Having only just recovered from covid after evading it for 2.5yrs, it's insane! Feels like we only just finished 2019 and now we're on the run up to 2023!
Interesting watching this nearly 2 years on. I work in healthcare and have come across a few people who were visiting relatives in places like Australia and NZ when covid struck and their "short 4 month visit" ended up being 18 months
"Stranded" does kind of imply something a bit more dramatic than being somewhere where you can get home via a completely uneventful train journey with one short change in Plymouth.
Who are these people who make these ridiculous comments? Are they the ones who believe everything the Government tells them and would stay at home for the rest of their lives if told to. And, of course, if the Government said we must all travel on trains to combat the virus, they would start lambasting anyone not on a train.
@@johnnyboy3949 not really, she's just wondering why during a PANDEMIC he's LEANING outside the door (without staying in the train or getting off) and touching many parts of the train for no good reason...
Loved that Noel, thank you kindly for taking the time to make it, you always brighten my day when I see that you have posted on TH-cam- big thumbs up from myself and my boys self isolating in Norfolk 👍👍👍
6:26 **cornwall** Plymouth is in Devon but the other side of the river is Cornwall, so the countryside between Penzance and Plymouth is all Cornwall until you cross the bridge Into Devon
I live in Cornwall. There are trains from Penzance to London throughout the day. There are a multitude of stations on the way to London that could be used to change for the Midlands.
Everyone could see a few days before that it was coming. Why he then chose to stay in Penzance god knows. If his work told him to then I’d tell them to get lost and would’ve got home as soon as over the weekend before
it's july 2022 when I write this, this forms part of a historial portrait of when the country first shut down. I hope this is kept for posterity to remind people of what happened
A salute for soldiering on Noel! Most travelvloggers seems idle these days. What beautiful countryside you have in England! I was also relieved you approved of the swedish hospitality during your stint in my native country before this video. If you should want to return there after your break and continue with some train journey during these meager flight times. I can suggest riding the Inlandsbanan.
At least you had a nice sunny day for your train journey instead of typical British weather. Liked that crooked spire on that church as you were pulling into Chestefield.
You're fine, I was stranded nearly 4000 miles away for 3 weeks and unable to get access to basics like food, lost 1.5 stones in weight. Thankfully, back home now.
Yeah. 5:40 hours driving Penzance to Chesterfield vs 8+ hours on "sweaty trains" with no guarantee of arrival. Added bonus, no-one else in the car. Ten out of ten for trying though!
If I was in his situation and it was dire, rent a car. The last place I would want to be is on a public train. The charge to drop off at a different location would be worth it. I would be home safe and sound. But I guess that's my American way of thinking. I am glad you did make it safe and sound.
Interesting to watch the difficulty of travelling long distance by train - but it gave you content for a video. Me? I'd have been straight to the nearest car rental outfit 😀
5:40 Oh my god I live in St. Martin! You should definitely visit here once everything gets back to normal! Would love to hear your thoughts on our infamous Maho Beach where you can watch the planes take off/land!!
great video of getting home, i saw this on the 1st of March, 2022 after a long flight back to Indonesia and now sitting in quarantine for a few days. it's very interesting all the stories of people trying to get home in the beginning of the pandemic.
Watching this on the 26th May 2021 with all of the current controversy about the early miss handling of the pandemic in the UK.... I think you did well to continue and I found the way in which you managed to continue extraordinary!!! You must have had to be away from your family for extended periods to be able to work with lock downs and quarantines, testing etc...
I understand how you feel. Was due to fly out EDI to AGP on the 25th of March to go home with RYR, both rebookings got cancelled. Tried EDI to GIB with EZY (5 minute walk from my house) on the 31st, that got cancelled. Finally made it home with BA via LHR on the 29th. Quite a pain but at least I made it home.
I felt your pain only more so. I was in southern France when everything was in the process of shutting down. We had to get to Frankfurt to fly back to the US. By the time we drove from the south of France to the German border it was closed. We only got through because our bus driver was German and probably told them that he was trying to get the Americans out of there 😂. The flight from FRA to JFK had less than 100 people on it.
No Pirates ??? I live in Mansfield in the High Country of Victoria Australia and Boris (your PM ) taught for a year at Timber Top school which is about 20 minutes from my farm. Prince Charles also attended the school and Tony Blair also came here as he was best mates with the then Headmaster !! Some British history for you here in Australia !! Lovely to see views of the English country side !! My one and only train journey out of London took me to Ipswich for a wedding.....loved the journey and the scenery !! Great video mate and I trust you enjoyed being able to sleep in your own bed !! Take care Noel and stay safe and you and your family stay well !!
It certainly seemed an interesting journey! Hope that you and the family are well and keeping safe. Much love to you all from me and my family, here in Reading. Looking forward to travelling again when it is safe to do so.
I know this is an old video and I've really enjoyed watching dozens of them so far but up until now I had no idea you was from Chesterfield! Born & bred here myself! I'm also taking my first trip to the U.S and first trip out of Europe thie October. Really enjoy your videos. Cheers 'duck' 😆
Strange times indeed. I still travelled a lot for work during this period. Loads of PCR tests, empty trains and planes. I was the only person in baggage claim at Manchester airport once! Also going through an empty Schiphol Airport was surreal too! Thank goodness it’s all over now. February 2023.
@@noelphilips Yes, the weather was wonderful, but i was mainly commenting (laughing at myself) about how we all thought the pandemic wouldn't last very long
Was the original plan to fly from Newquay airport to Schotland? I have a tip for your next trip to Cornwall. You should try the flight between Lands end airport and st Mary's airport.
Ah, that magical time before Boris was in ICU. Seems like months ago but it was just a few weeks. Glad you got home but...serious question...why was the train so warm? Was the air-conditioning broken? What was with the shirtless guy? Maybe he had the fever? Good thing you didn’t have to resort to that! I can’t believe you didn’t sit on the south-facing side of the train to Plymouth, so many great views! It’s so strange to see Penzance station without an HST there. For forty years they were the mainstay of long-distance travel on the Cornish and Devon coasts. The new trains lack the character of the old 125s. :(
While I am new to your channel Noel, i do want to thank you for commercial sponsor breaks. It gives me time to go the bathroom or make my coffee, thank you.
Glad you made it home safely to the family, stay safe in this time and hope to see you in the air again soon. Within the last two days they just put a portion of my state on lockdown.
Yes in 2020 I had planned on flying to Switzerland (from ALX) and spending time there and in northern Italy, starting in early May 2020. Did not happen. Hotels refunded me, the prepaid train ticket from Geneva to Milan and Milan to Venice were refunded, as was the BA flights. Did it take a bit of time via e-mails and web sites? yes. did it take a while for everything to be processed? Yes. But hey, I am still employed and working from home, so.........winning I guess
Also currently living in Michigan, USA. Originally from Plymouth, Devon. Grew up next to the Royal Albert Bridge spanning the River Tamar - the border at this point between Devon and Cornwall. I also lived in Chesterfield for several years, though the station building has changed. Great to see Noel munching a pasty. Cornish tin miners brought the "delicacy" to Michigan's Upper Peninsula when they emigrated to work in tin and copper mines. The Finns also worked there and their recipe is different but the shape of their pasty is different (easier to freeze or package, but doesn't have the crust you saw on Noel's which they say also doubled as a handle and was discarded!) If you come to Michigan, try Mr. Fosies pasties in Cadillac - almost as good as my Gran used to make. Noel - note for next time sit on the right side heading east/north for better scenery, but gets full sun and can be way too hot, though those trains should have some sort of air conditioning. Nice video. I also liked your one in the USA on Spirit and Frontier. I tend to fly Delta but also fly Southwest. None of them are really great, other than Alaskan, but they are expensive - great craft beer selection on board and in their lounges though.
@@tomstravels520 he might have moved there years ago. I'm from Plymouth but live in Manchester now, where job opportunities are comparatively endless (COVID-19 notwithstanding)
I have recently discovered your channel and I have enjoyed your travels around the world. As an entrepreneur myself I wondered how you are going to recalibrate your business in light of the travel shut down, which could last for sometime.
Was it for the flights only? If it was a package with British Airways and they cancelled it they have to give you the money back they don't have a choice because it's atol or alba protected most of the time if it's all done separately it's more tricky to get the money back that's why some airlines are offering vouchers because they want to keep customers money to keep the airline going not fair on the customers and frustrating
Watching this in 2022 is such an acid trip. Like what the heck did we just go through.
Having only just recovered from covid after evading it for 2.5yrs, it's insane! Feels like we only just finished 2019 and now we're on the run up to 2023!
@@MrPete81 so far my inner family of 3 hasn't had covid. "Knocks on wood"
Bullshit is what we went through
Hello from 2024. WTF were the last 4 years? Haha
Reading this in 2024. WTF was 2022.
Interesting watching this nearly 2 years on.
I work in healthcare and have come across a few people who were visiting relatives in places like Australia and NZ when covid struck and their "short 4 month visit" ended up being 18 months
"Stranded" does kind of imply something a bit more dramatic than being somewhere where you can get home via a completely uneventful train journey with one short change in Plymouth.
I know someone who was stranded in Central - America (it was for school). She had to take different planes / trains before she was back in Belgium.
Sorry, that "stranded' trip was a nothingburger.
@@denjo3131 wow sick dude, i don't care
**Oaxaca Forever**
Bluecat72397 get over it dude ffs 🤦🏻
Must be your first time on the internet.
Now that you are stuck at home your next video should be planning a trip from the bedroom to the living room with a layover in the bathroom.
And he can get his kids to pilot for him. Maybe get some boxes and make airplanes where they can haul daddy around. Good idea.
Tatim G 😂
Who are these people who make these ridiculous comments? Are they the ones who believe everything the Government tells them and would stay at home for the rest of their lives if told to. And, of course, if the Government said we must all travel on trains to combat the virus, they would start lambasting anyone not on a train.
Need a home Loo review
I am stuck in Oklahoma and my mother passed away in Aberdeen Scotland just a couple of weeks ago and I’m devastated I couldn’t get home.
Sorry for your loss buddy.
Sorry for your loss mate. :(
11:42 the woman in the background says whats this man doing 😂
She was MAD lol
power crazed key worker
I dont see how any of his actions were any of her business. He's trying to make a living recording video footage so she can definitely fuck off.
Certainly a power mad station worker who thinks they are abovethe law
@@johnnyboy3949 not really, she's just wondering why during a PANDEMIC he's LEANING outside the door (without staying in the train or getting off) and touching many parts of the train for no good reason...
11:39 "What's this guy doing?" as she stands half a foot from her collegue
Loved that Noel, thank you kindly for taking the time to make it, you always brighten my day when I see that you have posted on TH-cam- big thumbs up from myself and my boys self isolating in Norfolk 👍👍👍
6:26 **cornwall** Plymouth is in Devon but the other side of the river is Cornwall, so the countryside between Penzance and Plymouth is all Cornwall until you cross the bridge Into Devon
I noticed that too!
I live in Cornwall. There are trains from Penzance to London throughout the day. There are a multitude of stations on the way to London that could be used to change for the Midlands.
“A bit of a bug going round t the moment “ , LOL , the best British description I have heard of a Pandemic so far ;-)
Barry Lynch he sounds so clueless haha
So nice to see someone come to Devon as someone who lives in Torbay I was delighted to see him pass through Plymouth and Totnes
10:40 that guy was shirtless on train?! Here in America they would be asked to put shirt back on or kicked off train.
We are a bit more chilled out lol
When I saw in the timetables (I live in Plymouth) that we still had trains to London and Aberdeen, I wondered who was using them and why. Now I know.
Wooo plymbo massive 👌🏻 my brother works at citybus and the buses are empty 🙈
Plymouth crew!!
Plymouth yay, well I live in Ivybridge
Donald Trump is from Plymouth
The bug brought out the shame in people.
Oh my god, Penzance! I spent my first English study/holiday experience there back in 2012 and never heard of it again!
Watching in 2024 is crazy. We had no idea what we were in for
Starting from Penzance reminds me of All the Stations!
Where are the Pirates of Penzance?
Noel all the best to you and your lovely family. Stay Home, Stay Safe, and Stay Healthy.
How did you not see the lockdown coming and end up in Penzance 🤷🏻♂️
I was thinking the same thing! Least he was in the UK I guess lol
He said he was working...
Everyone could see a few days before that it was coming. Why he then chose to stay in Penzance god knows. If his work told him to then I’d tell them to get lost and would’ve got home as soon as over the weekend before
@@craigeagle9209 he said he was there for work. I think he has a regular job besides his youtube videos
I thought the same thing....the lockdown didn't just happen in the space of like an hour....anyone could see it was coming.
13:37 Noel passed the Severn Valley Railway
It's weird looking back on thia now compared to last year. Real eerie how things were.
11.40 that woman was pissed off you was hanging in the door 😂
11:40
You need to use a colon not a full stop
it's july 2022 when I write this, this forms part of a historial portrait of when the country first shut down. I hope this is kept for posterity to remind people of what happened
A salute for soldiering on Noel! Most travelvloggers seems idle these days. What beautiful countryside you have in England!
I was also relieved you approved of the swedish hospitality during your stint in my native country before this video. If you should want to return there after your break and continue with some train journey during these meager flight times. I can suggest riding the Inlandsbanan.
Glad to see you made it home. Stay safe and stay well.
At least you had a nice sunny day for your train journey instead of typical British weather. Liked that crooked spire on that church as you were pulling into Chestefield.
She didn't look happy with you at 11:45 at Bristol... 😂
Should have use a mission impossible sound track in the background :)
You're fine, I was stranded nearly 4000 miles away for 3 weeks and unable to get access to basics like food, lost 1.5 stones in weight. Thankfully, back home now.
Fasial Mahmood That is bad.Glad you got back home & can rest 👍
The American way to handle this is rent a car and drive home
I was about to say the same thing as an Aussie. Transport across the country doesn't work as well. Plus our states are quarantined now.
Yeah. 5:40 hours driving Penzance to Chesterfield vs 8+ hours on "sweaty trains" with no guarantee of arrival. Added bonus, no-one else in the car. Ten out of ten for trying though!
Be user it costs extra to drop off differently to pick up. Probably more than 1 days rent
If I was in his situation and it was dire, rent a car. The last place I would want to be is on a public train. The charge to drop off at a different location would be worth it. I would be home safe and sound. But I guess that's my American way of thinking. I am glad you did make it safe and sound.
0:10 in simple terms, Penzance is located in Cornwall.
Hope you sanitised after pressing those door opening buttons! 😂
Probably not... just ate those sandwiches 🥪 😂
@@runwayincursion3376 yolo
oooh I thought it said hope you were satisfied after pressing those door opening buttons ooops 👌
Interesting to watch the difficulty of travelling long distance by train - but it gave you content for a video. Me? I'd have been straight to the nearest car rental outfit 😀
Is it just me or at 15:56 is that spire tilted?
The famous chesterfield crooked spire.
Big time! They didn't let the wood settle or something during construction so it warped shortly after.
It’s is
Aaaaaaah thanks! I wasn’t going crazy then lol!
Ahhh Chesterfield. The town full of benders just like the spire
so happy for u that you were able to get home
This almost feels unreal 🥴🥴
5:40 Oh my god I live in St. Martin! You should definitely visit here once everything gets back to normal! Would love to hear your thoughts on our infamous Maho Beach where you can watch the planes take off/land!!
Jude 88 it’s a place in real life
My first ever airline flight was a takeoff from Sint Maarten Prinses Juliana. Air France B747 to Paris via Guadeloupe in 1988.
I've been there before and it really is a one of a kind experience!
Jude 88 lol sos I’m surprised you didn’t whoosh me 😂
great video of getting home, i saw this on the 1st of March, 2022 after a long flight back to Indonesia and now sitting in quarantine for a few days. it's very interesting all the stories of people trying to get home in the beginning of the pandemic.
Watching this on the 26th May 2021 with all of the current controversy about the early miss handling of the pandemic in the UK.... I think you did well to continue and I found the way in which you managed to continue extraordinary!!! You must have had to be away from your family for extended periods to be able to work with lock downs and quarantines, testing etc...
I understand how you feel. Was due to fly out EDI to AGP on the 25th of March to go home with RYR, both rebookings got cancelled. Tried EDI to GIB with EZY (5 minute walk from my house) on the 31st, that got cancelled. Finally made it home with BA via LHR on the 29th. Quite a pain but at least I made it home.
??? Am confused, Noel doing a UK based train vlog. What next @geofftech does least used airports?🙂✔
Think he should do a colab with geoff
Good old Premier Inn Hotel ;o)
I really like this channel and enjoy watching the videos
Thank you for sharing !!
I felt your pain only more so. I was in southern France when everything was in the process of shutting down. We had to get to Frankfurt to fly back to the US. By the time we drove from the south of France to the German border it was closed. We only got through because our bus driver was German and probably told them that he was trying to get the Americans out of there 😂. The flight from FRA to JFK had less than 100 people on it.
No Pirates ??? I live in Mansfield in the High Country of Victoria Australia and Boris (your PM ) taught for a year at Timber Top school which is about 20 minutes from my farm. Prince Charles also attended the school and Tony Blair also came here as he was best mates with the then Headmaster !! Some British history for you here in Australia !! Lovely to see views of the English country side !! My one and only train journey out of London took me to Ipswich for a wedding.....loved the journey and the scenery !! Great video mate and I trust you enjoyed being able to sleep in your own bed !! Take care Noel and stay safe and you and your family stay well !!
Great video Noel! Hopefully everyone can fly again soon.
Good to see you home safe we are chilling in Bundaberg Queensland Australia cheers mate
It certainly seemed an interesting journey! Hope that you and the family are well and keeping safe. Much love to you all from me and my family, here in Reading. Looking forward to travelling again when it is safe to do so.
I know this is an old video and I've really enjoyed watching dozens of them so far but up until now I had no idea you was from Chesterfield! Born & bred here myself! I'm also taking my first trip to the U.S and first trip out of Europe thie October. Really enjoy your videos. Cheers 'duck' 😆
Cant wait until you are back in the skies Noel, keep well with the family , glad you finally got back home
Should have asked the Pirates there in Penzance to give you a lift up the coast.
Hang in there, stay well & safe.
Love your videos . You are amazing 👏 ❤
Thank you so much!!
Strange times indeed. I still travelled a lot for work during this period. Loads of PCR tests, empty trains and planes. I was the only person in baggage claim at Manchester airport once! Also going through an empty Schiphol Airport was surreal too! Thank goodness it’s all over now. February 2023.
Bristol TempleMeads and Parkway are my local stations xx
Take care & enjoy the break
This is fascinating..watching this from like 3 years ago. :) And being stranded is no fun at all.
Good go mate. Here I am stuck in Cheyenne Mt. Complex
Safe trip home, Noel.....God Speed.
Really interesting video, cool perspective on last years chaos! I used to live near Mansfield!!
Great vlog as always! Glad your and your family are safe.
Home safe. Well done. Enjoy the sun stay safe. Who nows when your see the Airport again.
Noel loving the vlogs man great content 👍🏼🔥
My part of the world. South West England. Not a bad place to be stuck tbh. Hope you are well Noel. Love the videos.
Glad you finally made it home. Thanks for another great video.
I bet anything the topless guy with the beer got off at Bristol
Bet your life on it?
Stay safe Noel!!
11:10 “a few weeks”. Yeah, that aged well
The weather was beautiful for many weeks, I remember sitting in the garden most days for around two months until we could travel again.
@@noelphilips Yes, the weather was wonderful, but i was mainly commenting (laughing at myself) about how we all thought the pandemic wouldn't last very long
Was the original plan to fly from Newquay airport to Schotland? I have a tip for your next trip to Cornwall. You should try the flight between Lands end airport and st Mary's airport.
Was on easyjet flight home from Iceland when the lockdown was announced, that was fun lol
What happened?
Ayee, welcome to Cornwall! 🤣🤣 it's so wired hearing my town being read out when your usually half way around the world...
Reason why transport is reduced is because transport workers may be isolating. Think.
Glad you made it home. Stay safe and well.
Didn't Jeremy Clarkson defeat the sun in a race that started in this town with a Jag once?
andrewnduati lands end to Lowestoft so close to Penzance
Ah, that magical time before Boris was in ICU. Seems like months ago but it was just a few weeks.
Glad you got home but...serious question...why was the train so warm? Was the air-conditioning broken? What was with the shirtless guy? Maybe he had the fever? Good thing you didn’t have to resort to that! I can’t believe you didn’t sit on the south-facing side of the train to Plymouth, so many great views!
It’s so strange to see Penzance station without an HST there. For forty years they were the mainstay of long-distance travel on the Cornish and Devon coasts. The new trains lack the character of the old 125s. :(
lol 11:50 bloody VLOG video-bomber in the background ....
I love the line from Penzance to Birmingham, especially going through Teignmouth and Dawlish Warren.
Teignmouth and Dawlish are great to go through, just don’t get off the train 😂
Great vid Noel 😊 be super safe with your family
Thank you! Will do!
The reason your train was diverted was probably because of the freight train derailment at Bromsgrove.
Wow! and Bromsgrove was my local station
Amazing video Noel
7:55 Plymouth is in Devon
Nice to see the town I lived in for a few years..Plymouth. 😊
Very nice
I was waiting the whole week for a flight video 😭😭😭 please God turn everything back to normal 🙏😭
Ain't gonna happen for another 2 years. Get used to it.
Back to normal next week :)
@@noelphilips next week????? Do you mean normal as in posting back log vids? Cos you certainly ain't gonna be flying
July 2021 Still not normal.🇨🇦
While I am new to your channel Noel, i do want to thank you for commercial sponsor breaks. It gives me time to go the bathroom or make my coffee, thank you.
There's a heliport near Penzance, according to a BTA map of England.
There was a play, PIRATES OF PENZANCE, in the LA area.
Glad you made it home safely to the family, stay safe in this time and hope to see you in the air again soon. Within the last two days they just put a portion of my state on lockdown.
Good to see Dashlane sponsoring a pandemic.
Yes in 2020 I had planned on flying to Switzerland (from ALX) and spending time there and in northern Italy, starting in early May 2020. Did not happen. Hotels refunded me, the prepaid train ticket from Geneva to Milan and Milan to Venice were refunded, as was the BA flights. Did it take a bit of time via e-mails and web sites? yes. did it take a while for everything to be processed? Yes. But hey, I am still employed and working from home, so.........winning I guess
Really like the video
Enjoyed the passing scenery on your trip north. Nearly 2 years later and freedom to travel has not returned to normal yet....
Also currently living in Michigan, USA. Originally from Plymouth, Devon. Grew up next to the Royal Albert Bridge spanning the River Tamar - the border at this point between Devon and Cornwall. I also lived in Chesterfield for several years, though the station building has changed. Great to see Noel munching a pasty. Cornish tin miners brought the "delicacy" to Michigan's Upper Peninsula when they emigrated to work in tin and copper mines. The Finns also worked there and their recipe is different but the shape of their pasty is different (easier to freeze or package, but doesn't have the crust you saw on Noel's which they say also doubled as a handle and was discarded!) If you come to Michigan, try Mr. Fosies pasties in Cadillac - almost as good as my Gran used to make. Noel - note for next time sit on the right side heading east/north for better scenery, but gets full sun and can be way too hot, though those trains should have some sort of air conditioning. Nice video. I also liked your one in the USA on Spirit and Frontier. I tend to fly Delta but also fly Southwest. None of them are really great, other than Alaskan, but they are expensive - great craft beer selection on board and in their lounges though.
Nicholas Little so why move to USA?
@@tomstravels520 he might have moved there years ago. I'm from Plymouth but live in Manchester now, where job opportunities are comparatively endless (COVID-19 notwithstanding)
Another great report Noel. Something a bit different. I do like the challenges that you do. It certainly added a different dimension to the channel.
I am addicted to the great music in this excellent video!
I have recently discovered your channel and I have enjoyed your travels around the world. As an entrepreneur myself I wondered how you are going to recalibrate your business in light of the travel shut down, which could last for sometime.
Great video and commentary
BA are being a nightmare with refunds, only wanting to provide cancellations with a voucher for a future flight rather than a refund.
Was it for the flights only? If it was a package with British Airways and they cancelled it they have to give you the money back they don't have a choice because it's atol or alba protected most of the time if it's all done separately it's more tricky to get the money back that's why some airlines are offering vouchers because they want to keep customers money to keep the airline going not fair on the customers and frustrating
Glad you made it home! But admit it, you love changing your travel plans on the fly.
They were talking off lock down since I was in Belfast March 21. How did you get stuck?