", "I remember taking a 4x4 up the Sani Pass in South Africa, which goes up into Lesotho. Theyre already talking about making it harder. Click here to read more about his African tours. recovery, on all fronts!.. We've sort of lost touch with each other a little bit. 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. Billy writes on his Twitter account: CB had accident today in Portugal @ Global launch of Triumph Explorer.In hospital but OK. As with their previous trip, and Boorman's Race to Dakar, Russ Malkin's company Big Earth produced the series. [Chuckles]. JAG: When it comes to the electric bikes, there seemed to be a lot of range anxiety at the beginning of the trip for you two. We chatted to Jody Ocker who is currently traversing Africa with Charley! This form collects your contact information. Why now, after a 12-year hiatus, did the duo decide to return for a third run? In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, reading fiction books, watching movies, and spending time with his pet cats and dogs. This article is about the TV documentary series. I agreeI do not agree. I love the fact that they ride bikes. From abseiling down Cape Town's iconic Table Mountain, to learning how to rodeo in Canada, prepare for a non JAG: How do we get people more interested in motorcycles? I thought to myself, this is crazy. Charley saw it as a means to hang out with interesting people and earn money to buy motorbikes, and doesnt miss it at all. For other uses, see, "Ewan McGregor secures sponsorship deal for South American road trip", "Long Way Up is go! Boorman admitted he had been "putting on a show" for a roadside garage and braked sharply as part of a maneuver. Africa gets a really bad rub as a dangerous place, usually by people who havent been. Ive pretty much broken everything but you cant fix your head. The soundtrack features music drawn substantially from the catalogue of Real World Records, which produced the accompanying album. Then this big truck came round the corner and it put them off. Harley-Davidson provided them with their prototype LiveWire motorcycles that had a range of around 146 miles with its 15.5-kWh battery. And thats when the real magic begins. It's such fun to ride and they are so fast. I think this scene (The Bike Shed) has brought younger riders back into biking. But if I could have ridden with anybody Id have loved to have ridden with Lawrence of Arabia on a Brough Superior. News updates will happen by Twitter, through @biketruck his long-time friend Billy Ward. Now, a decade after the Long Way Down entry, it looks like the third installment is underway with electric mobility at the core of the concept. You know, helmet on and no one knows who you are. Hopefully just riding dirt bikes with mates. 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). He did lose a lot of work: a planned TV show about a bike trip through the perilous Darien Gap in Central America that had taken a year to plan, and commercial tours with bike fans in Australia and Africa, a lucrative offshoot of his celebrity. When it's extremely cold, you know, the batteries don't perform as well. I think its too difficult and expensive to get your licence now. In 2008, he did a show called 'By Any Means' where he traveled from County Wicklow, his hometown in Ireland, to Sydney, Australia using only appropriate public transport and flying whenever necessary. In 2004, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman embarked on a journey to bike across 12 countries and 19 time zones in 115 days. 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. Charley will be leading a pack of Adventure Here are some facts about the 'Long Way' series and what Ewan and Charley are up to today. The journey ended at Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of the continent, from where they were accompanied to Cape Town by a phalanx of bikers, similar to their arrival in New York on the Long Way Round. You join the family theyve created under these particular conditions, and you feel how much they all mean to one another. What do his doctors think about that? You've got apps that let you know as soon as you get three-quarters empty, you just hit a button and it takes you to an EV charger you can fast-charge easily. Ewan McGregor, besides being an actor, has been an activist and the ambassador for UNICEF UK since 2004. John thought acting might help his dyslexic son to express himself. A year ago, the 50-year-old who started out as a child actor in his father Johns films and gained a second bite at stardom on television as Ewan McGregors motorcycling partner in the Long Way adventure travel series suffered a horrific bike crash. Ive ordered a nurses uniform always wanted one. See our review policies for more information. 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. The shock absorbers bore the brunt, with both McGregor's and von Planta's bikes suffering broken springs. Hobart to Strachan is probably one of the best roads like that in the world. On a daily basis, just plugging the bike in at the end of the day was a highlight in itself. Here's What Ewan McGregor And Charley Boorman Are Up To Today, all 3 of which you can watch on Apple TV+, Youve Never Seen A Harley-Davidson LiveWire Like This, Charley met with a serious accident when test riding with motorbike journalists in Portugal. I was on a bed pan for god knows how long and I just wanted to go to a regular toilet. I think absolutely its definitely the right thing to do if youre living in London. Details area bit vague at the momentandthere is no word on whether he was riding or driving. Didn't think you were that famous? 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. Von Planta says he was riding too closely and fell while avoiding a collision; he was shaken but uninjured. Besides the 'Long Way' series, Charley has been actively working on his own projects. I first met him in London at a restaurant. 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. It doesn't happen to me that often, you know, to be sort of holed up in a restaurant with a mob outside. My waterproofs because, you know, London and my Arai adventure helmet and my injection-moulded earplugs. The wheels were spinning forward, but we were shooting backwards towards a cliff. The second installment in the series, 'Long Way Down' was shot in the year 2007. What we hadn't realized is how much the weather actually affects these electric vehicles. Its great to have both, weve had a lot of fun on petrol bikes as well but your every day going bike when you live in a city has got to be electric now. 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". Ewan McGregor and his wingman, Brit TV personality Charley Boorman, have reportedly begun production of the third entry in their popular Long Way motorcycle road On the Late Show with David Letterman (17 February 2010), McGregor said he was not planning another trip, because he found it difficult to be away from his family for such a long time, but he also mentioned wanting to do a trip from South to North America. He was in a wheelchair for a while before recuperating and getting back on the motorbike. WebCharley Boorman, adventurer, motorbike enthusiast and no. That was the case for Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, who ended their last biking adventure 13 years ago at the end of the Long Way Downtelevision series. In fact, I borrowed (wife) Olivias scooter to go to the shops because I couldnt change gears with the cage around my leg. The new bikes featured a 2-cylinder boxer engine, a six-speed gearbox, and generated 109 horsepower with 89 pound-feet of torque. Each bike weighed about 505 pounds. And that happens regularly. 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. "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. Moped narrowly avoids 70mph train at level crossing, Tom Sizemore: The Hollywood hardman who fell from grace, Calm weekend will turn to freezing as snow and ice warnings issued, Hong Kong activists convicted over failure to comply with security law, Actor Tom Sizemore dies after career tarnished by scandals. I was just coming back from the bathroom and he was sitting in my chair chatting up my wife. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. That was a dodgy one. 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. The Mayor of London is not doing bikes any favours. Charley Boorman: When I did have the accident, you know, I remember waking up in the morning and I was in Portuguese hospital. In Long Way Down, they share their 15,000-mile Id love to the do Simpson Desert. I mean, one time it was so cold outside that the batteries would just turn off and they wouldnt charge. I taped him on the shoulder and said, I dont think my wife wants to go to Australia with you but I do. He looked me up and down and simply said No and then walked off. I understand why they ride bikes: One, because they love it and two because it gives them anonymity. 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. 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. there really isnt anywhere left to go but up, and a pair of Rivian RT1 electric pickup trucks. The team took four days to ride from John o' Groats back to London, via the McGregor family home in Crieff and the Silverstone racetrack, where they camped in the middle of the circuit. Ever wonder what it's like to be riding with Charley Boorman? I do owe quite a lot of thanks to him for that.. WebWild at Heart Season 6 Episode 4. Once it became a little warmer, the batteries became much more friendly and we got more distance out of it. 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. People look at it as one country, but its actually so diverse and so big. See our review policies for more information. He underwent gruesome treatment in Portugal and then in London, and doctors feared he might lose the leg. This time around, Ewan and Charley ride their upgraded BMW R1200GS Adventure bikes from John o'Groats, Scotland over 15,000-miles all the way to Cape Town, South Africa. I've crashed a lot in the past. Boorman was involved in a serious accident whilst test riding a motorbike with journalists in Portugal in 2016. Talking about the uncertainty of keeping the bikes charged in these remote places, Boorman recalls a story about getting this amazing charge out of a very dodgy plug in a youth hostile. Once youve been around the world and down its length on a motorcycle, there really isnt anywhere left to go but up.So it goes with Ewan McGregor and Charley With equity release you could access a lump-sum of tax-free cash which can be used to enhance your retirement income, make home improvements, or even enjoy a memorable holiday. Obi-Wan Kenobi was right, you know: That is a major twist. A bit of separation is not a bad thing and I always try to schedule trips while the kids are at school. During the trip, the pair visited three UNICEF facilities to promote the work done by the organisation. Motorcycle adventurer Charley Boorman has bared all for Motorbike Writer readers, including his backside! 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. 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. I don't want to give anything away, but one of the funniest moments of the trip as a viewer was that time in Ecuador when you basically couldn't leave a restaurant because of how many people wanted to see you. We were lucky, we had assistance from Rivian. Were also starting to do short tours to Spain with The Bike Shed, mianly on hipster bikes like the T120s and Thruxtons. All Rights Reserved. Will Motorcycle adventurer Charley Boorman has bared all for Motorbike Writer readers, including his backside! So I thought Im British and I would be promoting my Britishness. Holiday? For Long Way Up, which debuts globally on Apple TV+ on September 18 with the first three episodes, McGregor and Boorman reunite to ride 13,000 miles from Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, to Los Angeles, California. But now Im ok and starting to do some dirt riding again so Im super excited for our two trips there later this year. Whatever is happening in north Africa has nothing to do with whats happening in southern Africa. Having explored much of Europe and most recently Thailand on two wheels, hes now got his sights set on exploring more of the world by motorcycle. How do we get someone more interested in EVs and becoming a better eco steward while still being, you know, a total degenerate biker? During this time, he got an acting job on The Serpents Kiss in 1997, where he met McGregor, and they talked about bikes, because thats what bikers do, and cooked up the idea of a 19,000-mile, two-wheeled journey from London to New York that became 2004s Long Way Round a TV series, book and DVD. Theyll have to make it all the way up first. Published: Monday, 8th May 2017 at 10:40 am, Long Way Round's Charley Boorman: Even if I lost my leg, I would never give up motorcycling. Ewan McGregor rode home with an undiagnosed broken leg after a crash in London, while he and Boorman were planning their second odyssey, Long Way Down, and Boorman tells me horrific stories of the likes of comedian Ross Noble (another mate) tweeting pictures of injuries from wipeouts. And after a bike trip in south England, we have to visit Wales, Scotland, Yorkshire. I love Africa and returned last year to guide a tour, but I felt quite vulnerable dabbing my feet off road in case I broke my legs again. I was just unlucky because if you break one leg you can continue to walk on the other one, but I broke both and I was in bed for five months. We *truly* wish him all the best and are hoping for a full (!) Charley Boorman is riding again after his major motorcycle crash in 2016 and ready for his big African adventure later this year. That makes it very complicated and I dont understand how people are so tribal about it. We were lucky because we were right at the crest of that adventure travel wave. I got clipped and the bad thing is I hit a wall. I just recently completed a 5000 km ride through South Africa, Namibia, and Zambia with Charley Boorman. Sponsors, including Triumph, kept him afloat, but as well as pain and frustration, he faced crashing boredom. It was six months before I could walk on one leg. In June 2015, McGregor indicated that the long-discussed South American trip was still at the planning stage, but he expected that an excursion through Baja California Peninsula would take place first. Id love to ride with (princes) Harry and William. Ewan McGregor: Really once you've experienced that sort of adventure travel like weve done, it's sort of in you. However, although delays of a few hours were common, there were few significant problems at crossing points as they travelled further south. The series was added to Apple TV+ on 18 September 2020 along with the first iteration Long Way Round (2004) and sequel Long Way Up (2020). Its to do with the freedom you have.. This is a BETA experience. Co-director of photography Jimmy Simak also acted as music supervisor and soundtrack producer for the series. With Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman, David Alexanian, Russ Malkin. But after exploring in different directions for a time, the two reunited, and then the clouds parted to reveal Machu Picchu, says McGregor. He smiled and nodded his head. Jon Alain Guzik: Youve been around and down, why decide to go up this time? and the first time we read /hear about it. 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. WebEwan McGregor, Charley Boorman, Robert Uhlig (co-author) It started as a daydream. Ewan and I didnt really know what we were doing. He was last seen starring as Obi Wan Kenobi in Disney+ original series Obi Wan Kenobi in 2022. See our privacy policy for details on how we manage your data. So, why has it taken more than a decade for the pair to reunite for a motorcycle adventure? That meant electric bikes (Harley-Davidson supplied prototypes) that could withstand myriad environments snow, ice, altitude, wind, rain and very few charging stations. Long Way Back is an account of Boormans recovery, and also the story of his life, touching on his dyslexia (he takes great pride in having a literary agent), the death of his older sister Telsche from ovarian cancer at the age of 38 in 1997, and his own loss of a testicle to cancer in 2010. Update 2moro. Ahead of that, The Drive had a chance to talk to McGregor and Boorman about their trip. wBW providessubjective opinionsand information on hard-to-find and unique motorcycling products. McGregor's wife, Eve, who learned to ride only for the journey, joined them partway and took several falls on sandy terrain in Malawi and Zambia, apparently without injury. The bone came out of my skin. The simple act of watching Ewan and Charley put a map on a wall and trace the route was enough to give this viewer some serious travel Stendhal syndrome I needed to order an actual map (and did). All these vehicles are all frontier tech and you both seemed pretty damn worried during the first couple of episodes. I really thought, 'S***, he's going to kill us'. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Then I was in a wheelchair for ages. The son of renowned film director John Boorman, he grew up on a farm in Ireland and used to ride through the fields on his first motorbike and took part in schoolboy motor cross and Enduro races. The Perito Moreno glacier in Argentinas Los Glaciares National Park, which rises above turquoise glacial waters. Can you put an off-road suspension on it? Charley (50), the son of acclaimed film director, John Boorman, is on the mend and back on the bikes, but here the journeyman recalls some of the scariest moments in his life. I love to show people that they can have a great tour in Africa and there is some great food, great wine and the people are so lovely. John Boorman often cast his children in his films as well as Telsche, who became a writer, and Katrine, now an actor and producer, Charley has a twin sister, Daisy, and three stepsiblings from his fathers second marriage. Weve joined selected affiliate programs which will allow us to place advertisements for select motorcycle and motorcycle-related product retailers on the site. Weve been talking about it a long-time and if the stars align we will do something like a Long Way up from Tierra Del Fuego to Alaska in the next couple of years. Re-watching By Any Means for the 20th time at the moment. I wish you all the best, Charlie. But I did perfect the wheelchair wheelie with a lot of pain. JAG: The crazy part was it wasnt only the bikes, you guys had the Rivian pickups too. Take a LiveWire around your city and youll just have such a laugh. They rode the BMW R1200GS Adventure, the successor to the R1150GS Adventure bikes in Long Way Round.[2]. WebCharley Boorman has been riding motorcycles since he was seven years old. Oha! JAG: Charley, you were in quite a few different wrecks over the years. Im amazed when Charley Boorman walks to the door of his west London home. It was hours and hours and hours later that I actually woke up, but again, I wanted to get back on the motorbike. And then we just got used to it and we began to understand how far we could go and how far we could push the parameters and you kind of like all of our trips, eventually you just settled into it. And they just did. A Warner Bros. In Malawi, they visited care centres for children orphaned by AIDS. In one of my classrooms when I was at school, there was a poster of Machu Picchu. The bikes had a 1,130cc engine and a six-speed gearbox that was good for 85 horsepower and 75 pound-feet of torque. Its also a handy guide to the world of motorcycling, where everyone knows everyone, and they all obsess about cylinders and paint jobs and regard broken bones as part of the ride.