Michael, I know that I'm nobody to you. But my wife and I are so very proud of you and what you've accomplished. We love watching your train videos and really enjoyed the one with your Dad. We are just about to watch the next one you did with your Mom. You seem like such a genuine, decent, kind, and well-spoken young man. Your parents, I'm sure, are very proud of you. Keep on traveling young man. And God bless and keep you!
That climb would have had me crapping my pants! I'm so scared of heights! Congrats to you and your sister for making it all the way and making it look easy!
Yup, you can definitely tell she's your sister! You both have that adventurous spirit! You took a challenge head-on and went through with it! Showing that you should never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. I've climbed our Mount Paektu a couple times, so I'd love to do this Romsdalsstigen Via Ferrata! Mount Paektu is the highest peak in all of Korea. It is 2750 m high above sea level and it's an active stratovolcano on the border with China. It's so mysterious that scientists still don't know how it even got there. It's so culturally significant in Korean culture that it's featured in the anthems of our government and the South/ROK's. Both Koreans and the Manchus of neighboring China consider the mountain to be their spiritual home.
Oh, wow, Mike, that seemed like so much fun...an adrenaline rush, for sure!! I'm appreciate you and Jess including us in your ascent through the clouds. It was magical. I can't wait for the next episodes!
3:15 That's more than just a ski jump! What makes the 1994 Winter Olympics unique is that it was the first time that the ceremonies took place not at an arena or stadium but at a SKI JUMP venue! And they took advantage of the ski jump setting when it came to lighting the Olympic cauldron. The Olympic Flame was skied down the ski jump before lighting the cauldron. Originally Ole Gunnar Fidjestøl was supposed to do it but after an injury, his back-up Stein Gruben received the honor. The cauldron was then lit by Crown Prince Haakon Magnus. Hands down an epic Olympic cauldron lighting and one of the most memorable (alongside Muhammad Ali lighting the Atlanta 1996 one and the Barcelona 1992 bow and arrow one). Unfortunately, it happened the same day the original version of The Scream (Munch made four versions) was stolen from Oslo's National Museum. Thankfully it was recovered undamaged in May 1994
Wow what an AMAZING place!!!! That town is Absolute heaven. I also have to say Downie that you are the best at advertising products Lol! I have been using Harry’s since 2014 when they first came around and I will NEVER look back!
Props to you man. I have no fear of heights until now. As you were climbing up I could feel my knees starting to shake. And I am laying in bed. Looking Forward to your next episode!
It's also worth going in Winter, with the long dusk and pink skies and the frozen waterfalls - I went from Andalsnes to Bjorli on a coach and got the train back down and its beautiful
Dude , Found your channel lately and i'm obsessed. absolute hero. Please come to Ireland!!! Not many trains etc but plenty of sights to see. Hit me up for a place to stay in southern Ireland. Much love and luck. 🥰
I just got back far enough in your channel to see you’ve already been to Ireland haha my bad , offer still stands tho, thanks for all the great content.
Went on that climb on a sunny day. I am insanely scared of heights, and was only able to do half of it. But I am happy I did it even though I wasn't able to finish it.I really recommend it
This was the most harrowing Downie Live episode ever. I couldn't believe how demanding a climb that was. Those Norwegians don't joke around. - when you finally make it to a bridge it's a high wire act. I'll take the gondola.
Love to see places I'm familiar with! Regularly see the Oslo train station and also travel through Lillehammer towards Trondheim. I do love the trains here, very comfortable and most of them are geared towards long-distances travel as this country is pretty huge!
I like the Nordic edition of travel by train because the climate is more familiar and I have a better chance of going to Scandinavian countries than the USA or Canada (I would like to, but both ships and planes scare me). If you ever decide to visit Poland, I would be honored to travel with you. We also have mountains, some of the oldest in Europe, but you don't need ropes and harnesses to hike them. Best regards, thanks for another great video :)
How cool to see one of my fav travel bloggers suddenly be at my doorstep! I've been watching your Canada episodes to bits, and now you've been 40 miles from where I live. I've been there myself, glad you enjoyed it.
Oh my goodness! An adventure getting there and and adventure.... There! 💕 Your sister is one punny and BADASS chica. I would never book an experience like this! 🏆
Okay, the scenery is beautiful, your Sister is amazing, as much fun as this looks, I'd have to sit this out. You got me at the bridge. ❤Happy Valentines Day!❤Looking forward to next week.
There is a 7 plus hour high definition journey in the cab of one of those trains from Bergen to Oslo And I watched the whole thing!!!! Cheers, Rik Spector
Even as a Finn, I just can NOT be amazed how vibrant-ly green Norway is in Summer. Even the way up north it's so much more different compared to how it's on Finnish side. That ocean/fjord climate makes a huge difference! Hope you had wonderful time here in the Nordics, Mike!
Wow, the Scenic Train to Andalsnes in Norway looks amazing! I love how the train takes you through the beautiful countryside and eventually up the mountain to the top, where you can take a gondola and enjoy even more stunning views. It's also interesting to see the transit hub in Oslo and how the buses and trains are connected. The little town of Lil Hammer looks charming, and it's cool that it hosted the Winter Olympics in 1994. Overall, it seems like a fantastic way to explore the Norwegian fjords and countryside. I would love to take this scenic train ride one day and experience the natural beauty of Norway. As a tourist, I think this train journey would be a unique experience, and the scenic views would be breathtaking. The fact that it is considered the most scenic train in Norway adds to the excitement of the journey. The travelers in the video seem to have a good time despite the changes in their travel plans, and this shows that even if things do not go according to plan, the journey can still be enjoyable. I would definitely consider taking this train journey if I ever visit Norway.
Spectacular scenery. Wow you don't realise how beautiful the world truly is. You and your sister are some crazy kickass Canadians. I really love watching your travels with your family. Great editing and presentation as always Mike.
As a Norwegian, I appreciate that you acknowledge Norways nature, as some so often feel we are looked down on compared to for example Sweden (Swedens not better, just more popular). After you’ve lived in Norway for a few years, you don’t feel so amazed by the nature however😅This is truly amazing!
I really enjoy these videos. Starting watching when you did standedge tunnel. Enjoying watching the Norway as we went there for Christmas and stayed in Tønsberg. Keep doing what you doing.
The trains were interesting in that they had those cafe cars. Good stuff. Were the seats comfortable?I couldn't do that rock climb. I too have fear of heights. I'll stick to the gondola. This is a beautiful country. Everything is so perfectly designed. The towns are beautiful too. This makes me want to visit Norway. Thanks Mike. So good to have you going on new adventures. Stay Blessed.
Really loving this series. We travelled in Norway during winter, and Andalsnes looked vastly different! It looks beautiful in summer, and that train ride is beautiful in summer AND winter. :-)
Oh my goodness! You and your sister are so brave! I would not have attempted that hanging wall climb, even experienced climbers would be like 😱. You guys are so brave! Great video! xxx
Yeah, that train journey is a bona fide intercity (long distance public transit) route, and not a tourist-specific route. Still, it’s perfect for tourists to get between cities. And those trains are nice too. Some years back, we could actually book one end of a car as a catered meeting room. I remember a former employer did just that, and took some clients on board for meetings. Breakfast on out of Oslo (no substitute buses back then), lunch in Hamar, and tea on the way back. And yes, I’ll admit, we did draw on some project inspirations from the views outside too.
I was in Norway last year for my 2nd visit , Love the views and the fjords , the waterfalls , the snow and the ice , I was there in winter . Has to one of the most spectacular place on earth. Downie you do some great trips . Your sister seems a great hoot and a good companion to travel with , that climb you all did was epic, I was gonna go pulpit rock last year but I bottled it .was a winters day , didn't fancy slipping off lol.
I was sure that the most scenic railway would be Oslo to Bergen, which includes Flam railway (is that a foreshadowing?). That trip included the Stalheimskleiva, which is an intense bus ride. It's nothing compared to the climb. I took the train from Oslo to Nelaug, which might be Norway's least scenic railway, and it was still really nice
I'm in love with the cafes on trains like that. I'd be hogging a seat and drinking coffee there the entire trip. Norway is crazy beautiful. I'm so jealous of your travels, lol. I have mad respect for you and your sister and anyone who can rock climb like that. And doing it while filming yourself??? Badass! I'd be worn out from a simple hike! As always, your footage is stunning and I can't wait for the next one! Have you ever considered going to Svalbard? No trains there but it looks pretty incredible.
OMG! I think your channel get any better; and, yet, it does! That was an incredible climb. Jess really gave you a challenge. I can't wait for the next parts of this trip.
Wow, awesome adventure on the mountain and great video! Good on Jess overcoming her fear of heights; I think I will live vicariously through your climb. Great work as usual, my daughter and I look forward to each and every episode! Thanks Mike.
Hi Mike. Excellent. Your sister is wonderful. But she only found the THIRD best railway in Norway ! Not many people know about the line from Dombås to Åndalsnes, but it plunges off a cliff, and goes 1,500 ft down to a 180 degree tunnel, then descends another 1,500ft to the valley floor, where you cross the single span stone masonry arch bridge, known as the kyllingbru (or chicken bridge, literally) which you filmed at 6:12 in your video. Then as you head along the Troll Wall, the train goes under some waterfalls, if you did not notice this, that is because you can no longer lean out the windows on modern trains. I did the line in 1999, when it still had Di 3 NOHAB diesel locomotives and B3 coaches. Your first train was a NSB Class BM73 "Signatur" electric multiple unit, and your second train was a NSB Class BM93 Siemens Desiro diesel multiple unit. The loco you filmed at 7:00 is a former Danish DSB Class ME loco. I am glad you liked the rock-climbing, SO I DON'T HAVE TO. I followed the train driver (loco engineer) at Åndalsnes, and went and had fish and chips. Far more civilised. You keep saying the most northern train in the world. Nope. Not even close. Standard gauge, yes.
The Desirio train was probably a descendant of the Regio Sprinter that Calgary tried for 4 months in 1996. Ottawa got similar vehicles for its O-Train Trillium Line, first the Bombardier Talent, then the Alstom LINT.
@@smwca123 They have been universally exported. Like all, modern, off the shelf, standard new trains, the only way you know you are in a different country, is the colour of the livery. Shame. Railways are much more bland because of this. The line from Chute Montmorency to La Malbaie uses ex DB Class 628 DMUs. Because European stuff is built to a lower crash worthiness standard, they (and I think the Ottawa O train ?) use the Karlsruhe Method of train segregation (time / geography / ATP). I just hope VIA Rail Canada does not regret buying the Siemens Challenger. On this side of The Pond, Siemens don't have a good name. In Britain, the Class 444 and 450 EMUs ground the rails within 2 years of service, and the Class 185 DMU is so heavy, it had speed restrictions imposed. In Norway, the Di6 diesel loco was returned to Siemens, after 11 out of 12 locos broke down and were out of service at the same time, and the 12th loco, derailed when it hit a landslide, and the loco cab separated from the loco body, whilst the train driver / loco engineer was still inside.
@@smwca123 Yes. I have copies of the Canadian Trackside Guide, and I am personally conversant with every line in Canada (except Churchill). I have done the White Pass and Yukon Route (Skagway to Carcross) and the Tshiuetin (Sept Iles to Schefferville), the Ontario Northland (Toronto to Moosonee), every Rocky Mountaineer (including Calgary, Whistler, Quesnel, Prince George etc.), the Canadian (Vancouver to Toronto), the Corridor (Sarnia, Windsor to Quebec City, including Kitchener and Ottawa), the Ocean (Montreal to Halifax), the Skeena (to Prince Rupert), Jonquiere and Senneterre, plus several heritage lines, all of GO Transit, AMT Montreal, and West Coast Express, Skytrain and Canada Line. Plus AMTRAK via Niagara to New York, and other parts of the US. Not bad for a Brit based in London. I have also done every railway in Alaska.
What a great video! I went to Norway and did a road trip to the Atlantic road and the Trollstigen last early october but I promised myself to come back by train one day to enjoy this crazy landscape from another angle. Well, I guess you did the trip I had in a corner of my head since I returned our rental car in Oslo this october. Your videos are so great in making me dream about crazy destinations to reach or to experience by train. This one especially showed me that some of my dreams are possible and it gives such motivation everyday, looking forward to a next trip someday!
