But when you and your best friend are the two most recognisable faces in adventure biking, people start to ask questions when you havent been seen together in a while. I think absolutely its definitely the right thing to do if youre living in London. See our review policies for more information. 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. The two have been close friends since meeting on the set of the 1997 film, The Serpents Kiss which must be watched, if only for the wig work. Great story. 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. Poring over a map of the world at home one quiet Saturday afternoon, Ewan McGregor - actor and self-confessed bike nut - noticed that it was possible to ride all the way round the world, with just one short hop across the Bering Strait from Russia to Alaska. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Me and my father (our whole family, actually) have been following Charleys adventures for a decade+ now This accident is HORRIBLE news (omg!) Can you change the seat? Essentially the bottom of my leg was hanging off, only held on by the calf muscle. The shock absorbers bore the brunt, with both McGregor's and von Planta's bikes suffering broken springs. 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. You may opt-out by. People should at least wear a helmet, gloves and ankle riding boots. Charley Boorman: When I did have the accident, you know, I remember waking up in the morning and I was in Portuguese hospital. Im lucky enough to have a few. We have just heard that well-known and loved motorcycle traveller. 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. 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. JAG: Ewan, you're a big movie star, as I was pointing out to my daughter when we were watching the show. It felt like my whole body had been jarred. 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. British adventurer Charley Boorman treks across Canada and discovers what makes the country amazing. Then this big truck came round the corner and it put them off. 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. Ewan went on to talk of how it wasn't until Charley had a motorcycle accident in 2016 that he and Charley settled their differences. Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor spat: Charley nearly lost his leg after his motorbike accident in 2016. (Image: GETTY ) ), 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. . JAG: Charley, you were in quite a few different wrecks over the years. Billy writes on his Twitter account: CB had accident today in Portugal @ Global launch of Triumph Explorer.In hospital but OK. Argentinian news outlets report McGregor arrived in the country (apparently to considerable fanfare) in late August. A division of A07 Online Media, LLC. The following year, Charley and Ewan did another motorcycle adventure trip, this time known as Long Way Down, where they travelled from Scotland to Cape Town, Thankfully because of Charley's accident, that meant he was housebound for some time, so whenever I was in London, that meant I was able to see him. 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. Its really touching me, and what I was looking for in terms of feeling closer to the world, the Earth, appreciating the beauty of it as we ride along.. They traverse 13 countries, zigzagging between Argentina and Chile, then northward through Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, up through Central America (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala), then finally into Mexico and ending in Los Angeles, California. He underwent gruesome treatment in Portugal and then in London, and doctors feared he might lose the leg. That was a dodgy one. I realized we share something that I dont share with anyone else. Can you raise it? Then we got Russ and Dave our two producers and partners and then Russ floated the idea of maybe going electric and that was it really. They went from there to Tanzania and then into Malawi, where they were joined by Ewan McGregor's wife Eve. I usually go back the way we came with them so they can experience it as well. Ewans always had a loose relationship with Moto Guzzi (hes currently an ambassador) so theres no conflict there. Did you encounter any technical issues? It could generate 105 horsepower, 86 pound-feet of torque, and had a top speed of 110 mph. I mean, one time it was so cold outside that the batteries would just turn off and they wouldnt charge. EW: Well, that's never happened before. How the Rivian pickups are involved is unclear, but they would certainly jibe nicely with the EV theme of the new show. 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. See our review policies for more information. Up In The Air! The original broadcast dates in the United Kingdom were: In the final pages of the Long Way Down book, there is a mention of "Long Way To Go"; however, this is not the intended title for a third series but a reference to the continual support that UNICEF needs for its work. 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. Actors, best friends, and lifelong motorbike enthusiasts Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman are perhaps best known in the automotive community for their 'Long Way' series all 3 of which you can watch on Apple TV+ of long-distance motorbike trips across various continents. He has a deep passion for and vast knowledge about JDM cars. 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. To let that friendship dwindle or drift, I realized, was a mistake. Also, Triumph is owned by a family, theyre very generous and very kind and we have a great relationship. Charley had a terrible accident and was very badly injured. You join the family theyve created under these particular conditions, and you feel how much they all mean to one another. 2022Recurrent Ventures. Ever wonder what it's like to be riding with Charley Boorman? Details area bit vague at the momentandthere is no word on whether he was riding or driving. All good. Theyre already talking about making it harder. Ive never really had any regrets. I mean you could cross America back and forth on an electric motorcycle without any worries as there are so many fast chargers now. Theyll have to make it all the way up first. 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. Charley Boorman suffered a serious injury after coming off his motorbike in Portugal It has now been over a year since the horror scene, which happened on his way to a media launch of the new Triumph Explorer. The 50-year-old added: It has been a long journey to get here. [Chuckles]. The first trip in the series was shot in the year 2004, when they set out on a 19,000-mile journey from London to New York City on BMW R1150GS Adventure bikes. I put the question to Charley during the making of the latest issue ofAdventure Bike Ridermagazine (issue 59). Every time we found somewhere to plug that bike in was like a little mini-triumph, said McGregor. Im crazy about bike riding for now 39 years. Hope Charley is doing OK. Id love to see Tiffany Coates standing in for him rather than his engagements having to be cancelled. Salta in northwest Argentina to take the Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds) one of the highest in the world at almost 14,000 feet. Charley and I talk a lot about it, about how you hear people who should really know better dismissing electric-powered vehicles. Here's what 'long way' series' stars Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman have been doing today. Charley had just returned from a Compass Expeditions tour of Tasmania when we caught up with him this week at The Bike Shed in London, where he is one of 31 founding members. 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 really feel the ground because there's no mechanical vibration between you and the ground - there's no mechanical movement, other than this the electric engine which is spinning around and so you can really feel the road. Forbes.com has reached out to Harley-Davidson for comment on the news. Was smiling and joking before he seen the needle!, And: Awaiting return from surgery. Boorman broke both legs after colliding with a wall whilst avoiding a car that pulled out in front of him. In one of my classrooms when I was at school, there was a poster of Machu Picchu. [4] In 2004, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman embarked on a journey to bike across 12 countries and 19 time zones in 115 days. wBW providessubjective opinionsand information on hard-to-find and unique motorcycling products. McGregor and Boorman gave the adventure or ADV riding segment a huge boost in 2004 with their original series Long Way Round, in which the pair rode heavily loaded BMW GS adventure bikes around the world the long way from England through Russia, including Siberia, capturing their adventures on video using action cameras, and by including Swiss photographer (and rider), Claudio von Planta, who also rode a kitted BMW during the project. Riding a prototype electric Harley-Davidson LiveWire through the Calchaqu Valley in northwest Argentina, the actor and avid motorcyclist Ewan McGregor waxes poetic into a microphone inside his helmet. I first met him in London at a restaurant. EW: It'd been over 12 years since we did The Long Way Down, our trip down through the African continent back in 2007. On a daily basis, just plugging the bike in at the end of the day was a highlight in itself. Can you do this, that and the other?" Ewan McGregor: Really once you've experienced that sort of adventure travel like weve done, it's sort of in you. In Tunisia, McGregor and Boorman visited the set of Star Wars and then rode into Libya. Weve joined selected affiliate programs which will allow us to place advertisements for select motorcycle and motorcycle-related product retailers on the site. 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. (The places these two bunk overnight, at least in the first three episodes, are hardly five-star. The problem is that riders are very individual and not part of the scene or a club. We *truly* wish him all the best and are hoping for a full (!) All Rights Reserved. I dont have anything to hide. (Photo by Michelly Rall/WireImage). 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. 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? I remember having the door open and contemplating whether I'd have to jump. The quality of road surfaces throughout east Africa were surprisingly smooth, but sections were rough, bumpy or had sandy terrain, with some travel through a small river and mud wallow. Enjoy this party classic with an updated RT twist - fun for all the family! 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. 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). 1:41 PM EDT, Thu September 17, 2020, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman take on a 13,000-mile e-bike journey in the Apple TV+ series, "Long Way Up.". He was in a wheelchair for a while before recuperating and getting back on the motorbike. News updates will happen by Twitter, through @biketruck his long-time friend Billy Ward. They put in these charges all the way down our route with our partners at Enel. Updated We had this little toilet underneath the stairs, so I got on my wheelchair and swung myself on to the landing and scuttled down the stairs to the bottom. You hear stories about the horror crashes of the Dakar Rally, which is a long 16-day race, and about people getting lost in the desert, and they're all true. He is also properly appreciative of Olivia, whom hes been with for 30 years and married to for 25. according to a post on popular off-road riding site ADVPulse. For other uses, see, "Ewan McGregor secures sponsorship deal for South American road trip", "Long Way Up is go! . The soundtrack features music drawn substantially from the catalogue of Real World Records, which produced the accompanying album. 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". In hospital but OK. 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. 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. As with their previous trip, and Boorman's Race to Dakar, Russ Malkin's company Big Earth produced the series. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Related: 2021 BMW R1250 GS & GS Adventure. We have a series of challenges throughout our lives. 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. 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. They just got back in the car and drove off. He smiled and nodded his head. WebCharley Boorman, adventurer, motorbike enthusiast and no. Every 20 minutes, you were just about to crash. This form collects your contact information. Motorcycle adventurer Charley Boorman has bared all for Motorbike Writer readers, including his backside! The television series began broadcast on BBC Two on 28 October 2007,[3] with clips also shown online. That meant electric bikes (Harley-Davidson supplied prototypes) that could withstand myriad environments snow, ice, altitude, wind, rain and very few charging stations. The truth is you just have to have a go. It comes to its conclusion.. Then Ewan was in town when I was in town and he came over and stayed for a while and we started talking and as Ewan said, we had kind of drifted apart a little bit, just because we're on different sides of the pond. The bikes had a 1,130cc engine and a six-speed gearbox that was good for 85 horsepower and 75 pound-feet of torque. The torque is unbelievable, its fun to be sort of silent and it's just a different riding experience. If I'm at work or I'm sitting there between takes, or I am sitting in my trailer or whatever, I find myself daydreaming about a ribbon of road coming at me from somewhere. 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. From Kenya, they rode to Uganda and then Rwanda, where they had an audience with President Paul Kagame. 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. Will I wish you all the best, Charlie. It was six months before I could walk on one leg. I would hate to sit there at 90 and think I wished Id done more. 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. I think this scene (The Bike Shed) has brought younger riders back into biking. wBW providessubjective opinionsand information on hard-to-find and unique motorcycling products. 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. 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. lovely story.. and Charile is an awesome guy! Not just get on a bike again, but go basically 13,000 miles on an electric motorcycle? The two friends will travel through such places as Siberia, WebWild at Heart Season 6 Episode 4. The two pals are back for their third globe-spanning motorcycle adventureand we sat down with them to talk about it. Click here to read more about his African tours. This documentary series follows actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on a motorcycle trip around the world. WATCH: Ewan McGregor in action on the Moto Guzzi V85 TT, but will he take it on the Long Way Up? Discovery Company. JAG: How do we get people more interested in motorcycles? The journey started on 12 May and finished on 4 August 2007. I just red the first time about the crash. Please send Charley your best wishes via Twitter. "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. It really is close now. I just find myself thinking about it a lot. They last about four days each and we will do them over long weekends. But once you were able to charge the bikes with the Rivians, that seemed to be a total game-changer for the trip. I fell off that as well. I just love seeing Mother Nature like this, watching the land change as we go by. Its A Honda!: Automakers Pursue VTOL Dreams, These Are The 12 Greenest Cars In The U.S. For 2023, reportedly begun production of the third entry. News updates will happen by Twitter, through, Custom Eye Candy: An Electric Zero SR-X Concept, 10 Electric Skateboard Brands That Are Killing It, Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, Fast Figures: Piaggio Groups 2022 Sales Were Best Results Ever, Industry Insider: EU Ignores Licensing Revamp Pleas, UK Is Next, Luck of the Irish: Insurance Costs Cause Country-Wide Racing Closures, Powersports Podcasts: Ricky Carmichael & Ryan Villopotos Title 24, Harley-Davidson Screamin Eagle Engine Sets New Record, Husqvarna Releases Up-Specd Norden 901 Expedition, Armor, Airbag, Base Layer, & Underwear Reviews, The Fight to Save the Davidson Ancestral Home, Indian Motorcycles Publishes Recall over Non-Compliant Lights, BMW Recalls K1600 Models over Suspension Failure. I love it. My waterproofs because, you know, London and my Arai adventure helmet and my injection-moulded earplugs. In Uganda, they met former child soldiers of the Lord's Resistance Army and saw the work being done to rehabilitate them. . WebCharley Boorman's South African Adventure: With Charley Boorman. [5] In March 2017, during a Reddit AMA, Ewan said there were "no plans at the moment" to do a third installment of the series. Fill in your details below to join the weekly Adventure Bike Rider Bulletin and get the latest adventure motorcycling news delivered right to your inbox. We chatted to Jody Ocker who is currently traversing Africa with Charley! 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. You're looking at your GPS for the actual mileage left and you're looking at your bike which is telling you the projected mileage based on within the parameters that it's experiencing at that point in time and you're trying to keep those fingers together, so it adds a certain element of artistry to it.
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