Long Way Round/Down

In 2004, Ewan McGregor and his best mate Charley Boorman decided to ride their motorbikes from London to New York, the long way round. The journey took them across Europe, into Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, back into Russia along the Road of Bones and then across to Alaska where they made it to New York by travelling through Canada and the US. Because they had such a great time, three years later they decided to ride from John O’Grotes (The UK’s northernmost point) down to Cape Agulhas (Africa’s southernmost tip).

There are books and DVD’s of their journeys which were life altering for both Ewan and Charley. I only just got into watching Long Way Down when it began repeating on TV few months ago, and brought Long Way Down on DVD soon after.

I can’t describe exactly why I love this idea so much. Best mates, on a journey of a lifetime (or two journeys), meeting amazing people. As they ride through some of the poorest places in Africa, the people they meet are astounding in their generosity. These people have nothing, they life off their land, yet they invite the boys in, not knowing Ewan McGregor is Obi Wan Kanobi or any of that superficial crap, and they share what they have with them. A lot of misconceptions I had about certain countries have been quashed by this programme.

It makes me want to buy a motorbike and take off. Too bad I hate motorbikes.

Posted By: Cat