The farmer encounter I've been dreading for 3 years [DAY 2: Never Again]
Sorry it's a couple of days late guys!
My third attempt at crossing Wales in a completely straight line continues with what is without doubt the most eventful and stressful day of missioning I've ever experienced. We knew that day 2 with it's unrelenting farmland would be a sketchy one even on a Sunday, but we never could've imagined just how stressful, exhausting and downright painful it would turn out to be. The question is, would it all prove too much for us?
*Some speech might be difficult to hear - use good speakers/headphones if possible and use the man made subtitles*
I'll also be saying a few words in the comment section when it hits tomorrow regarding the whole farmer thing, how I feel about trespassing in such a way and whether or not getting permission is a viable option on these missions. I'm sure a handful of you will feel strongly about it so hopefully your queries will be answered tomorrow (haven't got time to reply to everyone individually unfortunately!)
The farmer encounter I've been dreading for 3 years [DAY 2: Never Again] (YouTube)
Comments (106)
So fucking close😂
Jesus man!! The anxiety for that ep was insane! But so glad you pushed through! Really hope this isn’t your last one but if it is then very keen for what you do next ✨
This is the best video on the site man
I have been enjoying your content on the tube for a good while (and you introduced me to geoguessr some years ago), I finally bit the bullet and started sponsoring you here. Keep it up, good lad!
I guess it’s probably been said - but: Tom = Frodo Ben = Samwise Verity = Gandalf
The farmer encounter reminded me a lot of when the hobbits get chased off of farmer Maggot's cornfield in the first movie
After watching you renewed attemp across Wales I thought I need to sponsor you. This is quality entertainment. Please do not stop these missions, they are quality and I'd gladly pay more to see them.
We really appreciate the effort and time you put into straight line missions and this one is no different. Such good content! A real nail biter of a series so far, I was on the edge of my seat throughout the encounter with the farmer. Fingers and everything crossed for your ankle, health and wellbeing for the next episode mate!
I’m glad I pay for this content. I’d feel like I was stealing if I didn’t. Just too good.
I have just subed to the Patreon page and just watched the video. I had sweaty palms throughout haha...
I'm wondering if Ben ducks out of the mission at some point, for whatever reason. Tom appears to be alone in some of those later "coming up" shots.
I wonder that too. Ben really doesn’t look like he’s enjoying himself.
Been riddled with anxiety about that farmer ever since the teaser clips on ep 1, and it was worse than I'd even imagined! Need to go and have a little lie down now...
Lets just all take a minute in rememberance for Marcus, who likely was crossing these very fields less than 24hrs later, not knowing what he was walking into.
Oh god I hadn't even considered 😂 I hope he's watching
You didn't lie, this was easily the most insane episode yet. Literally howled with laughter when you started running!
Epic video mate. Like others here I think sympathy with the farmer is lost simply because he's just furious immediately, never tries to find out what's actually going on. Can't wait to see the rest of the mission!
I kinda get it, the bit where he finally catches them wasn't his first attempt at trying to speak with them but the 5th or 6th, so I can see why he had lost patience at that point. From his perspective he has no idea why they are there and what their intentions are. "We need to go in a straight line" is not exactly a common response that gives any real reassurance, nor is running away or "we're not up to no good" (because someone who WAS up to no good would also claim that). "Go back that way" when they were clearly already so close to the edge of his land was a bit of a dick move but it was pretty much the only move he had left to still feel like he had any control.
I feel like you should make that farmer's property a little harder to find for just some anyone with Google Earth. Wouldn't want someone getting mad at him on your behalf
As I have always lived by with some of my more "adventurous" photography excursions, "Don't ask for permission, ask for forgiveness". It is unfortunate is has to be this way but often in situations like these the bureaucracy of getting permission from everyone whose land/property you enter is extremely arduous and frankly impossible.
Ye I've seen people comment on YouTube that other channels get permission from all land owners in advance but I'm not actually sure how feasible that is, without needing access to things like land registries and contact details which just seems like a GDPR nightmare nowadays. Not to mention that if just one person objects (which of course they are within their rights to do) then you've wasted a lot of your own time on that specific route but everyone else's time that has already approved, and you have to start again. Not to mention that at the time you start putting the request out you won't have a firm date to request and it's a lot more difficult to get approval for "ye at some point in this month I'll come across your land".
Just a massive shout out to Ben too for when it was all kicking off with the farmer and he says "we're going off line". As committed to the line as you, brothers in arms, bravo
You may want to consider blurring your license plate? I'm not sure if it can be used to find your address but I have seen many other YouTubers blur them for privacy
It's a rental car but thanks for the concern :)
Last teaser has me anxious for episode 3, very excited to keep seeing the progress though. Brilliant stuff man.
Farmer seemed a bit of a grumpy twat tbh ,
The farmer wanted him to go back the way he came despite being two fields away from being off his land completely going the way he wants… fuck that guy
Great episode mate! You did the right thing In my eyes. Trespassing is a civil offence so aslong as you’re not stealing or causing any disruption to the land or livestock you’ve done nothing wrong. I don’t believe he thought you were stealing or causing damage as he never once accused you of it. All the farmer can do is ask you to leave, which you did , just perhaps not in the direction he would have liked. You either caught him on a bad day or he was just a twonk.
Genuinely class, I feel like if it wasn’t the 3rd attempt you may have stopped and waited to speak and explain to the farmer as done previously. That been said I would have done the same thing because as soon as you said sorry and pelted it I was legitimately buzzing
Oh Tom, you really surprised me today.
brilliant episode
Sensational. You've got to want it, and you really did want it there. Right call to carry on
For all of the anxiety I had throughout this episode, when you groaned ‘why was I so foolish’ it made me burst out laughing 🤣🤣
reminded me of "I can't believe you've done this"
Wow, what an episode
One of the main reasons farmers go mad round me when they see people on their land is that they've most likely had thieves steal from them in the past and now have a hatred towards strangers - if you look like a lost walker near a trail and talk to farmers when approached, in my experience they completely understand and help you every time
Incredible content
oh wow, i fully expected the encounter with that farmer to be the end of this mission. genuinely surprised me when you chose to ignore him and soldier on lmao. what a thrilling episode, cant wait for the next installment! hope you and yours have a happy new year 💜
As a long time Patreon, I can join you next time. I see alot of room for improvement, jumping over hedgerows instead of climbing trough. and I don't care about going through people's guardens or through their farms :)
The way you handled the farmer situation was probably the best way you could have done it without failing the mission. This straight line mission clearly means a lot to you and I think it was the right thing to do. While it definitely gives us good content, it's clear it's more than that to you and that's why it's so entertaining to watch.
Fantastic second episode! You were so lucky to have reached the end of his land when you did! For my fellow map nerds, I have a plotted the line of this mission (and all of the previous ones) on a Google Map. https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1Ns1HN72VSkBaldaZJ1k5y7JS1miYheeJ&ll=52.47946903369162%2C-3.5048951889734825&z=12
Legend!
Amazing stuff as expected
This is some of the best, most riveting content I've seen on youtube. You're a legend, man, a true inspiration. The moment in the woods when you and your brother just sat down and chuckled at the day you'd had was a movie moment. So stoked to see the rest of this mission 🤙🤙🤙
He probably thought you were soiling his sheep... doesn't want to be stirring your porridge that night.
you are brave brave men!! I was rooting for you so bloody hard
This has truly been the most exciting episode so far. Great job keeping up the heat in all of us with this cliffhanger! I don't worry too much about the farmers but I feel bad about you sacrificing your body for these videos. Take care mate!
Wow amazing. Thank you Tom for keeping walking after the farmer incident. He’ll get over it and you need to finish this. What really stinks is that I have weak ankles and I’ll say right now that it may not have bothered him directly afterwards, but boy if it isn’t gonna be 100x worse in the morning. Sprains tend to sneak up on ya in about 12 hours.
I slept funny on the sofa and woke up with a bad neck and it's taken the best part of 4 months to recover! Seems to be all downhill from 30! :P
Love this episode... but I would love even more if you find more countries like Norway for future missions. :-) Definitely prefer man vs. nature+himself than man vs. farmers/hedgerows. But taking nothing away from your mad adventure and the entertainment and inspiration you are providing. Thanks for making this!
To be fair I think the only reason he's still doing Wales is because it's beaten him every time so far (that we know of), so once it's done, I doubt he'll be repeating it!
fantastic addition to the series. I have to say, instead of yelling "we have to go in a straight line! sorry! bye!" and then running away, it seems more promising if you stopped to try and explain your mission and that you're going to leave in that direction and never come back. then, if he's still mad, you can run away. Then again, easy for me to say when I'm not there in the heat of the moment! either way, really love the content, keep it up.
The farmer was Livid, and playing an ego game, he wouldn't wait to listen imo. He just wanted to one up them.
What would we do without farmers 🤣
Nothing makes me more anxious than when you're coming up to a farm or house 😅
Worth becoming a later on subscriber for that. Trespass shouldn't even be a crime imo, as long as you don't damage anything. Really really good, can't help but think you need a better excuse though haha. Cut your hair to look more like soldiers or something!
Top notch. Genuinely felt sick with nerves watching but loved it all the same like some sick masochist. Can't wait for next ep
Loved every minute. Never stop this series 🙏
As the farmer got angrier it became clearer to me that he wasn't as concerned about you causing damage or bothering animals as he about your bodily existence on that patch of the earth he claims to own. From there my sympathy dried up and I'm in complete solidarity with your decisions. Of course all productive farmland can't be a public right of way for everyone all the time, but we should never allow trespass to be made a criminal matter. Your straight line missions are important. They re-contextualise how we interact with our world, reckoning with the barriers mother nature has provided, and the ones that we've made for ourselves. You bring to life some of the feelings we have when poring over or scrolling through maps. True geo-wizardry!
Right, as it turned out it would have been much longer to walk back to get off his land than to walk forward to get off his land… 😉
This is just fucking epic
Brilliant work lads keep it up 👏👏👏
It's frustrating that many people's morality is only guided by what is lawful. Missions are about experiencing the adventure and wonder of the world, and Tom has weighed that the reward is worth the risk. I'm sure farmers would disagree, but there's more to leading a good life than strictly following the law.
Tom you're doing a bloody good job at keeping the suspense up. Those last few seconds of preview footage were gripping. I have no clue how this is going to end and I love it.
Christ that was tense 🥵
Bloody hell mate that was stressful! XD Fantastic episode though, such high drama.
I do think you could take a tip from the hot air balloon crowd. It's standard practice to carry a bottle of whiskey for the farmer's field you land in. Maybe offer them the whiskey up front in planning, or a donation to a charity? That wouldn't make the episodes half as fun though, so maybe not...
Thats actually not a bad idea!
I don't understand why was the farmer so angry. I mean yes, it is his land but it's not like it's his back garden. It's just a farmland ffs. But I'm glad you pushed through and I hope the ankle got better.
It's private property and they ran away when confronted. It's not hard to understand, even if you're on Tom's side whilst watching.
Great episode, well done. You did the right thing to keep going. I was shouting "Ben, don't walk towards him you bloody idiot", you're supposed to walk on saying "sorry mate".
So exciting, I felt genuinely afraid just watching you outrun the farmer. But with the ankle situation and the unforgiving nature of the Welsh countryside I can't see how you can make it now?
It depends how bad it is. Rolling your ankle can be just a few minutes of pain to an extended period of limited mobility. There's a decent chance he didn't feel it anymore after a night sleep.
sensational
That cliffhanger at the end. God damn it Tom
Unbelievable stuff this
I think I was touching cloth for 70% of that 🥵
That episode was intense! Thanks Tom and Ben <3
Fucking hell, what an episode
One word: wow. My heart hasn't pounded like this from a video in a while. Looking forward to part 3.
Great episode, looking forward to the next one Tom!
That was fab! So anxiety inducing but well done! Can't wait for part 3 :)
Wow Tom even watching these is so bloody stressful. Can’t imagine how it felt for you and Ben in the moment. Incredible episode as always mate
You not concerned about the angry farmer pressing charges once you show this? I know the bloke who owned a yard you crossed before has found your videos. Great job though I loved the video! one of the best straight line challenges for sure
lmaoo
I have a small question, not that you are doing anything wrong in their land but you still trespass in there, can't any cop watch this video and fine you for it? I always wondered it.
trespassing by itself isn't a crime in the UK
Hype!
I was stressed the entire first episode from that clip waiting for it to happen, glad it's in this one! Can't wait
I’m genuinely fearful
Looking forward to it. Don't get why farmers get so upset though, so long as you don't damage anything or cause stress to animals, what's the problem?
Grabbing a drink. Pre heating the TV. Throwing myself on the couch. Thanks for all your effort Tom.
Get in! Let's gooo
Get in! Been waiting for this, cheers Tom. Thanks for all the hard work.
Sh**ting myself for this
It's been a rough holiday, but this is definitely the bright spot (I hope the mission doesn't end this episode...)
Angry farmer go brrr
I'm shaking like a leaflet in anticipation
Anyone else literally waited all day for this?
been waiting hyped all DAY
Lets goooo!
This is the tonic I needed for today. Just came down with Covid for a 2nd time and this will be the saving grace for me week! Happy viewing everyone :)
get in
Here we go boys!
Yooo
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