including a shared cycling/pedestrian path that links up with several other shared paths. Look forward to showing you when you get downunder (once our Government opens the borders, that is). Hopefully, I'll still be fit enough to cycle with you then. Add that to the list of things to do in Melbourne that I suggested many months ago. Looking forward to see what surprises you have for us in coming weeks.
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Hey, Mike. Great to see you having a great time on your bike and sharing this amazing trip with us. Makes up for not being able to travel far this weekend. Yes, taking the time to check out the sights and enjoy a snack along the way is truly the way to relax and enjoy the beautiful day you had on this occasion. It was great to see the current status of all the viewpoints you showed and I particularly enjoyed your sequence of walking through the forest to the waterfall. Back when you were just a mischievous little tacker and I was on my first visit to Canada, my good friend Kevin took me on a railfanning trip along the old Highway 99 to Pemberton and the back road as far as Birken. Porteau Cove was THE spot to photograph the Royal Hudson 2860 beside Howe Sound on its afternoon return to North Vancouver (Britannia Beach was also a great spot). At the time I was still an active motorcyclist at home (Honda 750/4 - 1977 model) and commented to Kevin that I could really see myself fanging around the corners on this road. I had to chuckle when you showed us the highway patrol having a friendly chat to some poor sap he pulled over. Oh, by the way, I did get to go on a day return excursion from North Vancouver to Squamish behind the Royal Hudson on that visit. It's a shame that it's no longer active, but at least, it's preserved at the Rail Museum in Squamish. Also, on my second visit in 1995, I arranged to travel all the way on BC Rail to Prince George on the Cariboo Dayliner Rail Diesel Car train. Hope I haven't made you too jealous. Thanks again for a great video and I'm sure all your other Melbourne followers are enjoying this one too. Looking forward to your feedback to this comment and next week's video. Stay safe and well. Cheers from Michael.
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What a great relaxing way to see the Mid West and South West of the USA. And great to see you shouted Dad along for the ride. $2000 well spent! Oh! I forgot to mention it's Fathers' Day downunder here in Aus. My father is long gone to his eternal rest and I'm a single senior guy myself, but I still have great interaction with the millenium generation so I ain't missin' out altogether. I experienced traditional Amtrak dining and scenic lounge travel back when you were in diapers, laddie. Oh, I was close to your present age then. I've still got seven years to catch up with your fun loving dad though. Hope I'm just as full of life then. Looking forward to seeing you and your mum on next week's episode. Now to see how that Trek Trendy guy likes the "Indian Pacific" train across my homeland. (82 hrs on Indian Pacific Sleeper Train Across Australia is the title of his clip--here goes! See ya next week!😀😀😀
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What a great Christmas Present for this old codger! I've long had Switzerland on my bucket list but, given my circumstances, I doubt if I will achieve this one. Thanks so much for sharing the joy you experienced with your sister Jess, the incredible scenery and excellent presentation. Looking forward to seeing where you go next.....could it be to visit me and my friends here in Melbourne? Cheers from me and have a happy and safe Christmas.🙂😉🙂
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Crikey! It's only been up for 8 hours as I type this and 353 comments already from the 35K views! Well, the journey from Stockholm to Narvik is famous for the southbound Fresh Fish container train, Narvik is one end of an iron ore railway, but you and Jess have shown us so much more. Surfing in the arctic, the Lofoten Islands and hiking adventure wayside halts. A truly wonderful revelation of what else is around in this part of the world. Thanks for sharing it with us.
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Well Mike, you've excelled again with this clip on M.V. Songhee at Port Alberni. Chuckled at your comment on the loo with a view. Had a hearty laugh at your Blinkist book of choice as it's tax time downunder. The whole ambience of the location and the hospitality is great. I must put it on the bucket list for my next visit to Canada. You certainly didn't starve - breakfast I will have to imitate down here. Now how many takes did it take for your drone shot of Riley staggering out on deck with his coffee? Your riding sequence to the Alpaca Farm makes me wish things weren't as bad down here as they are. You have probably heard that Melbourne and the region immediately north is in lockdown again as the second wave of COVID has landed. I'm safe, my friends are safe, so here's hoping that on August 20 we are set free again. Stay safe yourself. Oh, and hi to Dylan in the UK whose travel clips on rail I also follow. Looking forward to next week's posting with the Alpacas. Cheers for now from Michael downunder.
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@DownieLive Just got your reply while watching Dylan's video on the Caledonian Sleeper. Great train and staff. Pity about the breakfast standard and the cold shower he had. Glad I took the day trains during my visit there. Had a week in his home town of Inverness (my Hub for day trips). Stay well and I'm looking forward to the alpaca episode next week.
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Well Michael, you have reached a new level of presentation and national trust with this insight into Navy training in one of the most beautiful parts of the B.C. coastline. It's pleasing to view how much trust Canada has placed upon one of its own. Congratulations!😀😀😀
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Great to see you, Nicole and Rachelle enjoying 'the slow life' of the British Canal System. Haven't had a lot of time lately to view YouTube but I'm piggin' out now. A complete contrast to the rail and adventure videos of the past but a wonderful choice. On this episode, I see you come close to the Llangollen Heritage Railway and there's a brief glimpse of a Class 158 at the Chirk Aqueduct and railway viaduct but you stayed with the Canal series script. Now if I get a chance to go back to the UK, I will have to try out at least one longboat canal trip. The nearest I got to a longboat on my travels four years ago was walking along part of the Grand Union Canal in London between Paddington and Warwick Avenue after a round trip by train to Oxford. Looking forward to your next episode next weekend. Oh, and if I don't get to see it due to the Season activities, hope you, your family and friends have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hoping 2023 allows for a better world than what we have experienced over the last three years. Cheers from your friend in Melbourne.😀
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When I didn't get my weekly fix last week, I checked the calendar and realised it was your Labor Day long weekend so this morning (Sunday 12th Sept. here in Melbourne) I switched on and WOW! As you say how Canadian is this! A really great insight into a vital part of the lumber supply chain and what great personalities you were with to show what goes on with towing logs. Tyrell does a really great job, loves how he does it and, man, can he do a great Steak lunch. Not sure if you've twigged to this, but there are interesting parallels of danger between log towing and managing a freight train. Oh, and being a shunter in the rail yards assembling and breaking down long trains. So how about contacting CP or CN Rail to see if you can do a video or two on board a freight up the Fraser Canyon or in the Mountain Districts and a shift in one of the yards (say Coquitlam). Thanks for this great insight into the lumber industry and stay safe and well.
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Fantastic review of the great things to see and experience around Vancouver AWAY FROM THE TOURIST TRAPS (and getting to know the locals).The West 10th/Columbia neighbourhood is really great as I have stayed there (Sept 2018). I have quite a few NOT YOUR AVERAGE places to show you when you come downunder to Melbourne. Looking forward to Part 2. Stay safe. Cheers from Michael
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@jameswalker68 Just a few I have in mind;- Rathdowne Street Heritage Shops and Curtain Square Park in Carlton North, The Fairfield Boathouse, Altona and Seaholme Beaches, Mt.Cooper Lookout at Bundoora Park. All reachable by public transport. For a scenic picnic, try Yan Yean Reservoir reserve (need wheels for this one). Another I like to share with overseas tourists looking for a few hours to kill is the train ride to Hurstbridge, lunch at the old post office cafe and walk around Ferguson's Paddock. Yes, I'm keeping well and have great neighbourhood walks in my own locality.
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Glad you picked the most scenic and remote VIA Rail Journey "The Skeena". I did part of it in the opposite direction the last few miles from Yellowhead Pass to Jasper on the "Super Continental" back in 1989 and revisited Jasper with my Cranbrook friend in 1995. On that later visit we travelled by road south to Kamloops (the bit I missed in '89 as it was done overnight on the train). I haven't yet been to Prince Rupert, but was fortunate to go from North Vancouver to Prince George on BC Rail's "Caribou Dayliner" which had 1950's Budd Rail Diesel Cars. North of Squamish, that train served remote settlements just like the two guys who got on your train at McBride. Looking forward to Part 2 of this tale next week, although a little sad part of your second day appears to have been flushed down the loo by the air brake episode. Kinda surprised this appears to have been more dramatic than it should have been but I can't really comment until you reveal the full story next week. Looking forward also to good news from our Victorian Premier later this morning about lifting of most COVID restrictions here (9 days of zero new cases and no deaths). Will update you later. Cheers from Michael in sunny Melbourne downunder.
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@DownieLive Great to hear. In my excitement to list things to see, I forgot that the Yellow Peril and the Vault sculpture are one and the same thing. It's nomadic, having been relocated at least twice since conception.
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Hi Mike, just the tonic I needed to lift my spirits on a cold, windy Melbourne Sunday in lockdown! Great to see you and Riley again enjoying a Canadian summer on your bikes(even if it is a little too hot). Congratulations to Riley on the arrival of his daughter and relocating to Salmon Arm. In 1995, I stayed overnight in Salmon Arm myself with Kevin (my mate from Cranbrook) and James (a fellow Aussie traveller). So much in this short presentation that really blew me away. The freedom of the highway that only a motorcyclist can really appreciate, the summer breeze that you would have experienced, the bear, the moose, the roadhouse and the burgers you enjoyed, the river and lake and the ferry. Also that poignant moment of you and Riley on the balcony at his new digs, seeing Riley with his daughter and partner. I was so sad to hear about Lytton being destroyed by wildfire. It was great that you shot this video before that happened. We have had our own fire tragedies (Marysville 2009, Cobargo, Mogo, Mallacoota and Sarsfield 2019) so I understand fully what those poor people have gone through (and we are still trying to rebuild those communities). Kootenay Lake is one part of British Columbia that I have seen only from about 10-15000 feet (on a local flight between Vancouver and Cranbrook) but it looks so much better at ground level. You had the best excuse of all to go there and share this with us. Thanks a bunch. By the way, have you checked out our mutual UK friend Dylan's latest trip report? He has finally come out of his shell to do a face to camera presentation on a comparison of travel times between Edinburgh and London by rail and air. I'm sure he would love a thumbs up from you as well (800+ comments so far since it was posted on Friday). Thanks again and I will keep on video travelling with you. Cheers from Michael.
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Another great exploration of transit systems from you Mike. I rode the Seattle monorail during my 1989 US/Canada tour but the other two systems you show are new to me. I've always wondered about how people get to the top of the Gateway Arch and now I know. I had a great chuckle when you finished up having a meal instead of just coffee to get your change for the Morgantown PRT. Quite an interesting concept this PRT. Pity about the rough riding though. Someone must have said; "Hey! Here comes this Downie Guy...and he's just eaten. Let's pump up the tyres....." I'm sure you can guess the rest. I do hope that tourists to the Gateway Arch fast before getting into one of those rotating cell lifts. Could be embarrassing if someone had a nervous moment enroute. Now while you were in Seattle, I do hope you sampled the waterfront streetcar which comes from my hometown, Melbourne. Quite a few W2 Class Cars from Melbourne have ended up in American Cities, either operative or static museum exhibits. Looking forward to whatever surprises you have for us next week. Cheers from Downunder.🙂🙂🙂
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Well Mike, that was a great review of "The Spirit of Queensland". I've seen several other reviews but not up to the same standard as yours and I thank you for sharing it. I've done the Cairns - Brisbane route myself twice both ways but a long time ago when "The Sunlander" was the main train. I recognized some of the locations you showed (Cairns Industrial, Walshes Pyramid, the delightful Tully station, Townsville airport, the Burdekin River Road and Rail Bridge and, of course, Roma Street Station in Brisbane). The Rail Bed is a great innovation and the meals you got looked fairly wholesome for on board catering. Obviously, the First Class offering is well worth the fare charged. I had a little chuckle at your Dracula imitation. The stops for stretching the legs is a quaint Queensland offering (similar to Amtrak, but I wonder who copied whom). As well as catering for exercise, it gives smokers some off train relief, but also cleverly allows for reality to catch up with the timetable in the event of out of course meets with opposing trains on the single line crossing loops. I'm so glad you and Nicole enjoyed your brief visit to our Great Southern Land and hope you can return for an extended visit sometime soon. I'm sure you will do a lot of research now to seek out more about Australia, its history of settlement and the various experiences that we can offer you, especially in the south east corner of the continent and in Tasmania. As I'm sure you are aware, there are many railfans and travel experts here who will be pleased to show you around. You've already experienced how friendly most Australians are. Look forward to meeting up with you if your travels include Melbourne and my State of Victoria. You've been a great YouTube companion for almost four years now and a great support during the pandemic. Cheers from Michael in Melbourne.😊😊😊
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Really great promotion of the Ski Train, Mike. Gee, Denver has certainly improved since my last visit in 1995. I still have memories of picking up the rental car at the airport. The Light Rail Transit to downtown wasn't there then. Looking forward to your coverage of San Francisco and New Orleans. Have a great week.😉
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Great coverage of Skytrain, Mike. Hope you had a great birthday celebration last weekend. And,yes, I checked out Joel's coverage of the Basketball parks and your cool moves on a couple of courts. Wish I was that athletic but, hey!, I'm twice your age. I still try to do a few long walks though when the weather allows. While your coverage of Skytrain is mostly on the records and specific cool features, not all routes rely on the linear induction technology. The Canada route to/from the airport has traditional third rail feed. I'm sure you already know that though. Cheers from beautiful downunder Melbourne where the fall colours are just starting and we are free to travel.
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Only 10 hours after releasing this, you have 2.9K likes and I'm the 193rd comment. Mike, you are maturing like wine with this presentation of an experience that was in its infancy when I was in the Napa Valley towards the end of my 1989 US/Canada trip. Great that you had a food and wine raconteur to accompany you and together you presented some of life's finer joys. Riding on an open platform at the end of a train sipping wine is an experience that can be enjoyed in a few other places as well. Quite a number of Tourist Railways worldwide now have wine and dine experiences and, yes, there are several within hours of where I live. Love that AG1 sponsored you on this trip and, as their product is Kiwi in origin, I wonder if they will combine with Air New Zealand to sponsor you (and a friend) to come downunder to experience New Zealand (and Australian) wines and fine dining (including on trains). Just a thought! Anyway, looking forward to where you are going next! Cheers from me in Melbourne.🙂🙂🙂
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Wow! That looked like fun! Now I wonder how you might go if one or more of those cones was a moose on the road. I mean, that's part of what this training must prepare you for. As you say, great way to meet a new friend. Now for another challenge sir. You are an experienced motorcyclist.....Is there a similar training program to stop you spinning out and doing topsy turvies on a bike during winter? I've had a little experience back in my day of coming across snow on the road and managing not to fall off or career into the scrub. That was some forty years ago. Don't think I'd like to test my reflexes now, especially not having been on a road bike for almost thirty years. Thanks for an entertaining video. Now where will you get to next? Cheers from Michael downunder in Melbourne.😀😉😀😉😀
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Well, there ya go. I thought the train option would be better (and more relaxing) between this city pair. Now let's see the airline you go for an ice bath in your hotel to destress. Had a real good chuckle at your coverage of same at YVR last clip.😃
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What a pleasant surprise! Riding the private cars restored to their former glory by their owners. I remember seeing the Hiawatha beaver tail observation car (Cedar Rapids) in Denver Colorado back in 1989. You come up with so many great stories every week. Must share this one with my friends at the model railway club this afternoon. Now I wonder what you have up your sleeve for next week.😀😀😀
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G'day Mike. Ya caught me napping posting this midweek. Great coverage of the Resort's Carriage and the Museum/Railway environs. While I didn't stay at the resort 'cos I had digs with my good friend Kevin, I walked right along that street frontage to the preserved Alco diesels. So good to see Jess loved your choice of the Crystal suite. Black and white are the colours of my Footy Team (Collingwood) (alias The Magpies) down here in Melbourne. So, great choice! I probably would have gone for the Santa Fe suite myself, but hey, they are both well done. Looking forward to your next adventure. Cheers from Michael in beautiful locked down Melbourne.
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@DownieLive Gotcha. Sent to icloud while you were replying. Now copied across. Hope it came through with both photos. Cheers.
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Mike, you've done it again. What a great way to spend a summers day in and around Vancouver and get your necessary exercise as well. Had to chuckle at you getting a wet butt on the first slide and I was wondering whether we were going to get an unedited version of you going arse over turkey while you were hopping from stump to stump on the exercise course. Note my replies to comments by Rob Youngquist and James Walker. Thanks again for a great video and stay safe.
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@DownieLive Good one Mike. Take care now and thanks for your great videos.
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Great to see you making a good excuse to get outdoors and exercise (one of several valid reasons to go out during lockdown) in places you've never been before (although I thought you had been to UBC Gardens on a previous clip). Great to see Nicole again (ever so briefly). Maybe I inspired you through my long ago listing of out of the way places to visit in Melbourne (and ways to do it). Here's a suggestion for continuing the Vancouver series; check out some of the obscure places you can get to on Skyrail or BC Transit! I'm sure there are many. An out the front view of several sections of Skyrail could be part of the show (especially around New Westminster and along the VCC-Clark to Lafarge Lake-Douglas Route). "Top up your Compass Card folks! - Oh! and don't forget to keep your distance when you can and always wear your mask on the stations, trains and buses! " One place close to downtown for us railfans is the Yaletown Roundhouse (which was closed for the Labor Day Weekend when I was there). Just sayin'. As this is the last weekend before Christmas, let me take the opportunity to wish you and your loved ones all the best for a safe and peaceful Christmas. I'm looking forward to the same and, boy, am I glad I'm in Melbourne and not Sydney. See ya next week.
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Just after 9am Sunday morning in beautiful sunny Melbourne and here I am with my weekly comments on your latest offering.Thanks for showing what Churchill as a town is like. Every human settlement has its own unique quirks and history. An Aussie remote equivalent to Churchill on the opposite climate scale might be Silverton in outback New South Wales (the setting for some of the scenes in the Mad Max movies). You are very skilled in showing us restricted travellers some of the delights of places like Kimberley and Fernie in your part of the world, Fort William in Scotland as just a few examples I quote. I'm wondering what your take on Melbourne might be when, finally, you will be set free to travel down to visit us. While you are in lockdown you might like to check out some YouTube links to prepare yourself (when you have the time within your busy schedule of editing entertainment for us mere mortals of course). One Melbourne attraction I thought you might like to preview (as it's on my shortlist to show you) is the Diamond Valley Miniature Railway located in Eltham, a north eastern suburb. Google Diamond Valley Railway Youtube and check it out. One of the clips is titled "Diamond Valley Railway - it's all about volunteering" (goes for a bit under 10 minutes) and shows the ethos behind the attraction and features many of my friends in the railway hobby. On the humorous side of Aussie travel, I wonder if you've had the chance to view and laugh at the BCF ad I mentioned a few weeks ago.Hoping you and your loved ones are staying safe and being able to prepare adequately for Christmas. Cheers from Michael.
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I crossed this one off the bucket list back in '95, along with the other classic narrow gauge train your locomotive fireman alluded to (The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad) which you MUST do sometime. It's the real deal! I did the complete trip from Durango to Silverton and return in Mid September, then motored across to Chama N.M. to stay overnight at Foster's Hotel across the road from the Depot and Loco Workshop before riding the train all the way to Antonito, returning to Chama on the railroad's charter coach. It's a full day with a lunch stop at Osier and a meet with the train going the opposite way. Thoroughly recommended! Looking forward to your trip from Williams, AZ. to the Grand Canyon on next week's instalment. Now I have to check out Pannier's coverage of the Triple K trip from Melbourne to Traralgon yesterday (Sept 24th.) Cheers from Michael downunder.😀😀😀
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Wow! You're back! What a great way to celebrate your father's 75th birthday. I've got a few years to go before I reach that milestone but I've put The Rocky Mountaineer on my wishlist. Your coverage of this marvellous journey is so much better than a lot of the promotional videos I've seen of the train. Looking forward to part 2. Oh, and when things get back to some semblance of order, look forward to you coming downunder to see my part of the world. I notice a positive comment from a Melbourne Train Driver I know amongst these comments. I'm sure he and many others will share the joy of showing you around. See ya next week.
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Love this stuff! Check out Mike's snow wear! Almost looks like a Gouldian Finch! A few more colours maybe! Looks like you had a great day out on Whistler, Mike. We are having a glorious autumn (fall) Sunday for the Anzac Day commemorations here in Melbourne. The sun came out just as the Veterans March started and Wow! 85000 this afternoon at the football! Biggest sporting crowd in this part of the world since the pandemic started. Now just for you, you closet rail enthusiast! Check out the Youtube clip code below. This was captured by my young friend Adam Yesterday Saturday 24th April. Code follows next line.... /watch?v=3fsTPcWeJaA. Enjoy! And I look forward to next weeks contribution. Hmm! Must go back and check out the electric motorcycle clip - not sure if I've viewed it yet. Cheers!
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As anticipated, the Owl's Perch Treehouse is a complete contrast to the first you showed. In fact, this place looks like a combo between the first treehouse with all the comfort and great furnishings/finish of the Alpaca Cottage. The Potholes reminds me of Blue Pool in East Gippsland downunder, only longer and with deeper channels. Congrats. on the 113K mark. Your weekly posts are certainly uplifting for us poor sods down here with the second wave of COVID, 459 cases overnight, with 10 new deaths and some locals being just plain stupid and defying authorities. Keep 'em coming Mike. You lift my spirit !
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Hope you can get to visit sometime soon Gary. The whole of Western Canada is really awesome and I'm sure you will be made welcome in Vancouver where Mike is based. It's a really great city and easy to get around. I've been there three times now and hope to go again soon once I get a few local priorities out of the way. Cheers from Michael Formaini south of the (closed) border.
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Wow! I haven't got to Nelson on all three of my visits to Canada but now have a great excuse to do so. This heritage tramway is very similar to that in Ballarat, downunder in regional Victoria; it runs around the western shore of Lake Wendouree and has a workshop/depot at 90 degrees from the main line. I see Heather Truskinger has already mentioned Melbourne, Bendigo and Ballarat. So there is no shortage of tramway interest to see in my patch. Isn't George a wonder! If he didn't have this as an interest or social outlet, he probably wouldn't still be with us. I hope I can maintain my health, enthusiasm and share my lifelong interests to reach such a milestone age and be as ambulant as he. i didn't catch the name of the guy showing you the interior of the substation but he looks very much like one of the guys involved with heritage rail and trams down here. Also, the first cyclist (spectacled, towing a toddler carriage) looks very much like another Canadian friend of 31 years, who got to live relatively close (Invercargill, New Zealand) for several years but now lives in White Rock, south of Vancouver. As always, the quality of your posts keeps getting better. Keep 'em coming. Oh, and by the way, did my email and photos land in your inbox? Cheers from Michael.
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Thanks. ? Did email arrive okay?
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Wow! What a great job David has! And not just loading the gun, of course. I simply loved the interior of his " forever home" in Stanley Park. I agree ya wouldn't want to leave except as a corpse in a casket. Funny about the weather. I'm watching and commenting on this on the coldest Melbourne Sunday we have had for months. My poor puss, Grizzlebum, lived up to her name this morning and she couldn't get inside the rear porch to get her food quickly enough, being chased indoors by a freak hail shower. Purring nicely now though! Thanks again for a wonderful insight into the hidden secrets of Vancouver life. David and his wife have such warm personalities and have one of the best homes in Vancouver, right there in the Park. Simply loved the workmanship on his cabinet amongst other homely features within the house. Hope he gets to live on there for many more years. Thank you again Mike for this great insight to how the 9 o'clock gun continues to be a unique feature of your city.
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Hi Mike. Your namesake downunder thoroughly enjoyed this week"s clip. Reminded me so much of what I saw 31 and 25 years ago, but, boy o boy, the change in facilities and the zoo like atmosphere in Banff makes me glad to see your emphasis on enjoying what is beautiful in the National Parks and making up your on- road snacks to cure the tummy grumbles. Great to see the fitness regime throughout the clip as well. Unfortunately, due to an inherited inward goitre, I'm unable to exercise vigorously but I enjoy walking and moderate climbing and swimming according to local circumstances. Sunday morning in Melbourne with two weeks to go in lockdown (hopefully not extended) and you have 3392 views, 166 comments (plus this) and 505 likes already. Now something to make you laugh out loud! On my first visit to Banff 31 years ago, I picked up a hire car after coming down from Jasper on Brewster's Coach and went to the gas station to check I had a full tank of fuel before venturing forth. As I pulled out of the gas station I wondered why all these other cars were flashing their headlights until I realised I should have been on the right hand side of the road. I forgot I was not in Aussie where we drive on the left ; I should have twigged 'cos I was driving from what would normally be the front passenger side where I live. Fortunately I corrected my behaviour before we had a Three Stooges Comedy moment. No bent fenders and only a few anxious seconds for me and the others around me. Looking forward to your next contribution. Stay safe and well.
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@DownieLive It did. Now that English gent Portillo has been downunder and seen what we have to offer. When you get time check out the youtube link watch?v=Ji09yCPTR4 (goes for a bit over 58mins.) where he travels from Canberra to Melbourne and experiences some of our sights. Enjoy!
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Hi Mike, just stumbled across your channel and really enjoyed this clip. I travelled this route back in September 2018 and stayed at the Hotel at Crianlarich where the train splits for Oban. I've visited your hometown Vancouver three times and have friends there and in Cranbrook BC. I live in the competing city for the most liveable in the world, Melbourne in Australia. You should visit sometime.
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@DownieLive Great. It would be a pleasure to show you around my part of the world. Melbourne and the State of Victoria has a more temperate climate than Sydney and lots of variety in visitor attractions, plenty of history, as well as a great food and coffee culture. Getting around by public transport is easy and there is a comprehensive regional fast train system to access attractions outside of Melbourne. Late Spring (November) or early Autumn (March/April) are great times to visit. Google "visitvictoria.com.au" to access more detail. Let me know when you can make it down. Direct email is mdgf.mf @gmail.com. Cheers.
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Check no space in email address; mdgf.mf@gmail.com.
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Thanks for sharing more of your personality with us, Mike. I watched this earlier this morning (Sunday here in Melbourne) and did my usual thing of checking out the comments others posted before going to my livestream church service. Since I came back, over 800 more have viewed the clip and 75+ extra comments have come up, all of which I'm sure are positive. So much has been said in praise of your channel that it's difficult to add anything new ad lib, but here goes; Keep up the theme of not knowing where you are going but that you want us there with you. That is one very good and powerful way of putting yourself in the hands of The Almighty in whatever way you view our beautiful world. Take each day as it comes and make the most of it to the best of your ability. You have a gift of bringing joy to everything you experience and sharing it with your many followers (176K+ according to my screen). I have a number of young friends who have been very much uplifted by viewing your weekly presentations and I feel sure that somewhere, somehow in these crazy times we're experiencing, that you have actually saved a number of lives. Take great comfort in that. I'm sure I could say a lot more on this theme but I'll leave it for now. (Gotta go out to the model train club in about 15 mins.) Two things before I sign off. I simply love Christopher Lyle's comment that he didn't want to leave Melbourne. And Kojw re The Ghan. It , and The Indian Pacific, probably equates in awe with travellers as does The Canadian and The Rocky Mountaineer. A friend gave me a DVD on the slow journey of The Ghan meant to psych people up to take stock of their lives and slow down, I've got to find a spare 5 and a half hours sometime over the next few weeks to watch it all. Anyway, thanks again for this weeks clip and hope your 2021 continues to be a successful and rewarding one. Cheers from Michael downunder in Melbourne.
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You are truly blessed Mike. Enjoy your 31 day home away from home. I reckon by the time David and Normande get back from their (hopefully wonderful and safe) vacation, you will need to be dragged out of the house. So much better than apartment living. A couple of Questions. Are you required to recharge the 9 o'clock gun? Oh, and are there squirrels and other critters to feed because they have become human-imprinted?
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Formula One.....not exactly my cup of tea.....but you make the experience such a happy one. The race in Melbourne (usually in March) is a carnival atmosphere but you DO need ear-muffs- so much so that some of the local residents around Albert Park and South Melbourne take a vacation during race time. The noise is so loud on race day you can hear it at least 7 or 8 miles (10 - 12km) away. I know 'cos I went to the zoo over in Royal Park one year and some of the animals were acting up. Now here's a suggestion for an excuse to come downunder......do some research into Aussie Rules football and see if you can come down to the AFL (Australian Football League) Grand Final which is played usually on the last Saturday in September each year in Melbourne.' Of course, Aussie Rule football matches are played in most cities from March to September so it's not the end of the world if you can't make it to the Grand Final. The team I follow is Collingwood (The Magpies) and i'm hoping we get to win this year (we have played in so many finals but seem to bomb out more often than winning). Perseverance is part of the dna of most clubs - there are currently 18 in the competition. Check it out and let's see you down here Mike. Oh, and there's lots of train oriented activity here too by the way (Puffing Billy, Steamrail Victoria, Metro Trains, V/Line) that will allow you to explore my part of Aussie (Victoria). Looking forward to your reaction and your next (I don't know where I'm going, but I want you there with me!) episode. Cheers!🙂😉🙂
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You never cease to amaze me with the variety you pack into your videos. Those Vessi sneakers look really cool and I'd love to see you redo that walk around the shoreline of Vancouver again in these. Wonder if you'll have blisters and more this time. You picked a great weather day (not) for the helicopter flight but perhaps the rainy atmosphere provided a real test to the integrity of the vehicles and their operators. High tea looks great and the venue - wow! Reminded me of an old mansion in Hobart, Tasmania, that was operating as a motel during the 1980's. On that occasion I was travelling with an English visitor and he was suitably impressed. Now, Mr.Downie, I do hope you worked off all those calories when you got back to Vancouver. Looking forward to the next surprise you have for us followers. Oh! Does it have something to do with Orca Whales? You let the cat out of the bag during this clip. Anyway, enough for this Aussie senior citizen for this week. Cheers!
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Another great video from you Mike. We have Hello Fresh downunder as well although I haven't tried it yet. I'm sure it, Uber Eats and other home delivery services are getting a workout during these crazy times (about 8 million of us are in lockdown AGAIN because of the spread of the Delta variant). The aerial coverage from both Snowbirds and helicopter really shows what a great city Vancouver is. Loved the few seconds with the Park Ranger towards the end. Did he really believe you on first encounter? Now on your next show, do we get to see the elusive black squirrels? I managed to cop one with my zoom lens near the trolley bus terminal during my visit on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend 2018. Cheers and thanks again.
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Hi Mike. Short and sweet this week. Just caught up with your latest after a busy couple of days. Wow! I'm so glad that your City Fathers had such vision to protect the mountain sight lines back in 1989 (which, incidentally, was the time of my first visit to Vancouver). When I landed back on Labor Day Weekend 2018, I was astonished at how much the city had grown since my second visit in 1995. I'm glad you and Joel picked the Cambie/West 10th intersection for that incredible zoom glance at Grouse Mountain. Just so happens I emerged from Broadway/City Hall Station after flying in and saw that magnificent view north along Cambie as my reintroduction to Vancouver after 23 years (I was staying at a B&B in West 11th - The Windsor Guest House at #325). Now here's a suggestion for when you can get outa town again. Commandeer Joel and his magnificent equipment and do a day or two railfanning up the Fraser and Thompson Canyons. That zoom lens will allow some awesome train photography from publicly accessible locations trackside and you could get CP Rail, CN Rail or The Rocky Mountaineer to sponsor you. You might like to get Joel to do a dry run by filming from the front of any of the Skytrain routes (the one from Commercial/Broadway out to Lafarge Lake/Douglas has some awesome views) and Translink.ca may even sponsor you on that. Another suggestion for later in the year at Fall. Do a video around the city of the magnificent fall colours. I've just finished putting my October 2018 photos in the 12th Album of my big trip and they are some of the best I've ever taken. And finally.... I'll get in early and wish you a happy birthday for this weekend. Sunday, if my guess is right and the big 34 (I've just reached double that!) Cheers from Michael downunder in Melbourne.
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What a lovely foggy morning to be out on the run with Gino! It was a bit like that in Melbourne yesterday with a few showers passing through. Then you had a much better day at the recycling centre..Caprice is a real cutie of a bird of prey. She's just a little smaller than our wedged tail eagle. I have had the privilege of being up close and personal to one of these, both within a sanctuary and also in the wild (where I remained still while in its territory). My local council is going to introduce similar fortnightly recycling collection soon but with a twist. Our food scraps can go into the green waste bin that will be collected weekly as my area has lots of lawns and deciduous trees that shed leaves and we have been calling for more frequent green waste collection. We've just got to hold on to the packaging, bottles and plastic waste for the fortnightly collection. Mixing the food scraps with the green waste goes some way to alleviating the bird problem at the disposal centre as the scraps will compost much quicker prior to collection. I wonder what exotic calling you will greet us with next week. Being a garbo at 35 will keep you fit while collecting an income but I'm sure other alternatives will come to mind. Great entertainment!!
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Viewing this reminded me so much of my August 1989 trip from Vancouver to Jasper on "The Super Continental". Yes, it was summer and yes, this was the 2nd transcontinental train on Via Rail's offering at that time. I did the Brewsters Coach Tour from Jasper to Banff and returned from there on "The Canadian". You have captured the best part of the transcontinental journey in the first 15 minutes of your video. I recognised the New Westminster bridges and Hell's Gate in the Fraser Canyon. I had a big laugh at your "bear nap" following your post -Jasper lunch, consumed on top of the beavertail, beer and poutine. Funny how you woke up in time for dinner that evening. I still have fond memories of meals in the dining car, especially noting that they still have the frosted window dividers within the dining saloon. Back in 1989 the sleeping carriage I was in on the forward journey was an old style section car with the zip up privacy curtains, but I scored a twinette berth on a stainless steel car for the return. The Park Observation Car with dome seating and rear lounge was popular as always. It is such a pity that from October last year Via Rail has put an empty barrier car behind the Observation Car due to some structural integrity concerns with the carriages (after all they are 60 plus years old). In September 1995, I did the triangular trip in the reverse (anticlockwise) direction by road with my good friend Kevin and a fellow Aussie traveller, James. Kevin took us several kilometres east of Jasper to Henry House and Devona to take in the Mietta range that you viewed from the dome car. It was late summer and the weather and scenery was superb. Thanks again for awakening my memories with your more recent coverage. Cheers from Michael in Melbourne.🙂🙂🙂
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@DownieLive Have to agree with Rob on that one. I've lived in Melbourne all my life and even after travelling around on courier work, I still discover new things around town, even within my own neighbourhood while exercising in these difficult times. At the risk of offending my fellow Aussies, who needs to go to Queensland when we have it all down here? Just saying....
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@jameswalker68 Hey, James! We have the best coffee in the world down here. Hope you,ve listed several good coffee joints to visit when Mike comes downunder. I concoct my own special brew at home in beautiful downtown Syndal.
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Hi Paul, nice to see you now follow my namesake in beautiful Vancouver. I was last there in October 2018. Hope you are safe and well
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You are truly blessed and rewarded for all the great video presentations of the last 18 months (plus the earlier ones too) that have lifted our spirits during lockdowns. Thanks for this particular coverage of Stanley Park. It has brought back fond memories of my three visitations (1989,1995 and 2018). I see the geese honk you awake in the morning as you pass by, but where's those elusive black squirrels? I remember the zoo section from 1989, the chalet and tearooms, beaver lake, the totem poles, the cricket pitch, the maiden on the rock.... I could go on. One particular memory I have from 1995 was a Sunday afternoon visit when a local guy used to feed the racoons, squirrels and even a skunk with dried cat food pellets. I've got the photos somewhere amongst my collectables. I have a light blue jacket similar, but not as good as, the Pantavus product you showed this week. I wonder if one of our leisure wear stores have imported them downunder; must check that out. Anyway, enough from me this week. Stay safe and well Mike and cheers from Michael downunder in Melbourne.
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Good one Mike. It's amazing how many rail travellers have no idea what goes into making their journey safe. You have revealed just a few of the maintenance tasks that goes on behind the scenes and you've done it well as usual. I had to chuckle at the opening scene of the Trans-Siberian, then London Underground's older stock. One could speculate that you're telling us that Putin's wheels have fallen off and that Boris J might need to borrow Ma'am's Oyster Card to check out HER line now that it's finally open. Just sayin' Looking forward to your next rail industry revelation.
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I think my comment last night got lost in the cloud. Anyway, great motivational stuff Michael. So many of us neglect to take the first step towards a worthwhile goal with positivity and fall by the wayside because we fail to maintain THE PASSION. You have it, man, in your sharing through YouTube! Keep it up! Oh, and by the way, I guess the forest background was in Stanley Park. Was I right?
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Great logistics video Mike. I flew over this area enroute from Vancouver to Cranbrook around this time two years ago and the harvesting was just getting under way. Oh and Yes, there was a CN Rail Intermodal Train heading for Roberts Bank going under the plane too! Funny how both Yesterday(Saturday) and Friday I enjoyed a turkey, cranberry sauce and salad roll for lunch! Was the Big Guy upstairs trying to tell me something about what I would view on your channel this Sunday morning? This has given me a great idea for you. This line of behind the scenes videos of various industries could be a good earner for you over and above your usual travel, tourism and adventure lines. Think "From paddock to plate" or "From quarry to bathroom tile" and the start to finish journey of various everyday products would be a great educational resource for teachers in schools and university lecturers in supply chain management subjects. I'll suggest to a Melbourne University friend of mine that he view your channel and give me feedback. You'll be pleased to know that quite a few friends of mine are now viewing/subscribing to your weekly clips. Keep 'em coming and I hope to have good news for you next week about Melbourne being set free from COVID lockdown. Cheers from Michael downunder.
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@DownieLive Great news just received Mike. From Monday able to travel up to 25km radius for permitted exercise. Yay!
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@DownieLive Hi, Mike. Glad to see others from my part of the world are contributing. I'm not a YouTuber myself (haven't got the appropriate techy or skills yet - Boy! Am I showing my dinosaur age!) but hope that what is uploaded adds to the list of things for you to see and do when you eventually get down here. When you get a moment, key into YouTube Pannier P and see what young Adam came up with just overnight. Our beloved Puffing Billy Steam Train returned to the outer most point of Gembrook yesterday and he captured the day so well. You and Adam should meet when you come to Melbourne. I'm twice your age and he's half. Stay safe my friend.
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Really looking forward to your cross Canada trip. Much better for you than trying to travel around Australia at present. You've probably heard about all the current dramas in Melbourne, topped off this week by an earthquake. Fortunately no deaths or injuries but some heritage buildings have been put at risk. You wouldn't have wanted to be getting a breakfast burger at Betty's Burgers in South Yarra/Windsor. The northern wall and corner awning collapsed on to the side street. My place shook a bit and the cat freaked out for a while but no serious harm done.Cheers from Michael.
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What a wonderful way for your mother to celebrate her 70th birthday. This episode has brought back memories of my own trip from Denver to Los Angeles back in August 1989 on Amtrak. The California Zephyr back in those days was combined with The Desert Wind (To Los Angeles) and The Pioneer (To Portland/Seattle). Back then, one could have the open air experience similar to yours by opening the top half of the Superliner Dutch Door with the permission of the friendly Carriage Attendant and the Train Manager (impossible on Amtrak these days due to security issues in our crazy world). Thanks for the memories. Looking forward to Pikes Peak and your Colorado Steam Train experience (Been there, done that in 1995). Cheers from your Aussie friend in Melbourne.🙂🙂🙂
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Wow, Mike. Thanks for this brilliant summer's day travelogue. Squamish again!! It's almost as popular as the Dandenong Ranges or the Mornington Peninsula here in Melbourne. And the Gogh show to top it off! Great idea from your mum. Good to see you with Nicole and your parents enjoying this iteration of the show. Much better than it was in Melbourne. You and Sprouht made we wish it was summer down here in just-out-of-locked-down Melbourne, but at least it's a nice sunny Sunday here right now and as soon as I finish this comment I'm off for a drive to the Diamond Valley Miniature Railway to see some friends I haven't had direct contact with for a while (including one who is one of your greatest fans). A couple of points to note (and I'm sure anyone with a bit of common sense will already have picked up on this); 1. GOOD THAT YOU TOOK A FRIEND WITH YOU ON A WILDERNESS ADVENTURE. The mountain climb is not for the faint hearted and definitely shouldn't be attempted alone, no matter how experienced one might be. Accidents do happen and you wouldn't like to be alone if you slipped and injured yourself. 2. DON'T ATTEMPT THE CHIEF IF IT LOOKS LIKE RAINING. Those rocks would be far too slippery to negotiate - and it's a long way down if you fall. On the positive side again, great composition for a summer's day out. Will have to check out more of Sprouht's channel when I get some time. Must go now. Stay safe and well.
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Well, Mike, you have made my day with this video. I decided to stay up late to be amongst the first to view this week's offering (its 1.20am Sunday 2nd August as I type this). I see my fellow Melburnian James Walker has already commented. We really appreciate your creativity because it looks like we might be going into a harsher form of lockdown due to the explosion in new COVID cases over the last week. I visited the Forest Discovery Centre back in September 1989 (my first visit to Canada) and it was in its infancy then. What a great attraction it has now become. Your Drone Skills are absolutely brilliant but, as Don Hurst mentioned, take care around any form of transport corridor so you don't cause distraction or mayhem. Drone videography is becoming quite popular with railfans down here in Aus but has been frowned upon in some quarters. So long as you don't fly within the designated 'Danger Zone' and abide by the local regulations applicable to drones, it would be great to see how you cope with capturing rail action in the Fraser Canyon around the Cisco Bridges. Thanks again and stay safe. Cheers from Michael downunder.
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Well Michael, you have excelled again with Part 2 of your journey on "The Skeena". And the Prestige Hotels and meal at the Crest make me want to come over and experience this for real; although the budget and other home priorities (as a result of COVID and the economy) will tie me down in Australia for the next couple of years at this stage. Oh, and I need to renew my passport too - the last one expired in June. Oh, and I need to be around when you come downunder to my part of the world once overseas travel becomes realistic again. I'm really impressed by your comments on Rail Travel being the best way to relax and enjoy the passing scene. I hope ViaRail management notice and sponsor your future adventures in coming months. The train journey, even when delayed, is really part of the destination. The scenery on this trip, particularly the lake reflections and stunning waterfalls, is really something. Only New Zealand can compete with Canada for views like you have shown. And your choice of accommodation for the two nights WOW! although I was a little apprehensive about how close to a major road one of these appeared. Hopefully the rooms are soundproofed at that hotel. Poor old Riley and his wet feet from the train dump! At least it was the sink water and not something a lot less pleasant. Yes, retention toilets have been a feature of most long distance passenger trains worldwide following complaints from unlucky trackside workers. I'm glad the platform pits at London Paddington were in a clean condition when I was there in 2018. There's an unsavoury episode of "Paddington Station 24/7" that details what happens when passengers can't hold on and the maintenance workers have to clean up - not recommended to watch near mealtimes. Enough on that subject. The one thing that I recommend with promoting long distance rail travel is to emphasize that one shouldn't plan activities or travel connections too tightly. As you experienced, delays beyond the control of the train operator can throw travel plans up into the air, but that's part of the adventure and allure. I could rabbit on about an adventure I had in 1980 during the last months of the old narrow gauge "The Ghan" at a little place called Anna Creek, but I'll leave that for a realtime conversation when we eventually meet up. Hoping all is well with you and loved ones during your new lockdown. I'm enjoying my new freedom, despite having to continue with masks and number restrictions at venues. Cheers for now and looking forward to next week's viewing.
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Wow! Lot's of variety here! I had no idea that Palm Springs California had an aerial tram to a mountain park, nor was I aware of one in Albuquerque. I was aware of the Roosevelt Island one but never got to ride it when I was there in 1995. And the TWA Hotel at JFK - Wow! My airport visit was at Newark, NJ, so I missed out there. You certainly know how to entertain us from week to week. Oh, and I noticed during your Surfshark promotion that you can access information about my hometown Melbourne. And I see you could be in Seattle for next weeks video - Could be a sneak preview of Melbourne's historic tram as they operate along the waterfront adjacent to the BNSF rail corridor (Yes, I do have a photo amongst my collection of a Melbourne tram beside Amtrak's Empire Builder taken back in 1989). Looking forward to seeing what surprises you have in store for us next. Cheers from Michael.😀
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Good one Mike! Now my Sunday walk in Vancouver back on Labor Day Weekend 2018 was a little less adventurous, given my age, but I didn't get blisters. My Blundstones needed a minor repair after the adventure on the unsealed trails within Stanley Park looking for the native fauna. Apart from the glitch about the Control Tower (on 200 Granville), you have done a brilliant job describing and showing us the sights along the Waterfront Path. I recognised a number of familiar spots, most of which I captured on my Nikon D3400. So thanks again for a great tour and some fond memories. By the way, I started at the Inukshuk, cut across the isthmus at the edge of Stanley Park (the pedestrian path near Park Lane) and walked parts of the Seawall and internal trails, finishing back at the Rose Garden and the Bus Loop. I enjoyed a short bus ride through the holiday Sunday traffic jam on West Georgia and ,after reviewing the tourist hotspots around Canada Place, enjoyed a great salmon steak, fries and salad at the Rogue Kitchen inside the former CP passenger station building. Cheers from your namesake in Melbourne.
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I'm a bit slow catching up with this week's offering but well worth watching on a gloomy Melbourne Tuesday. Great coverage of the excellent facilities The Rocky Mountaineer has to offer.... and the food and wine. Oh boy! Hope you exercised well after those two days on this adventure. Dad is excused though...moderate walking only required there. Glad to see he enjoyed the steak. I was going to have something similar last Thursday until an electrical storm hit. There was a big bang outside and I scurried across the living room expecting one of the two front trees to come crashing down. Instead the lightning took out a transformer in the next street and we lost two out of three phases, putting my griller and hotplate out of action for three hours until the power company came to restore service. So no steak for me that night. Looking forward to February for more of your cross Canada travels. Cheers from Michael.
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G'day 007 from Melbourne. Funny about this. I noted that this would become available at 03 00 Sunday my time at around 23 45 last evening (Saturday) and I hit the hay. As I switched off my bedside light, I noticed the clock read 00 07. Funny about that! Now 11 and a half hours later (11 37 Sunday my time as I write this) here I am commenting after viewing this and the other two clips. Congratulations on this. Your versatility is really brilliant. I'll comment separately later on the other two clips as I'm about to switch on the box to see if us Melbournians have gained any more freedoms post COVID. Cheers from Michael.
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Now, why didn't I think of staying at the YVR Fairmont during my stopovers 4 years ago? Well, simple really! I was a guest of Angus (retired trolleybus driver - you remember,eh!?!) in one direction and I stayed at the Windsor Guest House on West 11th the other direction. But, the Fairmont features in a couple of my photos at YVR (one with a skytrain in the foreground). This video gave me great memories of that last trip there. You even had an Air New Zealand plane (and I think that was a TransAt plane in the background) on your view towards Georgia Strait at 02.05. I just about rolled over on my living room floor at your scream of ice pain with the wildlife reaction at 08.11-13. Great Canadian humour! Now this video (parts of it anyway) should feature in Fairmont's own promotion of the venue at International Level with all connected travel agencies and you should get some royalty fee for putting it together. A fantastic way of promoting on the spot venues for those travellers needing a stopover between long flights. Melbourne Airport's Park Royal and Holiday Inn could learn from YVR Fairmont's initiative. I don't know where you are going next week, but I sure look forward to being with you there on YouTube. Now I'd better get on and watch Will James's coverage of a recent Grainlander Steam Train Excursion he was on down here that is promoted immediately after your video. You might like to view it yourself to see what happens downunder with railfan activity.
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I'm a bit late this week and I see why you didn't post until late. Looking forward to that one by the way. First reactions; Wow! What a novel idea for a glamp! Great to see Nicole again! Bong on the gong reminds me of Lurch in the Addams Family (You rang!) ! 'Nuff said about rockin' the orb! Glad you enjoyed the German Restaurant - always good to try new menus ! I can think of several places close to Melbourne where this sort of glamping experience would really take off - and there are many others in our wide brown land (and the little bit downunder populated by devils - Tassy if you haven't guessed). Thanks again for a wonderful video and keep 'em coming. Cheers from Michael.
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@jameswalker68 Could do once things settle down and cafes get over the initial rush from cafe starved people. By the way just watched a brilliant movie on Channel 32 SBS called "White Tuft, the little beaver " . It repeats on Thursday at 09 40 Melbourne time; goes for 90 minutes to 11 10. SMS 0402 156 622 to arrange a possible get together. Cheers from Michael.
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It's Tuesday and I'm so far behind the eight ball with tasks that have to be done, it ain't funny. However, this episode to outback Saskatchewan has lifted my spirit completely and I'll keep pluggin' along. At almost double your age, I still enjoy going to places off the normal grid in my own Country and even within my own State of Victoria and my own city of Melbourne there are places to retreat and take stock of the beauty around me. You are blessed to have been able to change direction at 30 and celebrate in the manner you are doing now at 35. You have made so many people happy with your posts and sharing the beauty around you AND WITHIN YOU. Keep forging ahead Mike and hope to greet you soon when you can get downunder. Cheers from your namesake in Australia.
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Sunday morning in beautiful suburban Melbourne and time for my weekly dose of DownieLive. What a great compilation, Mike! You sure have a great following sharing stories about their own parts of the world. Little Patrick and his story about the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the outstanding one for me. What a bubbly personality he has! Of course, Sydney Harbour had to trump Melbourne for the Aussie entry. I agree the regular public transport service ferries are the best value for seeing the beauty of the Harbour. There are the usual expensive tourist traps as well. I haven't done the bridge climb myself for a number of reasons but I can tell you it's not one for the faint hearted, especially if you're up there as a train rumbles across below. I've done the pedestrian walk and the bike track across it and there is a distinct movement up and down as a train crosses. When it opened almost 90 years ago (19th March 1932), there were tram tracks on the opposite side to the train tracks and the stability and strength of the bridge was tested by placing 96 steam locomotives over the four tracks during three weeks of testing prior to the opening. Enough from me this week. Stay safe and hope you can travel again soon.
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@DownieLive Hey Mike! Glad you like heights. Now I've just had a lazy day on YouTube and came across a great one from Tom Thornton, a young British Traveller who could double for Daniel Radcliffe, the former Harry Potter actor, that covers a fantastic way to spend time in Melbourne. Go to YouTube Tom Thornton and select his 9min.44sec video entitled "A month spent catsitting in Melbourne/ Housesitting in Australia for free". I'm sure you and Nicole would fit into this way of seeing my part of the world (I didn't know Tom or his companion Molly as I have only just discovered Tom's channel and they were staying not more than 10km from where I live!) I posted a comment hoping they can come downunder again when the world gets back to some form of normal. If you have trouble finding the correct Tom Thornton the Youtube search code for the video is watch?v=C4dNNQWtTus. Enjoy!
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What an adventure for you and your friends! The most poignant moment for me watching this was the history record at 3.15. Seems that the USS Hornet was one of two US aircraft carriers that worked in cooperation with the Australian Navy/Army/Air Force during the liberation of the Philippines in which my late father played a part. He served as a sapper on the HMAS Manoora, one of three merchant navy vessels that were equipped as armed light cruisers with landing ship infantry during the liberation campaign from March until November 1944. Amongst other memorabilia, I have Dad's service medals from that era, including the Filipino Liberation Medal that was awarded many years later in 1994 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the liberation. Thanks for re-awakening my late father's history. Cheers from Michael in Melbourne.🙂
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Hi Mike from your namesake in Melbourne downunder, great to see spring has sprung in Vancouver and you have done a spring clean of your unintentional boo-boos by admitting you occasionally got it wrong and apologising for it. Yes, we humans are fallible. Your vision of the cherry blossom reminds me of the short periods of spring when we can enjoy it down here. The season fluctuates quite dramatically down here, given the nature of our weather patterns. Full marks for including the Mural for women - violence against women is quite a topic down here with recent revelations about indiscretions in our Federal Parliament House in Canberra. Simply love the effort you put into discovering the boardwalk on the Fraser in Marpole - true dedication in learning a bit more about your own city and surrounds. Now I tend to read all the comments too before posting one to you (309 so far on my screen). Seems there are mixed opinions about your hair (Hey there, shaggy dog!). As your sister suggests, maybe you should use the blow dryer more frequently - or check into the shearing shed (perhaps in the cause of cancer research or other suitable charity). Now amongst the comments came a suggestion from Nagoya Jon about referencing Google Maps for those unfamiliar with a locality. This gave me an idea. In the religious context, you have been to confession/reconciliation with this week's post. Now for your penance you might like to Google Maps Melbourne and see if you can locate Downie Street. I'm not kidding! There is one right in downtown near where I used to work in my railway days. This might prompt you to have a good look of my part of the world in Satellite view and prepare you for that visit once we let overseas visitors back in. Thanks for this week's posting and looking forward to more. Cheers from Michael.
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Just got news that the ring of steel around Melbourne will be lifted at 2359 tonight. Going for a road day trip tomorrow (Monday) and a regional train ride (Tuesday). More restrictions concerning numbers of people allowed to gather and the opening of further entertainment and recreational activities to be lifted on 23rd November. Yay!
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@DownieLive Sorry to hear that. Just got home from doggy socialisation in the local park. The upside to your lockdown is that you might be able to catch up on editing accumulated future posts and release one or two midweek as well as on the weekend. Hope all is well and stays well with you, family and loved ones. Cheers from the United State of Victoria downunder.
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What a great way to finish the series. West coast Coast Guard, Ice Skating and Hockey during Vancouver's unusual big freeze and then hire tuxedos to fly back to Edmonton and really do the last leg of the rail trip. Your creativity in reaching the climax to the series under unpredictable circumstances was absolutely brilliant. ViaRail and Tourism Canada should give you an award for the series and I think the Canadian Government should nominate you for a knighthood. Now wouldn't that be a real blast!! Downielive goes to Buckingham (or Windsor) Castle to receive a knighthood for services to tourism in Canada ! The big question would be ; - Would it be Ma'am presenting it or would Prince Charles muscle in and award it for services to the environment as well as for tourism? Just sayin'....
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Nice one Mike! I've seen several travelogues of the El Chepe and the Copper Canyon Route but yours is the first I've seen from the coast up to the Canyon and the first featuring the open end bar car. Definitely worth booking First Class!🙂
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Aaaaach, mon! All the spy agencies will curse the manufacturers of this amazing device. What a versatile camera! Showed up your pearly whites and tongue when you scoffed that glass of water. Whoa, Billy Goat! Don't you dare try to eat this thing - it will not digest well! There are so many applications this camera can be used for, the mind boggles. Thanks for your coverage and, wow! Some of the other comments are awesome. I think I would not use it on the shovel of firing a steam engine though - unless I had a guaranteed insurance for a replacement, magnet or no magnet. Enjoy your vacation Mike.
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James, I'm looking forward to when we can show Mike (and his family/friends that might accompany him) our part of the world (locked down Melbourne/Regional Victoria). I'll be commenting directly to Mike momentarily (around 09 45-10 00 our time Sunday). Hope you are staying well and safe.
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Me and my fat finger. The small k in the BCF Youtube address should be a capital K. So the code reads; MZXQ2K6LTtQ. Again, hope you get a laugh out of it.
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Your coverage of New Brunswick is truly awesome. We have an Australian equivalent both for crumbling rock stacks and tidal phenomina. Just two weeks ago, I had a day trip to our Victorian Shipwreck Coast to see what was left of 'The Twelve Apostles', four of which have crumbled away and fallen in the last forty years. I have yet to get to the Kimberley Coastline in North West Western Australia - it's on the bucket list! I love that you got to travel a new trail and view your own equivalent of the Grand Canyon (Hope you get to see the Algoma Canyon as well). Great to hear your words of encouragement to those who don't feel capable of great achievements - it shows how much of a caring person you are. Looking forward to your coverage of Prince Edward Island in next week's offering. Let me say it's hard to not skip ahead on Will's channel. I'll resist that temptation and try to stay parallel with your story. Cheers from Michael in Melbourne.
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As usual Mike, I'm viewing this Sunday Morning my time equals Saturday mid-afternoon your time. Great coverage of Translink. I nearly fell over when you started at Marpole as my friend Angus, who is retired from Translink, showed me around the Centre on a Sunday afternoon back in October 2018, straight after me getting off the TransAt flight from Gatwick (about 9pm London time and I'm starting to feel like having a snooze). Did you get to see the close up of the trolley switches inside? This arvo (after livestream mass) I'll be sending a bunch of emails to friends interested in watching this clip. By the way ,3307 views of this clip by 10am Aussie Eastern Time Sunday. Congrats. on breaking through 124K subscribers. 125K can't be too far away. Must go now. Cheers from Michael downunder in locked down Melbourne.
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Never been to Hong Kong and can't see myself getting there any time soon but knew about the trams and ferries from other friends and travel guides. What a great day you had with Jess! (Nice to see her with you again.) Loved the foodie start, the tram ride, ferry ride, escalator fun facts and ride and you top it off well with the peak tram to Mount Victoria Lookout. You were so blessed to have a smogless evening view over the greater city and harbour. If, and when, you come down to Melbourne, you'll find the largest tram system in the southern hemisphere and a great metro rail system to explore one of the most liveable cities in the world (we regularly spar with Vancouver for title of the best). Lots of things to see and do (Google for more info) and I do recall giving you a few suggestions when I first started viewing your channel almost four years ago. I think I have mentioned that our transit system travel card is named Myki (not joking). I think your dad would chuckle over that. Also we have frequent regional rail services to explore other parts of the State of Victoria and the Myki card is valid for many of these as well. Come on down and see us soon (or when you can get the opportunity). Cheers from Michael.🙂😉🙂
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G'day Mike, boy what a fun packed episode you put on this week in Nova Scotia.The scenery is simply stunning and I love that you were able to experience the indigenous culture. Australia's indigenous groups have a similar spiritual smoking ritual as part of their culture.I don't think I would want to be near you with the axe throwing competition. I gasped at the log sawing; at least you didn't break the saw (well you didn't film a twanging blade flying off to one side anyway). Looks like Will got a sore arse during the log surfing - ouch! All good fun and you got to have a beer and bratwurst sausage (at least, that's what it looked like) at the end of it all. The interior of the renaissance club car on 'The Ocean' looks homely. I'm glad you showed Peggy Cove towards the end of the episode. Now that some travel freedoms are starting to return, I have to consider renewing my passport. There is so much of the world I haven't seen and I still have a lot of my own country to experience. It's an interesting problem to have, but thanks to you and so many other YouTubers, those of us who can't travel widely can experience it from the comfort of home on their PC screens. Thanks so much for your perspective of your own country and hope we can meet in person either there or downunder here in Melbourne one day. Cheers from Michael.
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Welcome to the future of motoring. Now let me see! How much longer can my mobile bed last (dual fuel - Liquid Petroleum Gas/ Petrol - 1997 Toyota TownAce Van? It's done 718K kilometres and still going strong, but it's like me; getting on in years and not going very far (although it did get a long road trip during the week after Easter). Not going very far for the next week though. We just got told we're in lockdown for the next 7 days due to a COVID outbreak.....Ho Hum! Anyway, Mike, it should be getting warmer where you are soon. Hope you get to ride ViaRail's "The Canadian" or the private "Rocky Mountaineer" this summer. Cheers from your regular Melbourne follower. Stay safe and well.
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It's been a while since I've had a free day (especially at this time of the year) to catch up on YouTube that I haven't seen for some months AND HERE YOU ARE IN MY PART OF THE WORLD AGAIN. Australia is a big country and I enjoyed viewing your exploits across the Nullarbor and riding the train down the Queensland Coast but haven't noted you in other parts of my homeland until now. Glad you came to visit Zig-Zag, where I'm a member, but haven't been able to visit for the last five years for various reasons (advancing years being one). On my last visit (2019) I assisted with replacing a few ties (we call them sleepers) just near the Top Points Signal Box. I'm glad you were able to view inside Top Points 'Box and see how the interlocking works, also have the Staff Token system explained to you. Now when are you coming down to Melbourne, sir, or did you just sneak in when I wasn't looking? We have a lot of great things to show you here as I have related in past comments. I'm not on Instagram but you can reach me on Facebook (Michael D G Formaini) or reply to this comment. Cheers from Michael.🙂😉🙂
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Wow, Mike. Just noticed on your exercise walk you went along West 11th where I was staying during my stopover enroute to Scotland from Australia back in September 2018. I was at Windsor Guest House at 325 West 11th over Labor Day Weekend. What a small world!
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Hey, Mike! I'm running a week or so late reviewing you and other YouTube favourites after several significant railfan events downunder (check out Pannier, Thebusofdoomfsx, Schony747, Round the world in a steamy haze, and several others when you get the time). What a bummer; all that riding and no beer at the end. You have filled in a bookload of interesting facts about the Steveston line. And last week's coverage...Wow! You have finally met one of my Vancouver friends in Angus. I've had the privilege of his hospitality down in West 22nd on more than one occasion, most recently in October 2018. As you experienced, Angus is THE authority when it comes to Transit History in Vancouver. He may not have shared this with you but Angus is a great authority on streetcars down here in Melbourne and the former provincial trams in Geelong as he spent a number of his younger years with family when they lived in Geelong. Glad to see you are keeping well and are not short of material to share with us. Looking forward to showing you around my part of the world when things get back to normal. In the meantime, stay safe and well, and keep those weekly clips coming. Cheers from Michael.
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Maple glazed salmon nuggets. Now I'll have to try concoct my own with Tasmanian Salmon and maple syrup. Wow! What a variety of food temptations you have promoted here. Now I could go further and create a full meal of the salmon with poutines. Yum! May not have room for dessert after that. Maybe a mini-custard tart will have to do. Port and chocolate for a nightcap! By the way, Happy Easter to you, Nicole and your family. Cheers from downunder.
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Well, that was some experience! I wonder what the G forces were like as you banked.
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Oh. I forgot to add. Thanks to Matt and all those others who help you with your success. Cheers again from Michael.
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@DownieLive Thought I recognised the spot. Tried looking for squirrels and other cute wildlife to photograph there before I found out about the coyotes. Came across a black squirrel near the bus circuit though.
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It's late Wednesday 23rd November downunder and I just got time to watch this before the evening news. WOW! I'll have to try this once I win the lottery. Your popularity must have really hit the ceiling for Air Canada to give you and Nicole this fantastic Signature experience. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all air travel preparation, flight and customs/luggage collection experience was like this! AND YOU GOT TO ENTER THE COCKPIT on the plane! Your security clearance is obviously Top Rate! Congratulations on achieving such a level of trust with your National Airline and Homeland Security! One thing that I particularly noticed from your view over the tarmac was that Air New Zealand was in town. That was the Airline I used back in 2018 from Melbourne to Auckland to vancouver and return. Back in September 2018, I flew Economy from Vancouver to Glasgow with TransAt on an overnight flight and while it was reasonably comfortable for the price, seeing your experience has reminded me of the quirks of my experience. Now this will make you laugh. That flight was the first time I have come between a man and his wife. I was in the middle seat of a row of three - he was at the window and she (who must be obeyed) was on the aisle. We co-ordinated well when it came to need to use the restroom. On arrival in Glasgow, the Customs clearance, luggage collection and exit to ground transport was relatively quick for me but nothing like the luxury you and Nicole experienced at London (? Heathrow or Gatwick?). Now I am looking forward to seeing more of your travels by canal as advertised. Hope it all goes well and that you return home safely. After that is all over and you have recovered, hope to see you plan a trip downunder to our Great Southern Land. Cheers from Michael.🙂
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This is one hardy Tour! Great introduction to how Tequila gets its name, what is in it, how it is concocted, how one can get half pickled AND learn to dance (err...boot scoot) before you even get on the train. After 15 shots of various concoctions, it's a wonder you and Ben didn't get poured off the train (or fall off)! And I thought we Aussies were the masters of consuming alcoholic beverages! Glad you survived. Looking forward to seeing your take on the Copper Canyon and our own (err...Queensland's) long distance train.😅😉🙂
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Hi Mike (and Jess)! Just catching up with a backlog of YouTube and other techy stuff after a busy couple of weeks (70th birthday and other things). WOW! I've seen a number of videos and written articles on the Flam railway and wish I had time and could afford to go there. You have excelled in this presentation. I had no idea that the zip line, intermediate coffee shop and bicycle hire option was available and the goats...well... at least those on the bike path gave you a wide berth to pass safely (wouldn't have wanted to launch and cartwheel over that fence). You and Jess are indeed blessed to be able to travel and do adventurous things and be able to share your experiences with the rest of us. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Now I must watch this week's offering on the Arctic Train. Cheers from Michael downunder in Melbourne.
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Oh boy! Seeing the stamina of these gals makes me wish I was 50 years younger and not have an inward goitre. I can remember my youthful cycling days way before lycra and helmets when I would spend an idle Saturday riding from inner suburban Melbourne to Yan Yean Reservoir and back (around 60km round trip).Great view of Vancouver from Mt.Seymour.
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Hey Mike, another great video highlighting the commercial side of Squamish. I'm sure the good folk appreciate the promotion of their businesses as so many world-wide have crashed as a result of COVID 19. I was wondering who was assisting you until Matt came on the scene. If you do a part 2 don't forget West Coast Railway Association's Museum ( Yes, I've seen the other clip you did some time ago). My first visit to Squamish back in '89 was by rail behind 2860 "The Royal Hudson" that's one of the exhibits there now. When you finally get downunder, you might like to do a promotion on one of Victoria's Regional Cities, Castlemaine. Like Squamish, it has a thriving commercial centre (I hope it still has 'cos I haven't seen it since COVID struck), several fine hotels/motels, great eateries, several collectibles stores, an art deco theatre and the Victorian Goldfields Railway which links Castlemaine with the National Trust Historical Town of Maldon (Steam trains on weekends and during school holidays). Oh, and you can get there from Melbourne by rail on V/Line, the regional rail passenger service. Sorry to hear Canada is experiencing a second wave of COVID. Hope you can still remain free to travel safely. I'm looking forward to our 5km radius restriction being lifted soon - may be after next weekend if the daily case average over 14 days gets down below 5. I'm not holding my breath about that though. Now off to the shearing shed with your heavy load of hair!
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@DownieLive Certainly do. Now go into Google and check out Castlemaine Victoria.
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Never knew Austria had such a big scar on it with this mine.😯 Obviously necessary as part of the local economy, but, boy! I don't think the environmentalists amongst your audience would appreciate the revelation even though this was a once yearly fun event held there.😏 Hope there is no fall out from it.😉 On the positive side, yes! Looks like the sort of fun one could have (if only I was 50 years younger and not as settled in my habits) as a young person getting rid of life's frustrations. Looks like you had a great time! Now for that mid-life crisis.....!?!!🙂😉🙂
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What a great idea for those who can't travel for whatever reason. You've done well again, Mike. It's amazing what one can do in one's own city just by using one's God-given imagination. You are indeed blessed in Vancouver (and I see you have a blessing from Fr.Paddy McCafferty too). And it's great to see Nicole having fun as well. Now you may have heard we downunder in Melbourne are locked down AGAIN (hopefully only until Thursday 18th) so I'm looking forward to eating out again, internationally, subject to the COVID safe rules. I can picture it now; Italian in Carlton, German in Heidelberg, Irish at Dan O'Connells (several locations to choose from), Greek in the north east corner of Melbourne's Downtown. Just a few that come to mind. By the way, have you managed to check out Tom Thornton's "A month spent cat sitting in Melbourne" yet? (Goes for 9mins.45sec). It may give you some idea of my part of the world and the hidden gems we have here (when we can get about again). Happy Valentines Day for Sunday your time.
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Me and my big mouth! I watched the Zig Zag video before this lengthy adventure and had no idea you started this trip just outside my home city (Melbourne). Well, you certainly saw more of this country at ground level in 4 days than I have seen myself in nearly 72 years! This would have to be one of the best journeys you have ever posted in all your time as a YouTuber. I recognised some of the locations enroute (Echuca, Mildura, Jamestown, Port Augusta), You couldn't have had a better Truckie companion than Johnno, so a big shout out Thank You to him and Lumbars Transport. I will be pointing out this video to friends in my Professional Institute as one for candidates wanting to see what Heavy Vehicle Trucking in Australia is all about. Thanks to you for producing it and... .......When you're next going to be in my part of the country, please get in touch (Email is best on mdgf.mf@gmail.com) .As I elaborated several years ago when I started watching your channel, there is much to show you in and around my home city. Cheers from Michael.🙂🙂🙂
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What a joy to see you enjoying late summer/early fall on a Via Rail journey. Isn't it great to be alive and free to travel again !?!! I see you are doing a Canadian imitation of that young British lad from Huddersfield, Dylan, in reviewing the on-board facilities. Great to see that Windsor has cleaned up the waterfront and it appears Downtown Detroit across the way is improving its image as well. Urban renewal with parks like that in Windsor really lift the spirit of people experiencing the results. Love the Canadian Beer promo. The food on the train looks great too. Keep up the good work on your cross-Canada journey. Looking forward to the next installment as we downunder need a constant boost of joy as we await the end of lockdown. As an aside that you will appreciate, I got my first jab of Pfizer a week ago (patiently waited for it to be available to over 60s), am booked in for the second in two more weeks and will then have a vax passport to participate in regular society again (I hope). Cheers from your namesake in the most locked down city in the world (recently shaken and stirred by a 5.9 earthquake). Stay safe and well.
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Well, that was fun!!! Now when did you say you were coming downunder to do the Bathurst 1000? Just kidding. It would be interesting to see your skills replicated with a sports motorcycle since I know you love riding.🙂😉🙂
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@DownieLive Mmmmmm..... Homer just entered the room!
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Shelves downunder in Melbourne are just starting to get back to normal. So far the shortages haven't affected me. Two weeks ago I never thought I'd be so excited to get a fresh supply of dunny (er, toilet) paper even though I hadn't had to resort to using newspaper as a substitute. While the city streets here appear to be deserted (as seen on TV news), the suburbs are reasonably vibrant, although physical distancing rules and avoidance of public gatherings is enforced, with the risk of a $1652 fine per person if the police don't believe you are out for essential shopping, work or exercise. I haven't strayed more than 2km from my house as a pedestrian or driven more than 5km for supplies since 21st March. We might get a relaxation of rules after 10th May if our health authorities deem it safe to do so. Hope you and your partner stay safe through all of this and thanks for your great style of YouTubing. Hope the urban squirrels, racoons and birdlife aren't spooked too much. Our magpies, cockies and possums seem to be doing okay down here. Cheers from Melbourne, Australia.
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Wow! You are indeed blessed. I just finished viewing my local church service livestreamed (it's 11 45am Sunday 5th July here) and the YouTube autosuggestion immediately brought your weekly clip up. I'm not kidding! i'm still connected to St.Christopher's Parish - Syndal website! First reaction- loved the purring welcoming committee - Oh! Just a second - better go and see if my manager has finished her breakfast so I can wash her bowl!.... Yep! Check... she's purring on the mat in the back porch.. Great to see you and Riley enjoying a ride in beautiful British Columbia on a great summer's day.. Reminds me of many pleasant rides on my Honda 4 up the Yarra Valley over 25 years ago. When you went to open up the door of the tree house my first thought was "Where's the racoon?", then when you got inside, switched on the lights and showed us around, I thought "Oh dear! I do hope whoever is on the bottom bunk doesn't pass wind during the night." That would really strain the friendship. The outside facilities are really imaginative. The guy who designed this getaway is really a kid at heart. I loved your acknowledgement of my Aussie reference to the "dunny" when you showed us the thunderbox with a view. Toasting marshmellows by the campfire is an international camping past-time. Great steady work with your drone camera lifting up through the fir trees! And now you're off to Port Alberni for next week's episode on a tugboat. Question; Is the big timber mill there still operating it's logging railroad? I'd love to see a short sequence of that if it comes on your radar. Meanwhile downunder, things have deteriorated in the last week such that some of Melbourne's northwestern suburbs are in lockdown again. Let's say a collective prayer that this virus will finally peg out and set us free again to share the joys you are now experiencing again. Cheers from Michael downunder.
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@DownieLive It's the logging RAILROAD I refer to that served the mill and port from the forest loading points. It may be gone now. Cheers.
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Finally found time to get back to you on YouTube and great to see you are still posting. I've had a busy couple of months and today (Sat.2nd Dec. Aussie time) is the first time in several weeks I've set aside time to catch up with your channel and some others I follow. Yikes! You got rid of the mullet AND you snuck in downunder for a train video in Queensland! Was the haircut done by a Queensland shearer? And did you bump into any Canadian Railfans while there (there were at least two in Queensland from September through November that I'm aware of)? Great to see you now have 3/4 million subscribers and that your Wirth hats partnership with Ben is still going (along with TruEarth). And good to see that beer promotion is supporting, rather than contributing to, mental health. I'm sure you enjoyed a Four X while on your brief visit to that northern State we Southerners refer to as a separate country to the rest of Aus. Now I must backtrack and view those two clips on Mexican Train Travel (and your sampling of Tequila) before I get on with Saturday night. Cheers from Michael in Melbourne.🙂😉🙂
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Wow! It's Sunday lunchtime down under and I just finished watching the livestream of Mass from my local church when YouTube prompted me to watch this clip featuring your parents. You are so lucky to have great parents and a sister who support your life calling. Yes, I'm still in lockdown (until 11th May at this stage) even though some parts of Aussie and New Zealand have relaxed restrictions (a flight to NZ passed overhead about an hour ago), but I'm able to get daily exercise and do essential shopping. Watching travel and adventure shows on YouTube has become a regular theme (not necessarily every day though). This clip reminded me of my visit to Fernie in October 2016, motorcycle touring in my younger days and adventure activities in great company. Unfortunately, both my parents passed away a long time ago. Dad supported my freedom on motorcycles as he was a rider once himself. Mum was more sedentary in her habits for health reasons. I must admit I drew a long breath when I saw you and parents scampering among the rocks and cactus in Arizona, but I guess the rattlesnakes down there hibernate in November when this part was shot. Thanks again for posting and God bless you for your wonderful work. Cheers from Michael down under.
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Hi Mike, I've been off the air for quite a while and just making time to check out the backlog of YouTube clips from you and others with whom I'm in contact. It's March 6th and I simply had to make time to catch up with what's been happening in your world and also to send a birthday greeting as it's coming up. WOW! Congratulations on your wedding and also congratulations to Nicole for her promotion as well as the wedding. The nearest I've ever been to Hong Kong is Alice Springs and, given my vintage (71st birthday recently) and circumstances, I might get as close as Darwin. Overseas travel for me is way down my list of priorities at present and even domestic travel beyond day trips and the occasional overnighter is difficult given the current cost of living pressures along with my objective for updating my home for my autumn years. Great that you both got to honeymoon and have a REAL vacation back in Canada. Great that you have been able to sample our Aussie way of life in recent times and make your Channel a full-time gig. Now you are much closer, hope you can come down again soon and do some more YouTubing in my homeland and across the ditch (New Zealand). Thanks for the last four years of our YouTube friendship. Cheers from your namesake in Melbourne.🙂🙂🙂
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Hey Mike, great to see you enjoying family time as well as travelling around the countryside and keeping the railroad theme going. Looking forward to mid-September when I might, hopefully, get to go outside a 5 kilometre radius of home. The Shuswap Lakes area is a great location to combine love of railfanning, fishing, swimming and generally enjoying the great outdoors. On a road trip with my Canadian friend, Kevin, 25 years ago, another Aussie friend and I based ourselves in Salmon Arm and photographed trains on Notch Hill and alongside the lake before continuing towards Revelstoke and beyond. The views around the lake and caboose park you showed reminded me of this great adventure from long ago, On the flip side, there was one minor boo-boo in your caboose operating description. If the conductor/rear brakeman saw the train divide in front of him, the air in the brake system SHOULD dump and the brakes on both parts of the train would activate. He would still pull the emergency cord to dump the air at his end of the rear portion to guarantee a quick stop because the train may be on a gradient and the rear portion could roll forward or backward causing further mayhem. The Engineer would deal with the front portion but might not appreciate the rear portion giving his portion a rear end shove after recovery from stopping. Just a little to add to your railroad knowledge. Thank you for triggering the memories and sharing your family time with us. Looking forward to next week's presentation. Cheers from your Melbourne based fan.
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@DownieLive Mike, not only do you bring back fond memories, your postings are spreading good cheer to so many downunder who are still in lockdown. I was just speaking to a young friend named Tyler who thanked me so much for spreading the word to him and others. By the way, I just consulted my CN North America Operating Guide 1994 (given to me by a dispatcher in Prince George when I made a semi-professional visit there in 1995) and the Air Brake Rules confirm what I mentioned in my first comment. Take care and God Bless You and Your Family.
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Wow! I did the trip to the top of Pikes Peak back in September 1995 and made it all the way by rail (not as windy as your trip and we even had the company of some wildlife beyond the treeline). The Broadmoor Hotel was a wee bit out of my budget. My travelling companion and I stayed in Colorado Springs instead of Manitou. You have covered this trip so well. Brings back a lot of memories for me, even though much of the ground facilities and the trains themselves have been updated. Looking forward to your coverage of the Durango and Silverton with Will next week. Cheers from your friend in Melbourne.🙂🙂
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G'day from downunder Mike. I had a real chuckle over your frisbee golf segment and you visiting the dead centre of Vancouver. I can just visualise what your reaction to a boomerang throw might be. Suggestion for your next Guide to Vancouver segment might be " How to get around Vancouver by public transport". I still have my Compass card with about $6 on it. Great to see you are still healthy in these COVID times.
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Amongst other things I received on my techie equipment today was a guide to 28 free things to do in and around Melbourne as restrictions come off. Next Monday 22nd we'll be able to go to various attractions that have been in lockdown and, Yay! We'll be able to have a beer at the local without having to order a meal! Just hope there isn't an increase in COVID resulting from the Black Lives Matters protests 10 days ago. Fingers crossed.
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Congratulations Mike on this behind the scenes coverage. It truly shows how much care goes into ensuring passengers are safe on their daily commute in these troubled times. I had to chuckle when you got carted off to Commercial-Broadway because you didn't get out of the train quickly enough. Great coverage of the wash facility at Marpole too. Angus (from your Burnaby Vintage Bus Tour) had me on a tour of that facility straight off the plane from Gatwick back in October 2018. I was a little jet-lagged by then. Now I do hope BC Translink have given you a free Yearly Compass Pass for producing such a great video. Cheers from Melbourne.
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Love the fact that you scooted through 7 States in one journey. The best I did back in '95 was five..... and the north west corner of Connecticut was part of that trip. Looks like the best bit of yours was right at the end....The Great Hall of Washington Union Station. Looks like you had great value and healthy options in the cafe car. Looking forward to your next Amtrak adventure. Boy oh boy! Florida to Alaska! That will be some trip. Cheers from Michael in Melbourne.
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Well Mike, you served up the moose on the loose as well as having the mousse served up to you, Matt and Warwick. Thank YOU for the thoughtful comments about enjoying the journey and experience with friends and new friends. It's all about people and the human experience, isn't it !?! Looking forward to your journeys by boat in the UK. Oh, and when is Warwick dragging you down under to visit us in Melbourne? Looking forward to that! I've still got that trainride to Hurstbridge in mind - and if we hire bicycles we might do train one way and cycle the other along the Diamond Valley and Yarra Valley trail. Will have to do some training for that (pardon the pun). Anyway, thanks for a great series on travel by train in America and looking forward to the long boat tour. Cheers from Michael.😉
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Thanks for sharing this. Will have a look at your channel once I have replied to Mike. Cheers from a railfan downunder.
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I've been to the gun placement and Squamish but the other places will have to go on the bucket list. You threw me with the right hand drive car, but I see through your replies to others that it's an import from Japan. Very smart too. Just remember to continue on the right side of the road, unlike my Mickey Mouse trick in Banff back in '89. A late Merry Christmas from Melbourne and hope New Year is one to celebrate. By the way, we have to wear masks only when in a crowd or on public transport now and the traditional Boxing Day cricket started at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) yesterday with around 27K attending (capacity near 100K). Something for Vancouver to look forward to in Spring.
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Wow! Isn't it great that you can catch, tag and release these beautiful creatures and they show little, if any, resentment to the experience. A great insight to boating, camping, fishing in beautiful British Columbia and a complete contrast to our mutual favourite train riding experiences that demonstrates your versatility and zest for life. It is probably timely for me to point you in the direction of an advertisement for an Aussie firm (BCF - Boating Camping Fishing) on YouTube that will give you a comical aspect of Aussie Boating, Camping, Fishing and cause you to split your sides laughing at the misfortunes of a city-slicker amateur Aussie family man who needs a lot of guidance in how to do things right. At one stage he is unrecognisable due either to the possum bite or disturbance of the beehive. Note at the very end where the right side front wheel falls off as he pulls up outside his local BCF store. The music and lyrics to the ad are a cause to have a good laugh in themselves. My Cranbrook based friend had occasion to use BCF to get supplies for part of one of his many trips downunder and he has viewed the ad and chuckled profusely at it. The 1 minute ad is titled BCF-New BCF Commercial on Youtube.com/watch?v=MZXQ2k6LTtQ and was uploaded to YouTube on 19th September 2019. Hope I've got the address code correct and you get a great laugh out of it. I'll repost the address if I've goofed up on it. Cheers from your good friend in Melbourne.
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Great coverage of a unique part of the Canal System. I travelled over the top on a TransPennine service from York to Manchester Victoria back in September 2018 and noticed both tunnel entrances. Looking forward to what surprises you have in store next time. Cheers from your Melbourne friend.
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Hey Michael, looks like I may have James Walker to assist me show you around Melbourne when you come downunder. Hopefully you can get down here in 2021. Cheers.
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Mike, your creativity never ceases to amaze me. A change of scenery (whether it be tropical themed or otherwise) always helps to lift the spirit, even if it's within your own city or province. Doing out of the ordinary things based on a theme for a weekend (or midweek, if you can spare the time), especially with someone close, is a great way of getting out of boring routine. I recognised most of the places you traversed in this video. The drinks venue was something new. After your tropical lunch, I think the next two meals would need to have been very modest or cancelled outright without vigorous exercise, like a full circuit of Stanley Park on those bicycles, for example. Your driving skills with a right side driving position came up well, although I was a bit concerned about the car coming in from the right and the Translink bus pulling up alongside you in your environment. You must be practising for coming downunder. I had a chuckle at the sulphur crested cockatoo that appeared twice in the conservatory scenes (Did it say "Hello cockie" ?) A little bit of Aussie there! I had a further chuckle at the temperature reading. As I type this, it's 2.35pm on a 'turn me over, mom, I'm fried this side' Sunday afternoon in sunny Melbourne and the temperature inside my home is 28 degrees Celsius (83 degrees Fahrenheit) and it's probably at least 5 - 10 degrees Celsius outside. Even the cat has fled under the house to keep cool. Although I'm now free to travel far and wide, this sort of day is not one on which to do it. Now my next task is to put the trash and garden waste bins out for the "garbo" tomorrow morning - Yes, my Monday wake up call is "Bang! Crash, thud!" as the garbage trucks pass my door around 5.30-6.00am. There should be enough shade on the sidewalk now for the bins not to smell. Thanks for keeping up the show and coming up with new ways to entertain us in these troubled times. Let's hope the various anti-COVID vaccines become proven remedies and get distributed worldwide soon so that we can all get back to normal. Stay cheerful and safe and I look forward to your next offering. Cheers from Michael.
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@DownieLive Agree. They should have at least used cheese cubes, not plastic slices.
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It's just after 5pm Tuesday in downtown Melbourne so I switched on my phone social media and there you were on Facebook. Quickly rustled up the PC, got onto YouTube and WOW! You're at Fort Steele, just down the road from my friend, Kevin Dunk , in Cranbrook. I visited this park in October 2018 with Kevin (the steam season was over and it was a weekday) and we photographed CP freights and Sparwood Coal Trains from the cliff overlooking the river, bridges and rail junction. Again a great video; you learned and shared a great deal about steam loco operation and I'm looking forward to the Cranbrook Rail Museum video when you get it uploaded. Chuckled at James Walker's comment and your response re the manbun. Obviously he is keeping a positive attitude during these difficult times in Melbourne. At least we are starting to get hints of spring down here and I am still safe and well and COVID free. Enjoy the remainder of your summer and thanks again for a great show this week.
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@DownieLive This video has had the best reaction yet. As soon as I viewed it, I emailed Kevin and advised several others about it. Kevin will view it later in the week as he is visiting his brother in darkest Cassiar (up near the Yukon) and the Internet is a bit sketchy up there. Reaction from others is very positive. Your glowing personality and sharing of your experiences with your family and friends lifts everyone's souls.
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West Edmonton Mall is definitely on my bucket list for a 4th visit to your homeland, even if it means perambulating with a walking stick! After all, I'm 69 now and not sure when I'll be able to do it, given other lifestyle priorities in the next few years. I do hope you can get down to see me here in Melbourne before those decisions have to be made. You, your family, travelling mates and experiences have been a lifting of the spirits over our recent troubled times. Thanks for taking me (and my friends) with you via YouTube to all these wonderful places that are both on and off the usual tourist trail. I've already given you a few suggested ideas on some off the beaten track things to see and do down here. Hurry up and come on down. Cheers from Michael.
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Wow! What a difference 12 months can make! And you took Teese along - so generous! Had to catch up today as so much is happening in the world that we need a good news story such as yours to lift the spirit. Now you are a bit closer to Australia, I look forward to seeing you and Teese doing a lot more travel around here and, maybe, I'll get to see you here in Melbourne. Thanks for posting this awesome experience from Bahrain.🙂🙂😉🙂
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