Europebound Once More: Ewan and Charley Saddle Up for 'Long Way Home' Motorcycle Journey
Rewritten Article:
From Modern Rides to Classic Kicks: Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's Motorcycle Tour Through Time
NEW YORK (AP) - After their last adventure on electric Harley-Davidsons, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman are taking a step back in time for Apple TV+'s "Long Way Home." Riding through 17 European countries, the duo's fourth installment of their popular road trip docuseries airs this Friday, and they're cruising on some seriously retro rides.
McGregor hopped on a patrolled bike from the 70s – a 1974 Moto Guzzi Eldorado that once graced the streets of Los Angeles and California. Boorman, on the other hand, snagged a rusty BMW R75/5 and spent a fair amount of time turning it road-worthy.
"Why go forwards when you can go backwards?" asks McGregor. "We've never done a trip on old bikes. I've always loved old bikes," he adds.
A Journey Through Neighboring Lands
The adventure begins at McGregor’s home in Scotland, with the sound of bagpipes guiding them off. Their route leads them into Holland, traversing the Nordic countries, through Arctic Circle, down to the Baltics and the Alps before finally ending in France.
Gone are the sleek Harleys or BMWs of their past trips; riding old motorcycles gives McGregor and Boorman a nostalgic feeling and a functional advantage – should disaster strike, they're equipped to fix their bikes with minimal resources.
The highlights of this tour include axe-throwing in Viking gear in Norway, kayaking alongside glaciers in the Arctic Circle, and logrolling in Finland. McGregor even remarked, "It's all Mad Max around here" while kayaking near a glacier.
For the longest day of the year, the duo spent their time on a Norwegian beach, surrounded by a bonfire on an island. They also tried their hand at paragliding in the Alps, got tattoos in Poland, and participated in logrolling in Finland.
"Riding a motorcycle takes you closer to the planet we live on," notes McGregor, describing their experience. "You feel part of the environment, the cold, the rain. It's a real, immersive experience."
The duo reportedly spent about two months on the road, taking their time to appreciate the scenery while keeping their speed under control – they weren't rushing to cross expansive Russian landscapes this time around.
A Return to the Road
"Long Way Home" marks the 20-year anniversary of the first series, "Long Way Round," which saw McGregor and Boorman drive from London through Europe, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia, across the Pacific to Alaska, and finally, through Canada and America. They've since embarked on "Long Way Down" and "Long Way Up."
With tents tumbling and age catching up, McGregor mentioned his numb rear-end at one point, while their diet varied from fresh seaweed in Sweden to a wheel of gouda in Amsterdam and crackers with packaged fish paste in the snow.
While their motorcycles might be half a century old, their team equipped them with the latest technology – GPS, GoPros, drones, and Insta360 cameras.
"We're embracing these beautiful vintage motorcycles, but we also leverage the best modern tools to elevate the story," says Boorman. "The contrast between old and new creates an intimate balance and enhances our journey."
Despite witnessing numerous countries and riding thousands of miles, McGregor hints that they've barely scratched the surface. "I often remind myself that we've traveled around the world, but we've only seen a fraction beyond our bike's side," he admits.
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- Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, riding their 1970s motorcycles, reminiscent of a nostalgic era, journeyed through 17 European countries, retracing old paths but with a fresh perspective, for their fourth installment of "Long Way Home," airing this Friday.
- McGregor's vehicle of choice was a 1974 Moto Guzzi Eldorado, a vintage bike that once graced the streets of California, while Boorman rode a restored BMW R75/5.
- Both veterans of motorcycle travel documentaries, the duo decided to take a step back in time, eschewing their usual high-tech rides for a more rustic and immersive experience, as explained by McGregor, "Why go forwards when you can go backwards?"
- Their journey took them from Scotland to France, passing through Holland, the Nordic countries, the Arctic Circle, the Baltics, and the Alps, each leg filled with novel experiences like axe-throwing in Norway, kayaking near glaciers, and logrolling in Finland.
- Despite the vintage appeal, their bikes were equipped with the latest technology, including GPS, GoPros, drones, and Insta360 cameras, ensuring the best documentations of their journey.
- Traveling through different countries and cultures, McGregor recognized the importance of motorcycle travel in connecting with the environment, stating, "Riding a motorcycle takes you closer to the planet we live on," mirroring the lifestyle and travel-driven philosophy of Boorman, who emphasized, "We're embracing these beautiful vintage motorcycles, but we also leverage the best modern tools to elevate the story."
