He underwent gruesome treatment in Portugal and then in London, and doctors feared he might lose the leg. It doesn't happen to me that often, you know, to be sort of holed up in a restaurant with a mob outside. In 2016, Charley met with a serious accident when test riding with motorbike journalists in Portugal where he broke both his legs. Oha! Rivian also installed charging stations along the more desolate parts of the route. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. On a daily basis, just plugging the bike in at the end of the day was a highlight in itself. Harley just nailed it. As I approached I heard him say, So, Olivia, youre a beautiful girl, do you want to come to Australia with me?. Long Way Down at the Lagoon Beach Hotel on August 4, 2007 in Cape Town, South Africa. What do his doctors think about that? 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. The bikes had a 1,130cc engine and a six-speed gearbox that was good for 85 horsepower and 75 pound-feet of torque. Revealed: First photos and premiere date of Long Way Up. 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. 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. Personally, I got into a pretty bad wreck years ago, outside of Mugello on a Ducati and since then, I've kind of had the yips whenever I got on the bike. 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. In fact, I borrowed (wife) Olivias scooter to go to the shops because I couldnt change gears with the cage around my leg. 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? See our privacy policy for details on how we manage your data. Id also have loved to have ridden with Barry. He did lose a lot of work: a planned TV show about a bike trip through the perilous Darien Gap in Central America that had taken a year to plan, and commercial tours with bike fans in Australia and Africa, a lucrative offshoot of his celebrity. recovery, on all fronts!.. JAG: Ewan, you're a big movie star, as I was pointing out to my daughter when we were watching the show. I have earphones in them and I can listen to podcasts and books. 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. Somehow, we slid into a ditch and the car stopped. Weve had our share of spills and thrills (riding, all our lives), but this is -pretty- unbelievable; so unfortunate! 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. WebLong Way Round: Created by David Alexanian, Charley Boorman, Russ Malkin, Ewan McGregor. Weve joined selected affiliate programs which will allow us to place advertisements for select motorcycle and motorcycle-related product retailers on the site. I ride full time now because of LWD and LWR. And we had to do all of our training on a trip because our bikes were prototypes and they were delivered at the very last minute. Ive ridden quite a few and a friend came along on the recent (Compass Expeditions) Tassie tour on a Zero (electric motorcycle). McGregor and von Planta also came off and damaged their bikes' bodywork, with von Planta involved in the more serious incident on a motorway in South Africa. Maybe when Im too old to do the adventures and TV shows Ill have these tours to keep me occupied. The first episode of Long Way Up is all preparation and planning, which was incredibly fun to follow. 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. Believe me, thats raelly great. And our bikes were being charged directly by the sun., In the end, after three months on the road, both men were ready to end the trip, though Boorman says, You always talk about the possibility of another one, so youve got that in your head, so its not so bad that this ones finished., Theres an arc, these trips that weve done, says McGregor. Im lucky enough to have a few. WebBoorman hit a wall and then bounced along the pavement three times. All Rights Reserved. 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. Ewan McGregor: Really once you've experienced that sort of adventure travel like weve done, it's sort of in you. WebEwan McGregor and Charley Boorman are getting back on their motorcycles for a new adventure in Apple TV+'s "Long Way Up". But the LiveWire wasn't even being sold yet, so we were so lucky that they built us these two beautiful bikes. 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, The result is my recent book the Long Way Back. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. has broken his leg ina collision with a car while attending the media launch of the new Triumph Explorer in Portugal. 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.. 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. Weve joined selected affiliate programs which will allow us to place advertisements for select motorcycle and motorcycle-related product retailers on the site. 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. 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. WebInspired by their UNICEF visits to Africa, they knew they had to go back and experience this extraordinary continent in more depth. A division of A07 Online Media, LLC. Im just going to crack on., Try 12 issues for 1 today - never miss an issue. 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. 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. This one: Ewan McGregor (aka the young Obi-Wan in the Star Wars prequels and soon a new back-story Disney series) and his wingman, Brit TV personality Charley Boorman, have reportedly begun production of the third entry in their popular Long Way motorcycle road trip TV series, and are set to travel from the southern reaches of South America and ride the long way up to the United States. Boorman Jr is great fun and wonderfully unstarry, whether remembering Lee Marvin (a fun, really talented guy, and quite mad) or recalling the years he spent as a painter and decorator to make ends meet. Dunno, I havent told em, he says cheerfully. Didn't think you were that famous? No, not THAT twist. From abseiling down Cape Town's iconic Table Mountain, to learning how to rodeo in Canada, prepare for a non 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. Theyre already talking about making it harder. So I pulled my pants down and swung my legs around, missed the toilet and ended up wedged between the toilet and the wall. Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. 2022Recurrent Ventures. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Discovery Company. We turned the corner on this hairpin and just hit black ice. 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. 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. Related: 2021 BMW R1250 GS & GS Adventure. 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. I would hate to sit there at 90 and think I wished Id done more. Will update U., The funny man followed up with:@charleyboorman is now in surgery but was in good spirits before going in. 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. I just love it as a way of life. How the Rivian pickups are involved is unclear, but they would certainly jibe nicely with the EV theme of the new show. I wish you all the best, Charlie. Shots posted as recently as September 14th on the Facebook fan page Long Way Everywhere appear to show Ewan and team on the road with the Livewire bikes, charging them up as they go. Charley Boorman: When I did have the accident, you know, I remember waking up in the morning and I was in Portuguese hospital. Harley-Davidson provided them with their prototype LiveWire motorcycles that had a range of around 146 miles with its 15.5-kWh battery. 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. according to a post on popular off-road riding site ADVPulse. News updates will happen by Twitter, through @biketruck his long-time friend Billy Ward. 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". 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. South America. 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. I broke both legs, which is why I ended up lying in bed for three months. Both men received some off-road riding instruction before departure and came through to finish the ride, though not without various struggles. 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". This documentary series follows actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on a motorcycle trip around the world. People look at it as one country, but its actually so diverse and so big. The problem is that riders are very individual and not part of the scene or a club. I fell off that as well. Apparently, after completing two epic motorbike adventures, the two felt they needed an additional challenge. The new Irish Sea Border: What does it mean? It's all documented in Apple TVs new series, The Long Way Up, which debuts today, Sept. 18. 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. Weve been talking about it a long-time and if the stars align we will do something like a Long Way up from Tierra Del Fuego to Alaska in the next couple of years. 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. Although the American crew members were barred from entering Libya, this was anticipated ahead of their arrival. And after a bike trip in south England, we have to visit Wales, Scotland, Yorkshire. I was on a bed pan for god knows how long and I just wanted to go to a regular toilet. You may opt-out by. 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. The torque is unbelievable, its fun to be sort of silent and it's just a different riding experience. The start was nearly delayed after Boorman, frustrated by an official at Gatwick Airport, made an off-the-cuff comment regarding bombs and was detained for questioning. Both McGregor and Boorman had visited such centres in Africa previously. You could get a quiet little electric trials bike and ride around in your back yard and no would would know until they saw your head pop up above the fence when you did a jump. 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. When you stop at traffic lights, you can hear people talking as they're walking down the pavement, it's a fantastic experience. This article is about the TV documentary series. They just got back in the car and drove off. I was just coming back from the bathroom and he was sitting in my chair chatting up my wife. With the right planning, of course. We have just heard that well-known and loved motorcycle travellerCharley Boormanhas broken his leg ina collision with a car while attending the media launch of the new Triumph Explorer in Portugal. 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. 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. The wheels were spinning forward, but we were shooting backwards towards a cliff. He was last seen starring as Obi Wan Kenobi in Disney+ original series Obi Wan Kenobi in 2022. But after exploring in different directions for a time, the two reunited, and then the clouds parted to reveal Machu Picchu, says McGregor. Also, Triumph is owned by a family, theyre very generous and very kind and we have a great relationship. 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. Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor stop in Bolivia on their electric Harley- Davidson LiveWires. Bikes, cars and trucks all race at the same time. Did you encounter any technical issues? Couldnt think dont do it. 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. Hopefully just riding dirt bikes with mates. 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. The godforsaken charging. I said can you give me a hand? and she just shook her head and said no. I consent to allow Adventure Bike Rider to collect my contact information (required), I would like to receive competitions, exclusive offers and other promotional emails from Adventure Bike Rider, I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time. CB: You can really talk to each other, like Ewan and I did because there is no engine noise, so you can really hear the people you ride with. . Smiling, looking forward 2 getting home. 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. But now, some 18 months later, Charley is back in the saddle, pursuing adventure with more enthusiasm than ever before. The bone came out of my skin. Scottish star Mr McGregor, 49, first rose to prominence in Danny Boyles cult classic Trainspotting and subsequently starred in blockbusters including Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker and DC WebHome / Uncategorized / charley boorman accident south africa 2018. santos executive team. I did a movie wth my father called The Emerald Forest in South America, but thats the only time Ive been. 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. 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. Please send Charley your best wishes via Twitter. In a video interview with CNN Travel, McGregor explained, We drifted apart somewhat. (Photo by Michelly Rall/WireImage). And that happens regularly. Use your recovery as the spine of the book. He was in a wheelchair for a while Our reviews are hands-on, detailed, and unbiased. Boorman hit a wall and then bounced along the pavement three times. In 2013, riders started their amazing journey based at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. 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, Badar enjoys driving cars, writing about cars, watching movies and anime about cars; basically, he loves cars! Details area bit vague at the momentandthere is no word on whether he was riding or driving. In hospital but OK. I have a shed about 20 minutes from home where I have a dirt bike, the T120 custom, a Beta 400, a motocross bike, a sportsbike and what am I up to? 2. The journey started on 12 May and finished on 4 August 2007. In Tunisia, McGregor and Boorman visited the set of Star Wars and then rode into Libya. Will Take a LiveWire around your city and youll just have such a laugh. In the case of Mr McGregor and Mr Boorman, it was a freak accident during a European trip that acted as the trigger for a long-overdue reunion. They let us in and let us plug in our bikes as they showed us around and explained how everything worked. You seemed genuinely surprised that everyone knew who you were. Me and my father (our whole family, actually) have been following Charleys adventures for a decade+ now This accident is HORRIBLE news (omg!) In 2016, Charley met with a serious accident when test riding with motorbike journalists in Portugal where he broke both his legs. 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 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. Why now, after a 12-year hiatus, did the duo decide to return for a third run? 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. CB: Certainly those first few weeks had a steep learning curve. 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. Published: Monday, 8th May 2017 at 10:40 am, Long Way Round's Charley Boorman: Even if I lost my leg, I would never give up motorcycling. Send him yor best. On the Late Show with David Letterman (17 February 2010), McGregor said he was not planning another trip, because he found it difficult to be away from his family for such a long time, but he also mentioned wanting to do a trip from South to North America. So, why has it taken more than a decade for the pair to reunite for a motorcycle adventure? 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. Boorman was involved in a serious accident whilst test riding a motorbike with journalists in Portugal in 2016. 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 The truth is you just have to have a go. WebCharley Boorman's South African Adventure: With Charley Boorman. John thought acting might help his dyslexic son to express himself. That's very confidence-inspiring riding the canyons on an electric bike, as we both found out here riding in LA. 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. I get in trouble with her for silly things - but I can't talk about them. We were lucky, we had assistance from Rivian. Ive never really had any regrets. That was my therapy, to get back on the motorbike. We *truly* wish him all the best and are hoping for a full (!) JAG: Why the long pause between the trips and the shows? I first met him in London at a restaurant. Ever wonder what it's like to be riding with Charley Boorman? They put in these charges all the way down our route with our partners at Enel. I usually go back the way we came with them so they can experience it as well. Billy writes on his Twitter account: CB had accident today in Portugal @ Global launch of Triumph Explorer. The Perito Moreno glacier in Argentinas Los Glaciares National Park, which rises above turquoise glacial waters. 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 got clipped and the bad thing is I hit a wall. 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. Great story. 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's such fun to ride and they are so fast. 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. 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. WebWild at Heart Season 6 Episode 4. A Mercedes clipped the Triumph he was riding in Portugal. 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. 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. 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. Ahead of that, The Drive had a chance to talk to McGregor and Boorman about their trip. WebCharley Boorman, adventurer, motorbike enthusiast and no. How do we get someone more interested in EVs and becoming a better eco steward while still being, you know, a total degenerate biker? Series 6, Episode 4. 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. 1 bestselling author is back! They had pretty much changed their whole fleet and they wanted to show me. He has a deep passion for and vast knowledge about JDM cars. After being released without charge, he took a later flight to Inverness, and the journey began as scheduled. I write about motorcycles, ebikes, cars, trucks and mobility tech. Boorman at last year's Chelsea Flower Show. S02E01 Cape Town January 9, 2013; Channel 5 (UK) Charley begins in Cape Town and abseils from the How did you persevere and decide, I'm going to do this? 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.