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, 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. Web Charley Boorman Africa Touring Hear it from Charley During August to October Im leading a whole bunch of bikers on an incredible trip from Cape Town to Victoria Falls and Obi-Wan Kenobi was right, you know: That is a major twist. News updates will happen by Twitter, through @biketruck his long-time friend Billy Ward. 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. I have a crash there. Enjoy this party classic with an updated RT twist - fun for all the family! Apparently, after completing two epic motorbike adventures, the two felt they needed an additional challenge. Id love to see the Dakar but I would just want to race it again, so I better stay away. 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. 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 have earphones in them and I can listen to podcasts and books. 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.". Im self-employed so getting a job is my biggest challenge. 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. He was in a wheelchair for a while Weve had our share of spills and thrills (riding, all our lives), but this is -pretty- unbelievable; so unfortunate! I've crashed a lot in the past. They crossed Scotland, England, France, Italy, and Sicily before making their way across Africa through Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, and finally, South Africa. 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. But it was fun and everyone was very fun and very respectful and it was nice. 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. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, reading fiction books, watching movies, and spending time with his pet cats and dogs. 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. They let us in and let us plug in our bikes as they showed us around and explained how everything worked. 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. With the limited range of both the bikes and the Rivianapart from bringing backup generators like you guys did, how does the average motorcyclist enjoy a cross country trip on an electric motorcycle when the technology is still on the fringe? Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much That's very confidence-inspiring riding the canyons on an electric bike, as we both found out here riding in LA. 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. 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. The European leg ended in Sicily, where they caught a ferry to Tunisia. Im crazy about bike riding for now 39 years. For other uses, see, "Ewan McGregor secures sponsorship deal for South American road trip", "Long Way Up is go! 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. Co-director of photography Jimmy Simak also acted as music supervisor and soundtrack producer for the series. She was cooking every meal, and bathing me, which would do my head in, Boorman says, but she is a saint, my wife, incredibly practical, and just gets on with it.. But the LiveWire wasn't even being sold yet, so we were so lucky that they built us these two beautiful bikes. Okay, not Yorkshire again. 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. Jon Alain Guzik: Youve been around and down, why decide to go up this time? Horror crash: Charley is back on his bike after a horror smash last year Wed 19 Jul 2017 at 01:41 TV presenter and adventurer Charley Boorman, who motorbiked Re-watching By Any Means for the 20th time at the moment. YouTube channel where he posts videos on motorbikes. We chatted to Jody Ocker who is currently traversing Africa with Charley! But I did perfect the wheelchair wheelie with a lot of pain. The support team with the production crew followed them in custom-built Rivian R1S all-electric SUVs. 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. See our privacy policy for details on how we manage your data. Its been more than a decade since Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman rode triumphantly into Cape Town at the end of a journey that saw them travel the length of Africa on their BMW R 1200 GS Adventure motorcycles. Id also have loved to have ridden with Barry. Charley had a terrible accident and was very badly injured. Ewan McGregor: Really once you've experienced that sort of adventure travel like weve done, it's sort of in you. Im too stupid to be anything other than open about my life. Their daughters - Doone and Kinvara, 21 and 20 are both at university, but Doone also had to be flown home last year after breaking her jaw on a skiing trip. (The places these two bunk overnight, at least in the first three episodes, are hardly five-star. But once you were able to charge the bikes with the Rivians, that seemed to be a total game-changer for the trip. However, given the pairs typical journeys through distant lands where it might be a challenge to find gasoline or food, let alone a Level II electric vehicle charger, its suspected the sprinter vans might be ferrying generators for the Livewire bikes, which will need to top up about every 100 miles under favorable conditions. Didn't think you were that famous? Charley is a much-loved and frequent visitor to Australia where he leads Outback tours with Compass Expeditions. Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor stop in Bolivia on their electric Harley- Davidson LiveWires. But once they start to put real mileage between themselves and Ushuaia, a relatively predictable rhythm sets in that propels the journey forward with fewer headaches and anxieties. Update lata., Endingwith: Charley Update: OK, hes come round after op. In 2013, riders started their amazing journey based at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. 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. But its definitely the way forward. Ive ordered a nurses uniform always wanted one. It's the longest trip ever attempted on an electric motorcycle, one that required Rivian to install a new string of fast-chargers along the planned routea rural charging network that will now serve the people of the region, as McGregor pointed out to me. From Kenya, they rode to Uganda and then Rwanda, where they had an audience with President Paul Kagame. 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. That sounds like an intimidating journey on its own, but trouble began for the adventuring pair even before they left for South America. In TV Guide's exclusive sneak peek at the premiere episode, viewers get an inside look at Boorman's harrowing motorcycle accident that left him struggling to walk during the early stages of planning the trip. I mean you could cross America back and forth on an electric motorcycle without any worries as there are so many fast chargers now. (Photo by Michelly Rall/WireImage). On a daily basis, just plugging the bike in at the end of the day was a highlight in itself. Long Way Down at the Lagoon Beach Hotel on August 4, 2007 in Cape Town, South Africa. 1 bestselling author is back! If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. I was just coming back from the bathroom and he was sitting in my chair chatting up my wife. I said can you give me a hand? and she just shook her head and said no. I just recently completed a 5000 km ride through South Africa, Namibia, and Zambia with Charley Boorman. Send him yor best. 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. LONG WAY ROUND -- Pictured: (l-r) Charley Boorman, Ewan McGregor -- Photo by: Sven [+] Arnstein/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank. Ive never really had any regrets. Can you put a screen on it? I love them all. I think this scene (The Bike Shed) has brought younger riders back into biking. 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 consent to allow Adventure Bike Rider to collect my contact information (required), Charley Boorman confirms the Long Way Up will take place within months. Von Planta says he was riding too closely and fell while avoiding a collision; he was shaken but uninjured. wBW providessubjective opinionsand information on hard-to-find and unique motorcycling products. An accident in Portugal left Charley Boorman fearing his leg would have to be amputated but now hes ready to ride again. 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. It's all documented in Apple TVs new series, The Long Way Up, which debuts today, Sept. 18. Oha! 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. So I thought Im British and I would be promoting my Britishness. We looked to the back of their car and there was this young guy smiling at us with a gun in his hand and he was pointing it at us. (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.). The second installment in the series, 'Long Way Down' was shot in the year 2007. Within the first three episodes of this series, the duo visit: Parque Pingino Rey in Tierra del Fuego, Chile, at the tip of South America. And for real adventure touring, EVs add a whole 'nother dimension to it. 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. I write about motorcycles, ebikes, cars, trucks and mobility tech. I realized we share something that I dont share with anyone else. When you stop at traffic lights, you can hear people talking as they're walking down the pavement, it's a fantastic experience. 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. Here's what 'long way' series' stars Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman have been doing today. You have to drive a car, but you choose to ride a motorbike or a horse, or climb a mountain, he explains. Use your recovery as the spine of the book. The journey started on 12 May and finished on 4 August 2007. Charley saw it as a means to hang out with interesting people and earn money to buy motorbikes, and doesnt miss it at all. In 2016, Charley met with a serious accident when test riding with motorbike journalists in Portugal where he broke both his legs. Enter your email address below we'll keep you up to date with everything that's happening in the world of adventure motorcycling. It was a surprise though, it's not an everyday occurrence for me! 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. The first episode of Long Way Up is all preparation and planning, which was incredibly fun to follow. The problem is that riders are very individual and not part of the scene or a club. Drifting apart from your mates can be a sad fact of life as you get older. How did you persevere and decide, I'm going to do this? I really hope Charley and Ewan do ride together soon in another adventure. And thats where my daughter found me! Dunno, I havent told em, he says cheerfully. He answered many of the questions posted in by you, our readers, including his next trip wth Star Wars star Ewan McGregor, his regrets, riding tips and more. Ive pretty much broken everything but you cant fix your head. They went from there to Tanzania and then into Malawi, where they were joined by Ewan McGregor's wife Eve. WebThis is Charleys touring show with of an added update regards his accident last year how it happened and how the recovery is going. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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. Given their experiences on the Long Way Round, which included problems with Russian visas, a "fine" for a missing stamp in their carnet, and delays of up to twelve hours, major preparation and planning went into the transit between countries. 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. Whatever is happening in north Africa has nothing to do with whats happening in southern Africa. A bit of separation is not a bad thing and I always try to schedule trips while the kids are at school. EW: It'd been over 12 years since we did The Long Way Down, our trip down through the African continent back in 2007. 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. 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It's a different way of thinking but it's totally doable in America. I would hate to sit there at 90 and think I wished Id done more. The book abounds with bikes trashed and accidents endured, including the time Boorman rode 400km in the Dakar Rally with broken hands. Overview: For his first big project as state vet, Danny oversees the relocation of an animal. Bikes, cars and trucks all race at the same time. Besides the 'Long Way' series, Charley has been actively working on his own projects. That was a one-off, because of Star Wars. However, Alice struggles running the vet clinic in his absence, and a traumatic, close encounter with a It doesn't happen to me that often, you know, to be sort of holed up in a restaurant with a mob outside. I thought to myself, this is crazy. Ive ridden quite a few and a friend came along on the recent (Compass Expeditions) Tassie tour on a Zero (electric motorcycle). However, although delays of a few hours were common, there were few significant problems at crossing points as they travelled further south. and the first time we read /hear about it. 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. WebCharley Boorman has been riding motorcycles since he was seven years old. 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". Somehow, we slid into a ditch and the car stopped. It felt like my whole body had been jarred. This form collects your contact information. I wish you all the best, Charlie. To let that friendship dwindle or drift, I realized, was a mistake. See our review policies for more information. 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. Husqvarna announces Norden 901 Expedition for 2023, New Tnr 700 versions for 2023 announced by Yamaha, Ride this incredible route through the Lake District, Discover the best motorcycle routes in Northern Spain, See Charleys Long Way Round BMW R 1150 GSA on your next ride-out, The first trailer for Long Way Up is here, Long Way Up: Ewan reveals the challenges of riding an electric bike, Watch: Riding on the frontlines in war-torn Iraq, Charley Boorman tweet sparks new TV series excitement. It was sort of like a dream come true., Boorman recalls riding by a solar farm in Costa Rica and knocking on the fence to ask to check it out. Was smiling and joking before he seen the needle!, And: Awaiting return from surgery.