Anyone watching the Long Way Around?

[DoubleD]

I absolutely love this show about Ewan McGregor's 19,000 mile journey around the world on motorcycle. I know they made their trip back in 2004, so I don't know if TV documentary series is old or just getting on TV. Regardless, it is my first time catching it. If anyone cares, it airs on Current TV

While I've always enjoyed Ewan's cinematic work, there is a joy in getting to see him as himself. He's a ham, insightful, charismatic, and not a bad singer.

The interaction with his travelling partner, Charlie Boorman, makes for some real good TV. Charlie is a perfect fit since he and Ewan play off each other well.

The experiences, sights, places, etc. that they visit on their travels makes the trip something I think most of us would want to do.

I don't know if there would be much that could top seeing the world on a motorcycle.

 

[jcoffman99]

Long Way Round is awesome. It's been out for a few years on DVD. Check out Long Way Down where they go from Scotland to South Africa. In that one they go to Tunsia to the Star Wars set, which is now a bar, and he stands next to an Obi Wan poster and nobody recognizes him.

 

[DoubleD]

Ha, too cool. I guess I missed the boat when this first came out. Better late then never though!

 

[CessnaDriver]

My wife would watch it a lot so i saw some of it.

Yes, very funny how on "Tatooine" nobody recognized him.

 

[CeSquared]

Great series. I bought the complete DVD set from Amazon for $40 that included Long Way Round, Long Way Down, and Race to Dakar.

I watched all of them back to back to back. It's a fun watch but also inspiring. It makes me want to do something similar.

 

[DoubleD]

I definitely need to buy the DVD set. I find myself not wanting each week for the next episode, and this is something I could without a doubt sit and watch the whole series in one setting.

Does the DVD set come with any extras?

 

[anakin]

"these aren't the bikes you're looking for" :lol

 

[Lear60man]

I got into 'Adventure Bikes' a few years ago and still havent seen Long Way Down. I think I smell a Christmas Present in my future.

If Adventure Riding spikes your interest, check out advrider.com Its a rag tag collection of global riders, ride reports, tales of adventure etc. Its cool to see threads where a fellow member, in the middle of nowhere, activates his SPOT GPS sending a SOS to the satellite. Within minutes other members on ADV start making calls and coordinating with local search and rescue to aid the fallen rider.

There is something about loading up your bike with survival gear and heading off into the desert or mountains. Makes me feel alive.

 

[CeSquared]

I definitely need to buy the DVD set. I find myself not wanting each week for the next episode, and this is something I could without a doubt sit and watch the whole series in one setting.

Does the DVD set come with any extras?

Some extended footage some of which is hilarious. Especially when they are riding and start getting bored and just start talking to keep each other focused and post trip interviews which were recorded a month or 2 after the trips concluded so they had plenty of time to reflect.

This is the set I bought.
Amazon.com: Long Way Round (Deluxe) Long Way Down (Deluxe) Race To Dakar - Complete 8 DVD Box Set: Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman: Movies & TV

But I bought it Sept 2 for $33.99. Price went up. :eek

 

[Jannix Quinn]

Long Way Round & Long Way Down are both awesome.

 

[DoubleD]

Wow, that's quite the increase in price. I'll wait until after Christmas to see if the price drops. If it doesn't, I'll still buy it considering this is what'd I'd call quality tube time.

 

[OldKen]

Long Way Round & Long Way Down are both awesome.

Seen every episode. Back when they first aired.

It is truly hillarious when Ewan is standing in front of an ep2 poster IN the lars homestead and says "look familar?" And the guy just stairs blankly and says... "no." :lol

It's funny while watching it half the time you are thinking, "this would be awesome to do! What a great experience!" and the other half thinking "why would they do this to theirselves, What a horrible experience!" :lol

 

[Jannix Quinn]

See the mosquito bite on his head?? Yikes.

 

[CTF]

So, by the time they shot the second one, had Ewan learned how to ride?

 

[Jannix Quinn]

Yeah, he gets better.

 

[DoubleD]

That's part of what I love. Ewan isn't some hotshot actor, he's just a guy who can barely ride a motorcycle going off on an adventure. He definitely had a steep learning curve.

Last nights show was about when they were on the road of bones. It was a pretty emotional episode due to the extreme terrain, the history of the road and how it was built, injuries, and saying goodbye to Russia.

Still, Ewan got his butt chewed up by mosquitoes which was fairly comical.

Those bikes really took a beating. Definitely good advertising for BMW.

 

[CTF]

Don't get me wrong, I think he's pretty brave to go on such an adventure; especially when he couldn't even ride in a straight line! And it's nice to see Ewan not bitching 'bout how terrible it was being in Star Wars.

 

[anakin]

in Long way down - it really bothered me that Ewan's wife "tried" to join him. Don't get me wrong - I would love it if my partner learned to ride....however......she came across (IMHO) as a little desperate to get in on their adventure.

 

[Jannix Quinn]

I think it bothered them, too.

 

[anakin]

yes...it did