It was hours and hours and hours later that I actually woke up, but again, I wanted to get back on the motorbike. The shock absorbers bore the brunt, with both McGregor's and von Planta's bikes suffering broken springs. 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. I found Africa's landscapes stunning to the eye, it's people vibrant and welcoming, it's food diverse and exotic, and it's history fascinating and complex. I wish you all the best, Charlie. The visuals satisfy an increasingly unbearable wanderlust that has become more acute during this year of coronavirus lockdown. In the opener, he sees icebergs; tries screeching; visits the graves of Titanic victims; and encounters a tidal bore. Then this big truck came round the corner and it put them off. Learn more about us. So we had to bring them inside, where it wasn't actually that much warmer, so we also had to put blankets on top of the bikes to warm them up and get them charging again. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I thought Id broken my hip just for the sake of going down the shops! Portions of Boormans recovery from the horrific accident are shown in the first episode of Long Way Down. These snippets show how dedicated Boorman was to getting back on the bike and how important it was for him to do this third trip. Here's what 'long way' series' stars Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman have been doing today. They rode their BMWs through Belgium, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, a large portion of Mongolia and Russia, the Road of Bones, Alaska, Canada and finally, the U.S.A. But I did perfect the wheelchair wheelie with a lot of pain. Enter your email address below we'll keep you up to date with everything that's happening in the world of adventure motorcycling. There were moments towards the end of this trip that I said to Charley, that I could do this forever, I feel like I could keep going. I love the fact that they ride bikes. He was appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2013 for his outstanding contributions to the world of dramatics and his charity work. 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. News updates will happen by Twitter, through @biketruck his long-time friend Billy Ward. Harley just nailed it. WebHome / Uncategorized / charley boorman accident south africa 2018. santos executive team. The answer was the pair drifted apart over the past decade and its only thanks to two broken legs and a barbecue that they reunited for their latest adventure, Long Way Uppremieres on Apple TV on Friday 18 September. recovery, on all fronts!.. I realized we share something that I dont share with anyone else. They took the Channel Tunnel to France and rode south to Italy. 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. And so we found each other again and decided to do this trip.. Then I can spend time with them on the summer holidays. Both McGregor and Boorman had visited such centres in Africa previously. Billy writes on his Twitter account: CB had accident today in Portugal @ Global launch of Triumph Explorer. JAG: Ewan, you're a big movie star, as I was pointing out to my daughter when we were watching the show. Full Name Charley Boorman Occupation Actor and Television Personality Nationality British Birthplace Wimbledon, London, UK Birth Date Aug 23, 1966 Age 56 Years, 5 Months Co-creator of Documentary Series 'Long Way Round' with Ewan McGregor Charley Boorman | Biography Child Actor in Film 'Deliverance' Ewan McGregor: Really once you've experienced that sort of adventure travel like weve done, it's sort of in you. WATCH: Ewan McGregor in action on the Moto Guzzi V85 TT, but will he take it on the Long Way Up? Let me just say that this trip exceeded every one of my expectations. Its what we've left that behind for other people to use, which is cool. ", "The latest accident in Portugal was pretty scary. 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. lovely story.. and Charile is an awesome guy! More importantly, the pair hopes the show will give people a new appreciation for where electric vehicle technology is at this moment, and the kinds of eco-conscious adventures that are already possible in far-flung areas of our increasingly fragile environment. A division of A07 Online Media, LLC. I really hope Charley and Ewan do ride together soon in another adventure. 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. Our reviews are hands-on, detailed, and unbiased. A division of A07 Online Media, LLC. GET THE LATEST ADVENTURE BIKE NEWS IN YOUR INBOX. 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. 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. 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. You could just keep riding your bike not knowing where you're going on forever and If it wasn't for the people that you love at home, that would be an interesting way of life. 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. WebThis is Charleys touring show with of an added update regards his accident last year how it happened and how the recovery is going. He has his own YouTube channel where he posts videos on motorbikes. Essentially the bottom of my leg was hanging off, only held on by the calf muscle. We chatted to Jody Ocker who is currently traversing Africa with Charley! LONG WAY ROUND -- Pictured: (l-r) Charley Boorman, Ewan McGregor -- Photo by: Sven [+] Arnstein/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank. They had pretty much changed their whole fleet and they wanted to show me. 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? South Africa. 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. Im amazed when Charley Boorman walks to the door of his west London home. The answer was the pair drifted apart over the past decade and its only thanks to two broken legs and a barbecue that they reunited for their latest adventure,Long Way Up. When he came to rest, as he casually puts it, my leg was all flippy-floppy, bending in the wrong places and They also decided to travel with medic Dai Jones, cameraman and security officer Jim Foster, and various "fixers"local guides and interpreters. 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. But its definitely the way forward. Somehow, we slid into a ditch and the car stopped. We *truly* wish him all the best and are hoping for a full (!) Each bike weighed about 505 pounds. He is also properly appreciative of Olivia, whom hes been with for 30 years and married to for 25. I think its too difficult and expensive to get your licence now. Weve joined selected affiliate programs which will allow us to place advertisements for select motorcycle and motorcycle-related product retailers on the site. The godforsaken charging. 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. 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". 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. Sponsors, including Triumph, kept him afloat, but as well as pain and frustration, he faced crashing boredom. Another interesting development: It appears electric pickup truck maker Rivian may also be in on the epic adventure, according to a post on popular off-road riding site ADVPulse. But after exploring in different directions for a time, the two reunited, and then the clouds parted to reveal Machu Picchu, says McGregor. Ive ridden quite a few and a friend came along on the recent (Compass Expeditions) Tassie tour on a Zero (electric motorcycle). So far, theres no word on when the new series will be released. The wheels were spinning forward, but we were shooting backwards towards a cliff. The TV journeyman and professional biker tells Hannah Stephenson about some of his most hair-raising moments, Horror crash: Charley is back on his bike after a horror smash last year. All good. 1 bestselling author is back! 2023 Cable News Network. 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. Every time we found somewhere to plug that bike in was like a little mini-triumph, said McGregor. Theyll have to make it all the way up first. I mean you could cross America back and forth on an electric motorcycle without any worries as there are so many fast chargers now. However, Alice struggles running the vet clinic in his absence, and a traumatic, close encounter with a 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. if you're if your daily commute is less than 100 miles, which let's face it, most of us don't ride more than 100 miles a day on our bikes. HotCars covers all things automotive: the latest auto news and informative reviews on the car, pickup truck and motorcycle industries. I just find myself thinking about it a lot. But if I could have ridden with anybody Id have loved to have ridden with Lawrence of Arabia on a Brough Superior. My agent said why dont you use your recovery time to start writing a book about your life, your bikes and your crash, starting where youre sitting on the tarmac thinking what has just happened?. He grew up on an estate in the Wicklow mountains his dad had bought on a whim, and also on film sets, making his debut in his fathers brutal 1972 thriller Deliverance, aged six. EM: You just have to change your mindset. It was a surprise though, it's not an everyday occurrence for me! I live in Los Angeles and I drive an EV with what seems like 90 percent of the people in here and range is something I think about all the time. . The book abounds with bikes trashed and accidents endured, including the time Boorman rode 400km in the Dakar Rally with broken hands. Boorman was involved in a serious accident whilst test riding a motorbike with journalists in Portugal in 2016. Charley Boorman is riding again after his major motorcycle crash in 2016 and ready for his big African adventure later this year. JAG: How do we get people more interested in motorcycles? 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. 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. The first one (Long Way Down) because it was all new. It's all documented in Apple TVs new series, The Long Way Up, which debuts today, Sept. 18. The Long Way Up production crew hooked up with an electric SUV startup, Rivian, to supply new prototype pickup trucks designed to take on every terrain. Take a LiveWire around your city and youll just have such a laugh. 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 It's a dangerous hairpin trail on this treacherous road and I went up in winter. 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. there really isnt anywhere left to go but up, and a pair of Rivian RT1 electric pickup trucks. What we hadn't realized is how much the weather actually affects these electric vehicles. Dealing with things such as insane cold meant moving bikes indoors overnight and wearing all the clothes. Boorman admitted he had been "putting on a show" for a roadside garage and braked sharply as part of a maneuver. All Rights Reserved. Were also starting to do short tours to Spain with The Bike Shed, mianly on hipster bikes like the T120s and Thruxtons. Theyre already talking about making it harder. Series 6, Episode 4. As an aside, I could watch Charley Boorman layer up (please put this on TikTok) all day. Then I was in a wheelchair for ages. I've crashed a lot in the past. I fell off that as well. Well also do one on Scramblers in Morocco on light gravel and tar. 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. I get in trouble with her for silly things - but I can't talk about them. And those beginning few weeks were super cold. The final leg took them through Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and into South Africa. Motorcycle adventurer Charley Boorman has bared all for Motorbike Writer readers, including his backside! 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. Hobart to Strachan is probably one of the best roads like that in the world. The two pals are back for their third globe-spanning motorcycle adventureand we sat down with them to talk about it. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. In 2016, Charley met with a serious accident when test riding with motorbike journalists in Portugal where he broke both his legs. 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. New book 'Atlas of Extinct Countries' explores the places that fell off the map. The first episode of Long Way Up is all preparation and planning, which was incredibly fun to follow. 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. And for real adventure touring, EVs add a whole 'nother dimension to it. But we just picked up from where we left off, and we're just having a laugh again and then, of course, we started talking about motorbikes and then we started thinking, well, what about that long way up? Billy writes on his Twitter account: CB had accident today in Portugal @ Global launch of Triumph Explorer.In hospital but OK. 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. But, in February last year, Charley was involved in motorcycle accident while in Portugal for the launch of the Triumph Tiger Explorer so bad that he almost lost his left leg. He also has a penchant for all things F1, occasionally catching up on WRC. 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. Out in the country you would need a hybrid or something to get more range. 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. Nite!. 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. I just love seeing Mother Nature like this, watching the land change as we go by. Charley is a much-loved and frequent visitor to Australia where he leads Outback tours with Compass Expeditions. Its something that you cant help. The scenery is breathtaking, and while the relationship between McGregor and Boorman is the predominant one, seeing how this group navigates the trip, together and separately, is also powerful stuff. Updated That was a dodgy one. With that one, I don't remember anything. 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. It doesn't happen to me that often, you know, to be sort of holed up in a restaurant with a mob outside. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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. Great story. I have a crash there. Co-director of photography Jimmy Simak also acted as music supervisor and soundtrack producer for the series. Harley-Davidson provided them with their prototype LiveWire motorcycles that had a range of around 146 miles with its 15.5-kWh battery. John thought acting might help his dyslexic son to express himself. Well, that's easy, that's a no brainer. 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. Live your life and do some fun stuff. Once it became a little warmer, the batteries became much more friendly and we got more distance out of it. He had shattered his left tibia and fibula and broken his right ankle and wrist. The journey started on 12 May and finished on 4 August 2007. When I was getting a little bit better, and Ewan came to London to stay with me we started chatting about that third trip that we really wanted to do. I usually go back the way we came with them so they can experience it as well. I think absolutely its definitely the right thing to do if youre living in London. People should at least wear a helmet, gloves and ankle riding boots. That makes it very complicated and I dont understand how people are so tribal about it. YouTube channel where he posts videos on motorbikes. Weve had our share of spills and thrills (riding, all our lives), but this is -pretty- unbelievable; so unfortunate! 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. He has a deep passion for and vast knowledge about JDM cars. 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. After visiting the pyramids, they boarded a ferry to Sudan, continued into Ethiopia and then into Kenya, where they crossed the equator. The Long Way motorcycle adventurer A Mercedes clipped the Triumph he was riding in Portugal. From Kenya, they rode to Uganda and then Rwanda, where they had an audience with President Paul Kagame. When it's extremely cold, you know, the batteries don't perform as well. The Perito Moreno glacier in Argentinas Los Glaciares National Park, which rises above turquoise glacial waters. has broken his leg ina collision with a car while attending the media launch of the new Triumph Explorer in Portugal. It was six months before I could walk on one leg. [7][8], On 27 May 2020, it was announced that the series Long Way Up would premiere on Apple TV+.[9]. That's very confidence-inspiring riding the canyons on an electric bike, as we both found out here riding in LA. 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. 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. Boorman was then badly injured in a motorcycle crash in 2016 but eventually recovered. And thats when the real magic begins. Motorcycle adventurer Charley Boorman has bared all for Motorbike Writer readers, including his backside! WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for Long Way Round - Complete TV Series DVD Ewan McGregor Charley Boorman at the best online prices at eBay! WebLong Way Round: Created by David Alexanian, Charley Boorman, Russ Malkin, Ewan McGregor. By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. 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. Im one of the founding members here and ever since we started weve been trying to get people active about issues with We Ride London. The truth is you just have to have a go. Probably if theres a villain to be named in this epic saga, it is the search for power to keep both e-bikes and vehicles properly charged between stops. During the trip, the pair visited three UNICEF facilities to promote the work done by the organisation. They put in these charges all the way down our route with our partners at Enel. ", "Being in trouble with the wife [he has been married to Olivia for 27 years, with whom he has two daughters] is always scary. Boorman broke both legs after colliding with a wall whilst avoiding a car that pulled out in front of him. Id love to the do Simpson Desert. With Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman, David Alexanian, Russ Malkin. And they just did. 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, It felt like my whole body had been jarred. I got clipped and the bad thing is I hit a wall. Why now, after a 12-year hiatus, did the duo decide to return for a third run? Charley journeys in a circular route starting and finishing in Cape Town, experiencing the deeply rooted EW: [Laughs] You just have to ride, people just have to have a go. Related: Youve Never Seen A Harley-Davidson LiveWire Like This. I agreeI do not agree. Africa gets a really bad rub as a dangerous place, usually by people who havent been. I said can you give me a hand? and she just shook her head and said no. Previous iterations of the episodic documentary series were Long Way Round, an eastward journey from London to New York City in 2004, and Long Way Down, a southward odyssey from John o Groats in Scotland to Cape Town in South Africa, in 2007. So it goes with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman and their third globe-trotting adventure, a follow-up to the epic journeys documented in 2004s The Long Way Round and 2007s The Long Way Down. 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. 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. We've sort of lost touch with each other a little bit. Can you change the seat? WebEwan McGregor and Charley Boorman are getting back on their motorcycles for a new adventure in Apple TV+'s "Long Way Up". (The places these two bunk overnight, at least in the first three episodes, are hardly five-star. We'd sort of slightly drifted apart just because Id moved to America, Charley was very busy and whenever I was in Britain, he seemed to be away on one of his bike trips and making another show and I kept missing him.