Long Way Round – The Sequel
After the sensational success of Long Way Round, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman are now set to go a Long Way Down, this time travelling through Europe and Africa.
After the sensational success of Long Way Round, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman are now set to go a Long Way Down, this time travelling through Europe and Africa.
In 2004 they rode around the world on their BMW R 1150 GS Adventure motorcycles, from London to New York, east to west – accompanied by a camera crew who recorded the adventures for what became a defining motorcycle TV and DVD series.
This May the adventurous pair is preparing to ride again. Their 25,000 km journey on two new generation BMW R 1200 GS Adventure motorcycles starts at the most northerly point in mainland Britain, John O'Groats, Scotland and finishes at the most southerly point of Africa – Cape Agulhas, South Africa.
The tour will take in 20 spectacular countries, including Libya, the Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Botswana and the wilds of the Namibian Skeleton coast. Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman have carefully planned their route to visit those countries and several UNICEF sites which they feel will provide inspiration and power to themselves and others.
"I can't imagine not ever thinking about some adventure," said Ewan McGregor. "Long Way Round changed us all – it bonded us all together and made our dreams come true – and it's not often something like that happens. Long Way Down is something you can not only daydream about, but actually do."
After his exploits in the "Race To Dakar" last year, Charley Boorman has been eager to return to Africa and see more of this amazing continent.
"We learnt so much on Long Way Round because we were honest about what we came across on the way – the show was the journey – nothing more. A few weeks after Long Way Round we had maps out already for the next big world journey – and Africa seemed like the obvious choice."
Long Way Down is being produced and directed by Russ Malkin of Big Earth and David Alexanian of Elixir Films, who have witnessed and documented Ewan and Charley's previous Long Way Round and Race To Dakar adventures.
And it was when the team were in Africa that the idea for Long Way Down suddenly gathered momentum, as Russ Malkin explains: "Long Way Down cropped up a lot during the Race to Dakar in 2006, but it wasn't until Dave and Ewan came to Dakar – right at the end, when we were covered in dust, they called us over and said we should do it. At that moment, the trigger was pulled and Long Way Down was happening.
"Long Way Round was a boy's own adventure and there aren't many of those left in the world. This is more risky than Long Way Round. When we all turn up in Cape Town healthy and happy, it will be the most amazing moment in my life."
Ewan and Charley will be supporting UNICEF, CHAS and Riders for Health on their travels and the www.longwaydown.com website will keep fans updated with all the latest information on the trip, including the opportunity to view unreleased footage and pre-order copies of the book and DVD.
