EXPLORING ASCENSION ISLAND | GREEN MOUNTAIN | GEORGETOWN | SEA vLOG 11

[@bigdogpr]

I run a team of 30 employees who make videos, animations and other creative materials for a very large corporation. I just want you to know you have exceptional story telling chops. You bring the viewer into your world and make us feel like we are merchant marines too. You use music very well to help create the emotion of the moment. Your choice of close up and personal clips mixed with B-roll video really helps the viewer feel connected to your story. In short, I could use you in my shop! I’m a huge fan. 👍👊👏👏👏👏

[@TheAslakVind]

100% agree, I love your calm, authentic and honest style! Props from a dadu with 21 years broadcat experience!

[@Q_QQ_Q]

your link ?

[@sophiatheisen565]

this.

[@dawn2788]

Joe Franta must have studied video making, because what looks simple, is not simple. Editing and blending scenes & narrative into a video.

[@lonerglide]

Id agree 👍​@@dawn2788

[@peace_oceans]

Incredible video - thankyou. My family lived there in the 1960s. They arrived the day Kennedy was shot, in a very windy day - they had to throw the baby from the tender to make landing! My brother was christened in 1964 in that church, by the archbishop of South Africa, I think he did the rounds of the islands every so often.

[@leonardoamadeu6566]

Amazing life history, even though I'm Brazilian, I hope one day I can visit this island

[@grits6002]

Wow, I was on Ascension in 1965 for a tour of duty USAF building radio antennas for the eastern test range. We lived in tents. We travelled to the top of Green Mountain in a Jeep and went down inside the crater hunting rabbits. There was maybe a few trees on the mountain then. Another favorite trip was up to the gun turrents left over from WW2. Back then Georgetown was a couple of buildings and a bar ran by a British couple. What an incredible place to be. Enjoyed your video.

[@Dannsandiego]

Always an education, Joe. Shout out to you and your crew mates for painting the church. Well done!

[@EatsLikeADuck]

"The world can still surprise you if you let it." Amen to that. Well said.

[@captainhindsight8779]

I was here with the RAF in 2011, one of my favourite places on earth. Due to the lack of tourism the preservation of the old colonial buildings are almost like something from an Indiana Jones movie where time has stood still for hundreds of years. It is one of the best examples of a man made ecosystem too.

[@annewilson7685]

So good to see Ascension again. I was born there in 1974, it’s so special to me too 😊

[@thanosperl5451]

The painting was a nice gift to the island. And if there is one thing mariners know how to do it's painting.

[@ronswinford4952]

Paining the church was such a great thing to see. Good job guys

[@christinecrockford1654]

Ascension Island played a massive part of the falklands war in 1982. The airport became the busiest airport in the world at that time. As a british dependants they are british like me and we love them all ❤

[@harrylynn6917]

Hi Joe, nice job on the church. It's a pleasure meeting you....just happened on your channel today or yesterday. You have such a radiant look about you & really sincere smile. Thanks for your efforts

[@RamPMonyPers]

A dew pond to catch moisture? Now, that's an idea!...and helping paint the local church, what a fun activity! Must have been a great experience!

[@richardbrighton3381]

Lucky enough to spend 12 months on Ascension with the RAF in the 90's - what a wonderful place and a fantastic experience. Thanks for sharing this video, brought back many memories and what an amazing gesture to paint the church!! Thanks 👍

[@leew3211]

Utmost respect for painting the islanders church …quality content Joe

[@11secghia]

Love the videos dude! As a fellow traveler (Im a helicopter mechanic) Its killer to see someone who shows how rewarding skilled trades and the benefits they offer!! Spending Easter sunday painting that church was MINT too!!

[@Josephine-p8m]

Thanks for the wondrrful tour of Asuncion Isle! I enjoyed the Adventure!!! Kudos for painting the unique church in Georgetown!,,!!!!

[@susanswan5984]

Was there for a year 96-97. It’s changed a bit since I was there of course, but brought back some great memories. Thanks 👍

[@colinhinsley9388]

Good video Joe. I was stationed there on Ascension 1984? Great place, with so many great people. Cable & Wireless, BBC, NASA, some British Army, RAF, and RN, our (Brit) senior service. I was trying to catch a view of the jetty area, where I worked. Some lovely people worked there from St Helena. Good old Buffalo. There used to be a golf course there, one of the oddest you could see as NO GRASS. 👍⛳

[@amazer747]

Very interesting video. I've passed through the airport six times on my way to and from the Falkland Islands from the UK when Ascension was used as a refueling stop. Never got out of the "cage", a secure holding for the aircraft passengers, so it was great to see more of the interior.

[@GCC0346]

Great video, Joe. In WW II, my father was stationed on Ascension, flying amphibious PBY patrol bombers from the island along the South Atlantic shipping lanes to hunt for German u-boats. He would share many wonderful memories that he had of serving there, including that of the sea turtles. Thank you for giving a virtual tour of an island that I most likely will never have an opportunity to visit myself.

[@paulliebenberg3410]

My late father-in-law was also stationed at Ascension during WW2, he was in the Army Air Corps working as a meteorologist. They may have talked! One of his treasures was a pistol taken from a German POW from a surrendering U-Boat.

[@deepbludude4697]

I have a video made from 8mm film taken shortly after WWII showing a PBY based at Ascension not sure how i can get a copy too you but its very interesting. I worked on Ascension in the 80s/90s

[@GCC0346]

@@deepbludude4697 Have you ever thought of uploading portions of it to KZbin? I am sure that there are others that would love to see it too! 🙂

[@merk9569]

@@GCC0346. Great idea! I would love to see the differences in the island that must exist between the two time periods. I hope you will respond here in the comments to let us know if you post video.

[@peternicolaides6256]

On Feb.6 1944 west of Ascension Island a US Liberator AC VB-107/B-3 dropped depth charges on U-177 at 10.335 S, 23.15 W, 50 dead 15 survived. This was the same U-boat 2 years earlier that had torpedoed two times one fwd, and one aft. of the engine room, The Pierce Butler Liberty ship that my father was on at the time off the coast of South Africa on Nov. 20th 1942 at 11:40 AM all 62 crew members survived and were picked up by HMS Fortune (H70) and taken ashore at Durbin, South Africa my father was 17 at that time.

[@justjoe7313]

NIce and very informative! Thank you for letting us see the Ascension island from your point of view, helping the local community makes it even better!

[@DougVarble]

7:56 nice sticker placement, thanks for taking us alongside 🎉

[@davidwarnes5158]

Total respect , I work as a yacht Skipper, the places I have visited , the things you see , the people you meet , what a life , learning the history is just so life changing , Back home will always be different.

[@raytheron]

Thanks for yet another super video, Joe. Painting the church was such an amazing thing to do! Much respect for all involved.

[@chaetostoma5]

The shades of blue are absolutely gorgeous.

[@IanMacLeod-b9p]

I was TDY, temporary duty, to Ascension Island numerous times during the 1977 - 1978 timeframe. The island is just awesome! The history is amazing! One amusing statistic was posted in the USAF dining hall, the chalkboard had a census of the number of human males, number of human females, estimated number of wild cats, estimated number of sheep, etc. on the island. I never learned who kept the billboard current. It was interesting to learn that the aggregate Mr Franta's ship was delivering to Ascension was going to the Wideawake Airfield repaving project. A very challenging airfield to land on! The Saint's club's drinks were all 35 cents at the time. Movies were projected on a white cinder block wall outside. It was amazing to watch a movie during a frequent rain storm! Thank you Joe for sharing your experiences!

[@TheSalMaris]

After brothels and bars, few sailors find anything of interest ashore, it's good to see you found a church to paint. Smooth sailing.

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

Right on painting the church boys. Joe you got a good thing going here keep them coming there's lots of us riding along with you Merry Christmas

[@volcanoclub]

Brilliant to see your video. I lived on Ascension Island from 1993 to 1995. The most amazing time of my life. If you go back, you'll need to go and visit the Volcano Club at the US base, and also go to English Bay for a swim. Simple place - lovely people! 🙂

[@coreymugaas6388]

I love the "Joe Franta was HERE" sticker! Great idea and awesome video!

[@psjasker]

I don’t know why these videos are so good … no point analyzing; I will just enjoy

[@deetempleton80]

My Dearest Gramma said, many hands makes light work. When I was a young girl in the 50's my Dad's friend fr. Gainesville University use to fly down range an work building where one day (a Rocket could land) we were spellbound listening to his stories. Thanks for the memories.. Your delivery an info are great. Thanks to you fr. Florida. Blessings

[@kevi.h8609]

Thanks Joe, good deed done by Merchant Navy seaman for the community of Ascension Island, it reminds me of what we use to do in the old days in different ports we visited. Great to see this beautiful Island, a real treat, have a good voyage where ever your ship takes you. Cheers from Tasmania👍

[@merk9569]

Tasmania is my dream destination. Honestly, there are two places I wish I could see: Tasmania and at least one tepui in South America. I will never get to see either so I’m hoping for reincarnation and a life with money!

[@Robbie7441]

Nice touch painting the church, well done all👍🏻👍🏻👏🙏

[@bobuncle8704]

I knew of Ascension Island from my WWII history, but never really seen it. Thank you for helping me to get to know it better. The church looked really good after it was painted. Great job guys.

[@KyleButler82]

Great video of a place I will likely never get to visit. And whoever came up with the idea of painting the church gets an A+++ ! Heartwarming for sure !

[@terrys824]

Great video!! Thank you for a walk down memory lane. I had the pleasure of going there 3 times when I was employed by a contractor at Patrick AFB, Florida. I was a range rat back in the mid 80's. . We did repairs on the radar dishes and performed maintenance. The fishing there is the best. We would have fish fries every Friday. The bamboo forest was my favorite place.

[@mikeramsey9747]

Good video sharing a quick run around the island, watching the sea turtles come ashore and laying eggs is an unbelievable experience as well as watching the baby turtles make their way into the ocean.

[@malc380]

Thank you for this Joe, loved my time on Ascension with the British army back in the 90's!

[@ccole9080]

very nice . it was very generous of you guys painting the church . Im sure they appreciated it

[@flatspin7]

Very cool that you guys took a day to paint the church.

[@mavicaerials8825]

My brother was stationed there for the Air Force in the 60's for a space mission. Great to see what it looks like!

[@Taijoedotcom]

Working 7 days a week 12+ hours a day. And you guys all jump at the chance to paint to paint the church on Easter Sunday and it's all smiles. What a bunch of champs. I hope I can learn to have that kind of work ethic when I start working as a merchant marine.

[@ArtSmitty]

Absolutely incredible content. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I watch your channel while I’m trying to unwind before sleep. It’s so interesting, and so relaxing and chill at the same time. Keep it up 👍🏻👍🏻

[@tomelko]

Looks absolutely beautiful. And if anyone can paint a church in a day it's your crew. Thanks for sharing.

[@tomwilliams8675]

Painting the church was a beautiful thing to do Joe. 🤝🤝👍👍👍 I just subscribed to your channel a few days ago and have been binge watching to catch up, really like the format.

[@mickiwest2536]

Great video footage of Asension Island been there many times being a diver we looked after the sea anchors for the floating pipeline Up to a few years ago when the sharks came back and diving was stopped spent many good nights in the saints bar Love it 👍👍

[@dbdolph9754]

Great video! Brings back memories…Flew into Ascension Island a couple of times in the 90’s with the Air Force.

[@michaelroberts7549]

It’s so great to watch your video of Ascension Island Joe. I signed off of a Maersk tanker there when I was a deck cadet back in 2011. Back then, one of the hotels would let you borrow a car for a few hours, so I managed to see most of the island. It’s a very special, unique place.

[@deanrotering879]

Thanks for the tour. What an awesome place. Great job on the church

[@frankswecker8230]

I read up about the island after last week's vlog. I never heard of it before your trip. I love learning about our incredible planet.

[@WeAreThePeople1690]

1:45 I had heard of it, and knew the capitals name was Georgetown, but I never knew where it was. I always thought it was further south towards the Antarctic. Now I do, thanks to your video. Been watchin your channel for a while, I have no connection whatsoever to the industry, apart from always wanting to sail the seas, but every video is so informative of what you do and your life at sea I keep coming back. Keep it up, your channels great 👍

[@paullandreville5394]

Another great video. You can't go wrong painting a church Joe. Be safe. I am looking forward to the next video.

[@whiteshadow0_0]

I want to come here from Türkiye and live the rest of my life here, this island is truly like heaven!

[@George-hd7tl]

New sub, great channel .Am retired Ab with SIU.was on a preposition ship hanging out at Ascension for few weeks then to the Canary islands,back and forth. Fair winds and following sea, Brother

[@paulicini]

I've actually been to Ascension, nearly 50 years ago when I worked for Cable and Wireless. It was very interesting to see it again after so long. Much has changed including the loss of the farm on Green Mountain.

[@peace_oceans]

My dad was C&W staff. Stationed Ascension Island 1962 - 1965 - we have ciné film of their life there - the turtle pond, green mountain, the lava terrain. My dad says it was his favourite posting.

[@merk9569]

@@peace_oceans. I hope you will post some of the video on KZbin to share with those of us who will never see it and those who already have. I’m sure that there will be interest.

[@kathywolfe6606]

The church was beautiful after your work! Thanks for taking me along. Looking forward to your next video.

[@melissalambert7615]

Nice island tour. Good bit of history and the church looks lovely. Thanks for sharing.

[@davidjewell932]

So enjoy your channel. Keep them coming. From a land locked Englishman.

[@Tipp_Of_The_Mitt]

Interesting facts about the Island, and what a contrast in terrain from the different parts. I would have grabbed an Ascension Lava rock to bring home as a souvenir to show you were there.

[@akacadian3714]

WOW Jersey gets to Ascension!

[@NaCreagachaDubha]

Fabulous video. Always wanted to visit Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Many thanks, Joe!

[@paulcarlsen4088]

What a cool and beautiful place! Thank you for the video👍

[@BvirtuallY]

Let me get this straight: the middle of EARTH'S construct (ASCENSION ISLAND) is a TROPICAL Paradise ??? How nice! Thank you so much for sharing your amazing journies.

[@chrisbroom8418]

I spent 3 months there when in the RAF. we did all the forward freighting form the aircraft to the royal navy before they went to the falklands. Was there when the victor tankers and vulcan bombers flew to destroy falklands runway. Fantastic place to be, could walk down the beach at night watching the turtles lay there eggs. climbed up green mountain through the different rain forests.

[@ridgec5670]

All your videos are top notch and outstanding. But this was a step above. Thanks for the details about the island, very interesting. So cool you got to help out and document the church painting. Keep up the great work.

[@johncanetta6708]

What a great video, Joe. And thanks for taking me to a place I'll never get to.

[@chipsrafferty8362]

You are extremely lucky to visit THE ROCK….Green Mountain is wonder in and of itself,a place very few get to see. The “SAINTS’’ as the St.Helena’s are known are some of the most industrious people you will ever meet.

[@ibbylancaster8981]

The island was an emergency landing place for the space shuttle too. Great stuff Joe

[@politicsuncensored5617]

That was really cool that everyone got together on Easter Sunday to paint the church. I am enjoying your video stories greatly. PJ

[@gcrauwels941]

I'm happy to see you got to spend some time on the island.

[@seanthomas5805]

I work in a ship repair yard in Ireland. Very cool to see what life is like when the ship leaves the dry dock 👏

[@johnobrien6869]

"The world can still surprise you...if you let it..." Pure gold Mr. Joe...Pure Gold...

[@vikingtraveler2655]

Something about your videos is just smooth and good. I really enjoy watching them. Keep it up.

[@MooreAvery]

Great video, )oe! Thank you! Be safe!

[@simbabradley]

Love the videos, and yes you have a great knack for telling story’s. Thanks so much. Just love them

[@markakira8988]

Joseph Hooker's vision and actions are crazy. Who does that?! And I can't think of a more impressive good karma deed than painting a church on the Holiest Day.

[@tynipr]

Amazing video! Makes me feel a little home sick although I was there a little over a year. Mama Sue is definitely the heart of the island...I love that you described her that way!

[@madrafboy]

What a lovely tribute to the island. I'm sure that your work was much appreciated. I was stationed there in 1986 for seven months with the Royal Air Force. I can honestly say I knew every inch of Ascension. Became super fit speedwalking up the Green Mountain ramps. Doubt I could do it now lol. 😃 Will never forget my time there.

[@thomcoolidge6524]

I used to work there, the golf course is crazy difficult, but it's the best job I had. Miss it to this day.

[@rackets001]

What cool thing to do! I could tell you were a good dude before, now there's no doubt whatsoever!

[@kurttrzeciak8326]

This was the video that I was waiting for! Ascencion has fascinated me since I was a child. It was great to hear you tell us about the island and its history while you were exploring. I hope you get to visit St. Helena Island too!! If I could swing it, that is where I would retire. I am wondering if you will get to go as far as Tristan de Cunha ever. That would really be wild.

[@googledocs637]

What a good video! Kudos to you for helping the locals paint the church, people like you restore my faith in humanity. Stay happy and healthy out there!

[@klamenj]

Thank you for taking your time and sharing these videos with us.

[@matthewmccune]

love it! the painting the church deal was awesome

[@michaelhoran407]

Superb video about Ascension Island. Thank you.

[@mattwolfe70]

Love your content man, you seem like a good dude. Cheers from N. California

[@arthurtrevino9844]

Joe, you sure know how to live. God bless

[@FloridaJack]

Great video. The power of Common Cause, Companionship and Communication.

[@jondo9919]

I spent about a month there with US Navy patrol squadron VP-49 during the African Angola incident back in the late 1970’s. We flew reconnaissance and ship ident (Soviet) on ships going into that area. Quonset hut living is not that bad, really. Different though. Outdoor movie theater was great. Trudged up to the top of Green Mountain, through the bamboo forest, etc. good times.

[@deepbludude4697]

Great upload well done on painting the church. I worked on Ascension in the 80s and 90s Ive worked on every continent and its truly my favorite place on earth it has alot of mysterys to reveal.

[@robertb8895]

One of if not the best experience and vlog you did! Painting the church and giving the history you are a great story teller! Kudos to you and your shipmates!!

[@phronsiekeys]

Not a place most of us will ever visit, so thanks for taking us along!

[@moebeddah2288]

Awesome content! Thanks for sharing your journey. Peace.

[@jefferyholland]

Very cool video Joe. Always enjoy you taking us along on your travels.

[@jasonallen1532]

Love this video, especially painting the church on Easter. What a great idea..

[@JosieCrisp]

Thank you for this wonderful video. I lived there when I was a child…it’s amazing how little it has changed. I have dreams of flying over the island it made shush an impact on my memories. The video makes me feel like I am flying. A lovey gentle sensitive narration as well. Made me feel very emotional 💖💖

[@kevingreen6924]

i've recently found you. for the moment i'm subscribed. when i was very young, 17 in 1967, i had a friend who was a merchant sailor, deck hand he was the same age. i was envious of him. now i can watch you. i used to visit his ships and follow his journeys on lloyds register, with his dad.

[@MatthewGoss562]

This video is amazing. Thank you so much for showing us this.

[@alanbierhoff6831]

Joe, your videos are Frantastic! Maybe even Frantabulous! 😆 You take us places we will probably never see