For those of us in the UK who have been boating on our canals for many years, it is fascinating to see your reactions as you are experiencing them for the first time. It is great to see you enjoying yourselves so much !

@Yesica1993

Жыл бұрын

I'm in America and his first video on this was the first I even learned of these canals and that people can use them! (For reasons other than perhaps business/commercial.)

@candygram4435

Жыл бұрын

@@Yesica1993same. It’s fascinating

@DorenesFoodPrepResource

Жыл бұрын

@@Yesica1993 Same

@martynjewell5627

Жыл бұрын

Totally agree.

@ike1660

Жыл бұрын

@@Yesica1993 No real commercial use anymore, unless you count the narrowboat rental companies. If you're interested, there's a whole ecosystem of narrowboating YT channels!

There’s nothing sweeter than being able to afford the luxury of traveling to different locations as enchanting and beautiful as this

@NathanElcoate

Жыл бұрын

It's certainly aspirational! My Wife and I are definately on a 10 year goal to do a canal boat holiday.

@kirstyharrison1825

Жыл бұрын

Middlewich is a lovely place and my hometown

the thing about Britain's canals is that they really did kickstart the modern world. not only transporting iron and coal, they enabled the delivery of fresh food, milk and produce to the towns and London which in turn enabled the industrial revolution in Britain. both improving the economy and general health, they were the super highways of the day.

@zeitghost1321

Жыл бұрын

To a great country who gets much too much unfair criticism I want to say Thank You for the Industrial Revolution. The world owes you a debt of gratitude

@the.abhiram.r

11 ай бұрын

@@zeitghost1321although britain did some terrible things with colonization, they indirectly helped modernize the world and made it safer to live in

@zeitghost1321

11 ай бұрын

@the.abhiram.r I agree. It was an exchange. Only the most negative characterisation is recognized in current times, unfortunately.

I actually grew up in most of the places in this video. The flight of locks was somewhere me & my friend used to play on, and then we realised that people would pay you if you did the locks for them. In the summer we used to make a lot of money at the weekends getting tips from all the boaters on those 3 locks! We would work from 8am for a few hours and then at lunchtime we’d go for a bike ride and spend the money that we’d earned. Great video! And it wad great to see you in my old home town, since I’ve just recently discovered your channel 😎👍🏽

Thanks again guys for pulling my boat in and mooring it back up. This often happens when boats cruise past too fast, it can also happen if it was poorly moored up to start with. Great video...

@DownieLive

Жыл бұрын

Oh no way! That was you?!? So fun that you got to watch the video! No worries SlushBoat

The UK canal system is such an untapped getaway! So many people outside of the UK and Wales no absolutely nothing about this amazing activity and way of life even for so many Brits. Nothing but peace, serenity, and nature for over 2000 miles. An amazing historical masterpiece of British innovation and culture! Thank you so much for bringing us along! It’s like the “it’s a small world” Disney ride but for adults! Lol😊

Now that you’re a pro at going through locks, you should come to Ontario, we have plenty of locks and even some lift locks, including the Peterborough Lift Lock which is the highest hydronic lift lock in the world and the Kirkfield Lift Lock, and then the Big Chute Marine Railway which is really cool too, it lifts your boat right out of the water. All of them are along the Trent Severn Waterway which is a historic site. There’s 42 historic lock stations and it runs between Georgian bay and Lake Ontario. The experience will be slightly different though, because the Parks Canada staff operate the locks here in Ontario, so you just have to navigate your boat.

@brianfraser2495

Жыл бұрын

No canals out in western Canada. Yours would be the closest.

I work in a supermarket right next to a canal and the range of people using it is amazing. You get American tourists, European tourists, older live aboards and young hippy type live aboards. Quite the eclectic mix.

This is so unique, at least for me as an American. I've always known about the canals and narrowboats in England and Wales but never really learned about them. Thank you so much for bringing us beautiful experiences, scenery and fascinating history and architecture.

First I wanted to travel the USA by train. Now I've tossed that notion and want to go to the UK and tour the canals. It is just the most fun looking thing to do!

@DownieLive

Жыл бұрын

It’s so fun!

@carl48uk

Жыл бұрын

Starla, I can tell you from experience , that if you are suffering from any form of mental health issues, then get on a narrowboat holiday for a week. After one day cruising the canal in the countryside, you will experience your shoulders getting a lot lighter and that smile getting wider and wider.. I had a boat on the midland canals and it was by far the best money per experience spent.. You can't do anything quickly and have to slow down.... It's great !!

Being an American who’s lived in Michigan my whole life. The locks remind me of our locks and the freighters that travel up and down the lakes at all hours of the day though they’re bigger than your typical narrow boat. Still very cool.

Well done, Mike! I even had my wife watching this. Absolutely fascinating, I had no idea this system of canals even existed.

@DownieLive

Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear it Roger!

@janentomenkafka

Жыл бұрын

Western Europe has a similar network of rivers and canals. You can sail from the Mediterranean to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam or Berlin only using inland waterways... if you have the time. We know a (retired) New Zealand couple who bought a boat in the Netherlands. Every spring they arrive in Europe to continue their travels. Early autumn they go back home, where spring has started. They leave their boat in a marina and pick it up the next spring.

Good stuff Mike. I'm a BC boy too. You're representing us as the curious bunch we are. For anyone in another country, this is what western Canadian tourists are like. Totally intense about the beauty of the place we visit. We come from a place that is epic in it's beauty and we seek that in our destinations. British Columbia has been a wonderful resource of curious Canadians seeking interesting adventures on you tube. I couldn't be more grateful to be Canadian at the moment.

@Devastatia669

Жыл бұрын

This comment couldn't be more true. My boyfriend lives in BC, when he comes to visit me in the UK he's always amazed at the things that I probably take for granted because I've seen them so often. I'm probably the same when I travel to visit him though, this little country is nearly four times smaller than your Province and everything is so different and I find things beautiful that he finds just ordinary and part of every day life.

@robbybobbyhobbies

2 ай бұрын

I'm a Brit from a little east of this canal. Now living in Whistler, BC. I feel the same awe for the surroundings I've found myself in and the places I visit.

It's great to see Gareth again - Congratulations to he and Helen, on their nuptials. COWS OVERHEAD! TUNNELS! LOCKS! A BOAT ELEVATOR!? ...and we are only halfway through this series! Mike & Nicole, I can't wait to see what's ahead!

I didn't want this one end; this is a real adventure. And, this leg was even greater; you did it with wonderful friends. Nice to meet you Gareth and Helen; and, CONGRATULATIONS on your marriage!

Congratulations to Helen and Gareth! 🎉🎊🥂 This looks like quite the adventure. Marvelous 3 point turn there Mike! Do you get some sort of achievement badges when you've done all these locks and things? 🤣

You are an example of us living vicariously through your life because some of us will never be able to do these things. I find it fascinating as well. Thank you so much! 😊

I am obsessed with this trip!! Lots of boating here in Louisiana, but I need canals in my life.

Loved the big grin on your face when you were going through the long tunnel. "This is soooo coooool." You tha man, Mike.

More quiet than a track, less bumpy too, must kind of feel like your sleeping on a water bed, and like you said, a Disney ride to boot. Thanks Mike and Nicole. Loved the video and congratulations to your newly wed friends!

I am really enjoying this series. This is certainly one of the most interesting vacations I that I have ever seen. Looking forward to the next episode.

Thanks for showing us the beauty of these canals. I live within a 10 minute drive of the Erie canal, & love taking a stroll along the canalway paths. :)

Hi. My husband had wanted to do this someday, has now changed his mind seeing how much works goes with this with the lochs. I’m glad we watch your videos!Thanks Mike.

Sooooo excited for this series! You have the BEST Narration around! You get just the Most Excited about your adventures and love it even more that your bringing your significant other along for the series. Love the travels by rail series but also love that you are branching out. Keep up that great content!

This is another episode Mike that I share with my grandchildren so they can aspire to experience the many wonders our world has to offer. Thank you so much!

We did a couple of narrow boat holidays as a family years ago in this area. We don't have canals around Newcastle in the UK. The nearest is either Scotland or Leeds. Last week I booked a week over Christmas for me and my Dad. He's obsessed with narrow boats. Cant wait for a peaceful week away over Christmas in the Midlands countryside 😁

Canal traveling looks like fun and as you have pointed out that there’s those challenges to overcome and they can be overcome when you have friends along too!

Michael I love these new adventures. My Husband is now a new fan of yours too. He's started watching the videos with me now. He was doing some work outside and came back in and found me watch this latest video, he had me back it up so he could watch it.😂Love to you and Nicole

A great episode. Gareth and Helen a welcome edition. Nichole always fabulous and awesome. Was not aware of the canals so wonderful series. Ans yes, Mike. You're doing stellar work as usual. Looking forward to next week.

I can only say, if you have enjoyed this, then maybe you would also enjoy taking daytrips through the Spreewald in Germany. It is very beautiful in spring and summer, and while you don't live on a boat you also take the whole day discovering a big network of beautiful canals through a lush green landscape. Just a small recommendation from me ^^

I enjoyed this so much, what a wholesome experience and captured so brilliantly Mike. Can't wait to see next week :)

@DownieLive

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Will! I’d love to see you and Millie on a narrowboat someday!

@DownieLive

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Will! I’d love to see you and Millie on a narrowboat someday!

I had no idea this all existed. Thanks for the exposure and getting to see the better half with you!

Mike, Nicole, Gareth and Helen, The countryside in the UK is so beautiful. I can't wait to see what the next two episodes have to show us. Thank you for bringing us along on this adventure. Gareth and Helen, CONGRATULATIONS on your marriage!

The best part was you taking the time to help that boat that got loose! Love your channel, such feel good vibes!

I love all of your travel videos, but I think this just may be my favorite yet!!

I've been called many things, perhaps almost all of them... but now I'm a gongoozler? Really? I'm just trying to enjoy myself watching boats. Thanks for all the education, in everything you are doing. ** Oh, and yeah - every new trip is going to be your favorite trip, for probably many years. Your eyes are wide open. I was there once.

Stunning as always. Love the narrative and the edits. Hands down my favorite travel vlog, no matter where you are. Cheers from OZ

Amazing countryside. And the architectural genius is fascinating! 🌸Thanks for the great video, Michael.

So happy in the knowledge that Mike is one of those people who likes all forms of trivia and enjoys tidbits of history.

A friend of mine I used to know years ago had a small canal boat. I spent a week with him on it up near Skipton. It was so relaxing to sleep at night with the gentle rocking of the water. And where I live now in Hudderfield, overlooks our canal.

I have pleasure in telling you (and confessing) that I seriously thought OMG North American on a canal boat ...this is just going to be rubbish ... I ABSOLUTELY LOVE your high energy informative style - really do feel like I'm sharing the journey with you. You guys rock!

The moment Gareth mentioned the locks and what happens there, it went from ‘Schitt’s Creek’ to ‘1899’. Thé anxiety is real.

That lift is a total engineering marvel! They could probably produce an entire show about it, just the engineering challenges, construction, etc. Very cool to see it in operation.

I am really enjoying this current series so much. I have always liked watching Downie Live, and the places and unique experiences that have been encountered along the way. Thank you for doing what you do, and more importantly doing what you love to do, provide people the opportunity to share your experiences. Big Fan. PS- Nice to finally see Nicole in this current series.

I fell in love with canal life after watching your videos, loved them all,thank you.

Hi Mike, first of all great video. Second, I have a possible idea for a new series. As you may know, the bicycle is an important vehicle in the Netherlands. It is so popular that even our prime minister goes to his appointments by bike. So maybe you could shoot something in the Netherlands about and with bycles, for example traveling trough the Netherlands with a bike.

It’s great to share this trip with you. You are so relaxed and happy, which makes it even more enjoyable.

he UK canal system is such an untapped getaway! So many people outside of the UK and Wales no absolutely nothing about this amazing activity and way of life even for so many Brits. Nothing but peace, serenity, and nature for over 2000 miles. An amazing historical masterpiece of British innovation and culture! Thank you so much for bringing us along! It’s like the “it’s a small world” Disney ride but for adults! Lol nivnfijrcf

Must say that I love these videos! Especially as you always say hi to the animals 😊

@DownieLive

Жыл бұрын

😊 thank you

@MilanGP

Жыл бұрын

Yes I agree

i live in barnton and it is mental to see someone with 500k subscribers going past somewhere i go every single day

What an amazing trip. Me and my family did the Norfolk broads canals back in 2017 and I was to young to appreciate how peaceful and enjoyable it was been. Thanks to your videos I will be doing the exact route you did! I cant wait.

14:00 if it was said i didnt catch it, but the most brilliant part of this design is because boats displace water by weight not by volume, no matter how many boats are on either side of the lift the lifts will always weigh exactly the same. A 5k boat floats into the lift and 5k worth of water flows out. They never had to worry about balancing the lifts or having powerful engines/motors to lift a heavy boat.

Great storytelling and adventures happy you could share it with friends. My parents loved the Falkirk Wheel connecting Forth and Clyde Canals

I lived in Droitwich for 5 years and never knew the "wich" meant salt. There are pits they have maintained near to the canals there which are where salt was mined, and the main road east from Droitwich is still called Salt Way. I'm fairly sure it dates back to Roman times.

These series have singlehandedly put narrow boating very high on my bucket list when I visit the UK

Omg a Mini-Moon THAT IS SO CUTE! Wishing Gareth and Helen all the best. Also, what an introduction to Gareth indeed 😂

Great episode. We like them all. For a second we thought you were going to shut up for awhile. Silence is nice now and then. 😉

Okay...WoW...you have showcased so many amazing experiences ... in Canada ... the United States ... and now the United Kingdom...looking forward to the next adventures you imagine.

So a cool train/canal fact for you Downie! In Cincinnati the Miami and Erie Canal use to run through Cincinnati from the Ohio River all the way up to Toledo and the Great Lakes, they dried the canal up and proceeded to place a subway in the canal beds previous spot, after getting 6 miles of the tunnel done, they abandoned the subway and it’s still there to this very day under Central parkway in Cincinnati, the largest abandoned subway in the United States. Even has station platforms. Cool mixture because you like trains, history, and canals!

Thank you for this Mike it’s interesting. Love the scenery, Wales is beautiful.

Another wonderful episode in your narr9wboat adventures! Great teamwork getting through those locks, really helps to have an experienced person with you but it's common sense for the mostpart. Im actuallt rather envious because I've only been on a narrowboat a very short time, I'm still trying to convince my wife to try a narrowboat holiday for a week. I have my daily fix of narrowboat and canals because I live literally minites from Worsley on the Bridgwater Canal which is very historic! The epicentre of the Industrial Revolution, and the first canal purpose built for industrial purposes 🙂

Another great episode: you seem to have been unlucky with pubs serving dinner. I live in an old canalside pub that hasn't been serving dinners to passing boaters since 1945😀

I can't believe they let you work the locks on your own there! That's not a thing in the Netherlands AFAIK, but then again our lock density is probably much lower, as we're flatter? Also, man, I miss summer!

Woo hoo another Downie Live Adventure 🙌 Enjoying this series very much. Thank you for sharing 🥰 🇦🇺

The scenery is absolutely stunning, especially with your amazing drone footage. I would love to go to the UK, I'm just blown away by the old, beautiful buildings and the canals and the nature. The lift and the concrete boats were crazy interesting and you always make the history lesson really fun. The locks seemed like such a pain in the butt to have to do, but still so impressive and engaging to watch and learn about. Miss Mary Mack had me cracking up and remembering the good ole days back on the elementary school playground 😂

I grew up taking holidays on the canals This brought back so many good memories Best videos you’ve done so far

I'm loving this new boating series, mostly because this is my neck of the woods. 😁 Northwich is my local town. I live in a village about 3 miles away, in between Acton Bridge and Anderton. In fact many years ago I used to work for the Black Prince holidays at Acton Bridge where you picked your boat up from. We go to Anderton often in the summer to walk the trails there. Such a beautiful place. Was great seeing my home town from the river too. Gives a completely different perspective. I hope you enjoyed your journey. Earlier this year we visited Falkirk in Scotland to see the only other boat lift on the canals, the Falkirk Wheel. Was great comparing it to the Anderton boat lift. A canal boat holiday is definitely on mine and my husbands "to do" list. One of my sisters friends lives on a canal boat, such a peaceful, relaxing pace of life. 👍

I used to work on a tugboat on the mississippi (moving barges). A lock and dam is literally the most dangerous place you can possibly be on the river. Drowning, crushing, maiming, and removal of limbs are just some of the dangers to your person and there are all kinds of dangerous things that can happen to the boat. BUT, in practice locking is actually very simple, routine, and about as safe as you can make it so long as you don't do anything stupid.

That was a great video. I had been looking forward to this one since your first one was finished and I can hardly wait for the third one. You did a fantastic job of explaining the canal network and how everything works. Incredible scenery everywhere!

Another amazing episode! Thank you for taking us along. Wow, the information that we got today as well as the beautiful scenery. Thank you!

@DownieLive

Жыл бұрын

So happy to hear that Barb! So glad you're enjoying it!

Can’t believe you were in Nantwich, where I live after following you for years! Such a small world! Really enjoying the series, as always

@DownieLive

Жыл бұрын

So cool!

This is so beautiful to explains all this through your eyes. Aren’t you a video all the way to Alberta Canada and bloody marvellous to keep on seeing the canals still running today from 1800s on thank God the Queen kept up with the digestion of the canals

I spotted the Narrowboat Pirates boat in your film, the grey boat, you cruised past it when you had finished pulling that boat back to its mooring lol (the Rum wench it's called)

Mike your enthusiasm and joy is so infectious you are a delight to watch, thank you for that.

Your videos are so tranquil and beautiful just like Beautiful Wales.. I lived in England for 10 years then came back to India.. England , Wales and Scotland they are all amazingly beautiful places, people are so friendly and welcoming ❤️💕

To swing a boat back to the canal bank, it's all about leverage. It would have been easier to take a fender line or the central "lazy line".

i wonder if mike will check out the falkirk wheel. its another impressive canal boat lift.

this is such a great series already. I mean this in the nicest way possible but I love nicole's sardonic vibe playing the foil to the usual tone of your videos. This seems like such a good couples vacation

The Historic Boat Lift is my compass to guide me through the Travel by Boat and my next trips prior seeing the overall of Real Historic in person.

The countryside is so beautiful!!! These videos allow me to travel the world even though I'm not able to leave Joshua Tree, Ca. as I take care of my parents. But it's all good. I'm blessed to still have both of my parents even though I'm 50. Good times!

Hilarious!! I learned that clapping song 39 years ago in Grade 4 but it was Miss Lulu had a steamboat...This is amazing, all part of my heritage and places I have never seen so thank you!

Very enjoyable experience watching you on your adventures. You share with us places that most of us will never see in person.

Going to the lodge, in NORTHWICH My hometown I’m so gutted I did not see you, hopefully your meal was good, Shame you didn’t get to eat at the Stanley it’s food is amazing ❤

I must say as a Scot I'm glad you went to England but Scotland has a much bigger canel wheels and canels that are buetiful big recomendation for anyone who loves canals but there are things in last video pubs have certain times that they serve food and eat just thing to know when visiting in UK

Your video's are well made and very entertaining. Thirty minutes well spent. My wife and I (70 and 76) are since februari 2020 in quarantaine. We weren't in any shop since then.. Everything comes by post. So I watch youtube almost all day long. Many travel video's. RV's , bikes, trains, your trains and much more. ( US politics) Very famous..... "itchy boots" in 3 years from 0 to 1,5 million subs. I look forward to your next video.

Hey Mike, put the Trent-Severn waterway on your bucket list. From Georgian Bay to Trenton on lake Ontario. I've done it as have my parents.

There's so much more to this than I ever would have imagined. My first impression was that it would be just idyllically drifting through pastoral scenery, but these locks and tunnels make it a challenge (not to mention pubs closed on Mondays). Looking forward to next week.

Cows are my favorite, too! Definitely need to plan a boat canal tour. Thanks for sharing.

The clapping song so brought me back to my childhood! Fabulous views.

Spent many happy hours in Camden Town, in London, watching the boats go through the lock. Fascinating!

I have to smile every time you wave hello to the farm animals 🤣

Hey Mike. Loving the boat series. You should do a video on the QNS&L railroad in Quebec. It's a very cool story and your love of trains would be neat to hear your perspective.

wow Michael another fantastic video ... thank you again for the ride ...

The Canal in the UK has opened my third vision of my third eye, I will be writing the book of Newfoundland but the historic of the UK Canal...very charming!

i use to spend many weekends and weeks for a few years on a friends GRP boat cruising up and down between Sheffield and the river hull with a huge amount of locks and bridges to operate. it use to take us 24hrs to go 20 miles but we didn't care. Rotherham where my mates boat use to be moored up has an oil tanker come down the canal a few times a week and its bridge sinks into the boat when approaching low bridges. we met so many amazing people who use to live on the canals and i was very jealous of their lifestyle. one couple rented their home out as a holiday let for 6 months and in the winter the boat sat in the dry dock. the 6 months rent and pensions paid for it all and an alternative to selling you house as some canals shut down in the winter months for lock maintenance so in the winter you have to plan ahead or get stuck 😉 😀

Michael. You must visit The Peterborough Ontario Canada Lift Lock (hydraulic) A National Historic Site lock still in operation. (Since 1904.) It is on the Trent-Severn Waterway. It is 13 feet higher than the one you just took. It opened in 1904 and has been in in constant use since. If you don't travel the Trent-Severn, you will regret it. 386km. 44 locks, 60 lakes, 15 rivers, MUCH more. And being Canada, it is all LARGE. Carry on MacDuff. This should be your next trip. And if you do, say Hi to Bobcaygeon.

Monday is usually closing for restaurants. Traditionally, at least in country regions it's heat up the leftovers from Sunday. Oh and if you must wear a cap, please wear it the intended way not backwards. Lovely videos you have produced though and your enthusiasm is infectious.

Just stumbled across this. FTR we moored in virtually the same spot as that boat you found adrift and were woken up first thing to be told we were not tied up. Basically somebody had untied us overnight - the youths who were hanging around the nearby playground were the likely culprits. I've seen another you tube video where the same thing happened. It looks great but turns out not a good place to moor :(

I think you and Nicole need to continue eastbound, do a series on riverboat cruises (get a riverboat cruise to sponsor you...), go to Venice and do the danals and a gondola tour. Then go to Australia and do a travel by "whatever" to see that beautiful country. I would be riveted.

Love your enthusiasm for our canals ect !!