Charley saw it as a means to hang out with interesting people and earn money to buy motorbikes, and doesnt miss it at all. The final leg took them through Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and into South Africa. The team anticipated problems at the various borders crossings, particularly in Africa. 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. No matter how much support the riders have, this looks to be a monumental test for Harley-Davidsons Livewire bikes, which are its first foray into the electric motorcycle space. 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.. By all reports, the Triumph ambassador has had surgeryin hospital and isdoing OK. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. The problem is that riders are very individual and not part of the scene or a club. Long Way Up, takes the two best friends and their returning crew on a slightly truncated trip north following a route along the fabled Pan-American Highway. 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. WebCharley Boorman, adventurer, motorbike enthusiast and no. 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. (Photo by Michelly Rall/WireImage), How A Finicky Fiat Helped Lead To The Creation Of The Leatherman Multitool, Five Great Motorcycles Rolling Our Way For 2023, Formula Ones New Medical Car Is The Aston Martin DBX707, Garmin DriveCam 76 Review: Finally, A GPS Device With A Built-In Dash Camera, UVEye Provides Automotive MRI For Car Service Customers, Dealers, Review: 2023 Nissan Leaf Remains A Great Inexpensive Electric, Look! 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. 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. If Ewan hadnt been involved, it wouldnt have had a chance to be successful, says Boorman, frankly. "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. Von Planta says he was riding too closely and fell while avoiding a collision; he was shaken but uninjured. Jon Alain Guzik: Youve been around and down, why decide to go up this time? 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 Our reviews are hands-on, detailed, and unbiased. 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. Is the Honda CRF300L the best beginner trail bike? We chatted to Jody Ocker who is currently traversing Africa with Charley! I broke both my legs, broke and dislocated my right ankle and smashed my left tibia and fibula. Hope Charley is doing OK. Id love to see Tiffany Coates standing in for him rather than his engagements having to be cancelled. In Tunisia, McGregor and Boorman visited the set of Star Wars and then rode into Libya. 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. 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. I love it. We *truly* wish him all the best and are hoping for a full (!) This time, McGregor and Boorman are making it even harder on themselves, taking a pair of electric Harley-Davidson LiveWire motorcycles transformed into dual-sport adventure bikes and a pair of Rivian RT1 electric pickup trucks from Ushuaia in the southernmost tip of Argentina, up through South America, Central America, into Mexico, and ending in Los Angeles, California. [6] In June 2019, it was reported that Boorman confirmed that the filming of a third installment would begin "in a few months". So I thought Im British and I would be promoting my Britishness. Boorman, who hit the road with Ewan McGregor in the Long Way Down and the Long Way Round, was left in a wheelchair after a horrific crash in Portugal in February last year. 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. As the only spare had been fitted to McGregor's bike, von Planta rode in a support vehicle while his bike was sent ahead for repair. 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. The bikes had a 1,130cc engine and a six-speed gearbox that was good for 85 horsepower and 75 pound-feet of torque. It was hours and hours and hours later that I actually woke up, but again, I wanted to get back on the motorbike. 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 However, American producer David Alexanian and cameraman Jimmy Simak were unable to obtain the necessary entry visas and were forced to fly from Tunisia to Egypt. You have to drive a car, but you choose to ride a motorbike or a horse, or climb a mountain, he explains. 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. Here's What Ewan McGregor And Charley Boorman Are EW: It'd been over 12 years since we did The Long Way Down, our trip down through the African continent back in 2007. 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. 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". Apparently, after completing two epic motorbike adventures, the two felt they needed an additional challenge. What we hadn't realized is how much the weather actually affects these electric vehicles. Learn more about us. Ive pretty much broken everything but you cant fix your head. He was in a wheelchair for a while Overview: For his first big project as state vet, Danny oversees the relocation of an animal. EW: [Laughs] You just have to ride, people just have to have a go. He was last seen starring as Obi Wan Kenobi in Disney+ original series Obi Wan Kenobi in 2022. 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. It's a different way of thinking but it's totally doable in America. Its very rare that you get that period of time to hang out with your best buddy and ride motorbikes. For other uses, see, "Ewan McGregor secures sponsorship deal for South American road trip", "Long Way Up is go! 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. Both men received some off-road riding instruction before departure and came through to finish the ride, though not without various struggles. 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. 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 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. Argentinian news outlets report McGregor arrived in the country (apparently to considerable fanfare) in late August. They let us in and let us plug in our bikes as they showed us around and explained how everything worked. You join the family theyve created under these particular conditions, and you feel how much they all mean to one another. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Then Charley had a very bad accident, a motorcycle accident in Portugal, and it was a very difficult recovery. We have just heard that well-known and loved motorcycle traveller. Maybe when Im too old to do the adventures and TV shows Ill have these tours to keep me occupied. We have a series of challenges throughout our lives. Dealing with things such as insane cold meant moving bikes indoors overnight and wearing all the clothes. 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. Charley, besides being an avid motorcycle enthusiast, is an actor, TV presenter, and travel writer. 2022Recurrent Ventures. Charley Boorman News updates will happen by Twitter, through @biketruck his long-time friend Billy Ward. Somehow, we slid into a ditch and the car stopped. Then I noticed the guy beside me and then he wasn't in a very good way at all and it was at that moment that I kind of realized that actually, these are just some broken bones and I'll get through this. 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. She likes riding (pillon passenger) too, after she start doing it, the first time with me. 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. We've sort of lost touch with each other a little bit. The television series began broadcast on BBC Two on 28 October 2007,[3] with clips also shown online. 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. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, reading fiction books, watching movies, and spending time with his pet cats and dogs. 2. 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. Charley Boorman bares all for our readers, 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, Click here to read more about his African tours.