Electric bikes are brilliant. When it's extremely cold, you know, the batteries don't perform as well. When he came to rest, as he casually puts it, my leg was all flippy-floppy, bending in the wrong places and in the wrong direction. Traversing through cities, mountains, deserts, and snow, they documented their trips using special helmet cameras whilst riding their bikes, had a cameraman ride on his own bike accompany them, and had a production crew that provided them with additional support and rendezvoused with them at border crossings. Having ridden with Ewan McGregor all the way round the world, and on an extraordinary trip through Africa, he is now taking on Canada, South Africa and the USA. With Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman, David Alexanian, Russ Malkin. Well also do one on Scramblers in Morocco on light gravel and tar. But I did perfect the wheelchair wheelie with a lot of pain. Charley Boorman is riding again after his major motorcycle crash in 2016 and ready for his big African adventure later this year. It was exactly what the doctor ordered.. Details area bit vague at the momentandthere is no word on whether he was riding or driving. and the first time we read /hear about it. After visiting the pyramids, they boarded a ferry to Sudan, continued into Ethiopia and then into Kenya, where they crossed the equator. For me, off-road riding is one of the purest forms of riding and I particularly like sand. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. WebEwan McGregor and Charley Boorman are getting back on their motorcycles for a new adventure in Apple TV+'s "Long Way Up". Drifting apart from your mates can be a sad fact of life as you get older. WebLong Way Round: Created by David Alexanian, Charley Boorman, Russ Malkin, Ewan McGregor. It is a follow-up to the Long Way Round of 2004, when the pair rode east from London to New York via Eurasia and North America. Its very rare that you get that period of time to hang out with your best buddy and ride motorbikes. After a period reliant on a wheelchair, Boorman is back riding, but now walks with a limp as his left leg is 1 cm shorter than his right after operations to repair the breaks. This path of chargers on the route still exists, and its our Long Way Up legacy. I had three big casts on three limbs of my body and I was feeling really, really, really very sorry for myself and thinking, if only I had this, or only I had done that. Were also starting to do short tours to Spain with The Bike Shed, mianly on hipster bikes like the T120s and Thruxtons. Both McGregor and Boorman had visited such centres in Africa previously. charley boorman accident south africa 2018 [Chuckles]. With the right planning, of course. I think people are very dismissive. Rivian also installed charging stations along the more desolate parts of the route. He also did a follow-up to the show in 2009 called 'Right To The Edge: By Any Means' where he traveled from Sydney to Tokyo following the Pacific Rim. That was my therapy, to get back on the motorbike. You could just keep riding your bike not knowing where you're going on forever and If it wasn't for the people that you love at home, that would be an interesting way of life. Bikes, cars and trucks all race at the same time. So we had to sort of do all of our testing and learning on how to manage that battery system while we were doing the trip in sub-zero temperatures. [6] In June 2019, it was reported that Boorman confirmed that the filming of a third installment would begin "in a few months". CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 04: Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman mark the finish line of The [+] Long Way Down at the Lagoon Beach Hotel on August 4, 2007 in Cape Town, South Africa. See our review policies for more information. I fell off that as well. Then I can spend time with them on the summer holidays. Somehow, we slid into a ditch and the car stopped. As I approached I heard him say, So, Olivia, youre a beautiful girl, do you want to come to Australia with me?. "I did the Dakar Rally (10,000km from Lisbon to Dakar, Senegal) in 2006, which is one of the most dangerous off-road races in the world and broke both my hands. I thought Id broken my hip just for the sake of going down the shops! I first met him in London at a restaurant. Im self-employed so getting a job is my biggest challenge. The trip, well-planned as it was, does not get off to an easy start, owing to unseasonably cold weather (it was the worst winter in since 1994 this time last year), as well as the trial of using vehicles that had yet to be tested in such conditions. His close friend and partner on the road Charley Boorman, a fellow actor turned journeyman writer and TV presenter is similarly moved by the scenery. The Facebook posts appear to show the bikes are clearly being ridden off pavement, and it doesnt look like theres knobbies mounted on the rims (yet). When I broke my legs badly I sat there for a little while and thought what if Id just left the hotel a little later But the reality is that its happened and there is nothing you can do. This article is about the TV documentary series. Ewan McGregor, besides being an actor, has been an activist and the ambassador for UNICEF UK since 2004. They crossed 13 countries, namely Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, and the U.S.A. Charley Boorman's South African Adventure (TV Series 2013-2013) The Movie Database (TMDB) Join Adventurer Charley Boorman as he sets off once more on an epic motorbike adventure, this time making his way through the stunning, rugged and often unknown South Africa. Can you do this, that and the other?" I consent to allow Adventure Bike Rider to collect my contact information (required), I would like to receive competitions, exclusive offers and other promotional emails from Adventure Bike Rider, I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time. All these vehicles are all frontier tech and you both seemed pretty damn worried during the first couple of episodes. Why now, after a 12-year hiatus, did the duo decide to return for a third run? How long did it really take for you two to become comfortable with the EV element of the trip in real-time, as opposed to episode time? Im just going to crack on., Try 12 issues for 1 today - never miss an issue. ADVPulse also reported that a pair of Mercedes Sprinter vans may be providing support; both previous Long Way series had prodigious support for McGregor and Boorman, so they werent exactly roughing it. A bit of separation is not a bad thing and I always try to schedule trips while the kids are at school. Talking about the sights along the way, and what really stood out for them on this particular journey, McGregor sites the landscape of the Atacama Desert in Chile as spectacular, and he goes on to talk about getting to see Machu Picchu. 2023 Cable News Network. I didnt do very well in school, but I got As in daydreaming, so I would spend a lot of time daydreaming about Machu Picchu, like it was this mythical place that Id never see. They went from there to Tanzania and then into Malawi, where they were joined by Ewan McGregor's wife Eve. JAG: Ewan, you're a big movie star, as I was pointing out to my daughter when we were watching the show. (One quick note: this interview has been edited for clarity, and it's also a lot better when you read McGregors copy in his Scottish burr.). It's a different way of thinking but it's totally doable in America. TV presenter and adventurer Charley Boorman, who motorbiked around the world with his pal Ewan McGregor for the series Long Way Round and Long Way Down, has had plenty of scrapes in his time. Our reviews are hands-on, detailed, and unbiased. In the DVD extras, while preparing the bikes for cargo, Ewan McGregor refers to a possible future trip in South America, perhaps called Long Way Up. A Mercedes clipped the Triumph he was riding in Portugal. I really hope Charley and Ewan do ride together soon in another adventure. [7][8], On 27 May 2020, it was announced that the series Long Way Up would premiere on Apple TV+.[9]. I got clipped and the bad thing is I hit a wall. Ive never really had any regrets. He was in a wheelchair for a while before recuperating and getting back on the motorbike. We chatted to Jody Ocker who is currently traversing Africa with Charley! How do we get someone more interested in EVs and becoming a better eco steward while still being, you know, a total degenerate biker? Boorman at last year's Chelsea Flower Show. JAG: How do we get people more interested in motorcycles? Up In The Air! After being released without charge, he took a later flight to Inverness, and the journey began as scheduled. John thought acting might help his dyslexic son to express himself. Long Way Down is a television series and book documenting a motorcycle journey undertaken in 2007 by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, from John o' Groats in Scotland through eighteen countries in Europe and Africa to Cape Town in South Africa. A Warner Bros. lovely story.. and Charile is an awesome guy! Another interesting development: It appears electric pickup truck maker Rivian may also be in on the epic adventure, according to a post on popular off-road riding site ADVPulse. Ever wonder what it's like to be riding with Charley Boorman? They let us in and let us plug in our bikes as they showed us around and explained how everything worked. Long Way Down at the Lagoon Beach Hotel on August 4, 2007 in Cape Town, South Africa. Couldnt think dont do it. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, reading fiction books, watching movies, and spending time with his pet cats and dogs. It could generate 105 horsepower, 86 pound-feet of torque, and had a top speed of 110 mph. The Perito Moreno glacier in Argentinas Los Glaciares National Park, which rises above turquoise glacial waters. Argentinian news outlets report McGregor arrived in the country (apparently to considerable fanfare) in late August. Boormans first thought when he was told he might lose his leg was: Well, at least I can still ride he knows an amputee stunt rider who uses a magnet to keep his artificial limb on his bikes foot peg, you see. And then I obviously had to have the second one, the second accident, where I really smashed myself up in South Africa. When I was getting a little bit better, and Ewan came to London to stay with me we started chatting about that third trip that we really wanted to do. Related: Youve Never Seen A Harley-Davidson LiveWire Like This. The title song was performed by Welsh group Stereophonics and is identical to the Long Way Round theme, with the lyric "round" replaced with "down". For other uses, see, "Ewan McGregor secures sponsorship deal for South American road trip", "Long Way Up is go! The first episode of Long Way Up is all preparation and planning, which was incredibly fun to follow. In the case of Mr McGregor and Mr Boorman, it was a freak accident during a European trip that acted as the trigger for a long-overdue reunion. Three bikes were used in Long Way Down with Ewan, Charley and cameraman Claudio Von Plata each riding one, Long Way Up took about 100 days to complete as they rode from Ushuaia to Los Angeles, The crew traveled from their base in Shepherd's Bush, London to John o'Groats at the northern tip of Scotland to begin their journey. On 6 August 2018, Boorman tweeted a tease that the Long Way Up, a trip from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska, would happen "if all goes well". JAG: Charley, you were in quite a few different wrecks over the years. I write about motorcycles, ebikes, cars, trucks and mobility tech. Olivia matches lonely elderly people with tenants who provide company or help, and suddenly found herself also dealing with a husband who couldnt manage the lavatory alone. ), We sort of looked at each other, and walked away, and thought if were quiet, theyd keep on charging. This kind of thing happens a lot in a Long Way Up. . He had shattered his left tibia and fibula and broken his right ankle and wrist. I'd had a lot of surgeryboth my legs were smashed up, my right hand had broken bones. His motorcycle was substantially damaged, and the footage of the rest of the journey to Cape Agulhas appears only to include support vehicle and helmet cam footage, suggesting that Von Planta's motorcycle was no longer used. Learn more about us. :) Really, its a -big- shock and so, just to drop a comment; & once again, all the best!! You may opt-out by. Ewans always had a loose relationship with Moto Guzzi (hes currently an ambassador) so theres no conflict there. Last year, he was involved in a horrific accident in Portugal, in which he nearly lost his leg, when he was clipped on his motorbike by a car and ended up slamming into a wall. Maybe when Im too old to do the adventures and TV shows Ill have these tours to keep me occupied. Ewan and I didnt really know what we were doing. I did a movie wth my father called The Emerald Forest in South America, but thats the only time Ive been. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. See our privacy policy for details on how we manage your data. In 2013, riders started their amazing journey based at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. Charley had a terrible accident and was very badly injured. He has worked in numerous Hollywood movies such as the Star Wars prequel trilogy, the Trainspotting series (1996, 2017), Christopher Robin (2018), Doctor Sleep (2019), Pinocchio (2022), and many more projects.