Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Bandgt;Now in paperback, this second remarkable travel book from famed actor Ewan McGregor and his good friend Charley Boorman chronicles their epic adventure ride on motorbikes from Scotland to South Africa.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt;After their fantastic trip around the world in 2004, recounted to acclaim in Long Way Round, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman couldnand#8217;t shake the travel bug. Inspired by their UNICEF visits to Africa, they knew they had to go back and experience this extraordinary continent in more depth. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;In Long Way Down, they share their 15,000-mile journey, from the northernmost tip of Scotland to the southernmost tip of South Africa, to ride some of the toughest terrain in the world. Along the way, from the pyramids in Egypt to Luke Skywalkerand#8217;s house in Tunisia, they meet people who have triumphed over terrifying experiencesand#8212;former child soldiers in Uganda and children living amidst the minefields of Ethiopia. They have a close encounter with a family of gorillas in Rwanda and are nearly trampled by a herd of elephants in Botswana. Riding through spectacular scenery, often in extreme temperatures, they face their hardest challenges yet. With their trademark humor and honesty, they tell their storyand#8212;the drama, the dangers, and the sheer exhilaration of riding together again through a continent filled with magic and wonder.
Synopsis
Now in paperback, this second remarkable travel book from famed actor Ewan McGregor and his good friend Charley Boorman chronicles their epic adventure ride on motorbikes from Scotland to South Africa.
After their fantastic trip around the world in 2004, recounted to acclaim in Long Way Round, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman couldn't shake the travel bug. Inspired by their UNICEF visits to Africa, they knew they had to go back and experience this extraordinary continent in more depth.
In Long Way Down, they share their 15,000-mile journey, from the northernmost tip of Scotland to the southernmost tip of South Africa, to ride some of the toughest terrain in the world. Along the way, from the pyramids in Egypt to Luke Skywalker's house in Tunisia, they meet people who have triumphed over terrifying experiences--former child soldiers in Uganda and children living amidst the minefields of Ethiopia. They have a close encounter with a family of gorillas in Rwanda and are nearly trampled by a herd of elephants in Botswana. Riding through spectacular scenery, often in extreme temperatures, they face their hardest challenges yet. With their trademark humor and honesty, they tell their story--the drama, the dangers, and the sheer exhilaration of riding together again through a continent filled with magic and wonder.
About the Author
andlt;Bandgt;Ewan McGregorandlt;/Bandgt; was born in Perthshire in 1971. An actor who has appeared in more than thirty films -- andlt;Iandgt;Trainspotting, Velvet Goldmine, Moulin Rouge,andlt;/Iandgt; and the second andlt;Iandgt;Star Warsandlt;/Iandgt; trilogy among them -- he rides an MV Augusta F4S and a KTM Duke. He lives in London with his wife and two daughters.andlt;Bandgt;Charley Boormanandlt;/Bandgt; was born in England, grew up in Ireland, and currently lives in London with his family. An actor whose first starring role was in andlt;Iandgt;Deliverance,andlt;/Iandgt; he met his costar Ewan while shooting andlt;Iandgt;The Serpent's Kiss.andlt;/Iandgt; He rides a Ducati 748 and is preparing for the2006 Paris -- Dakar rally, if his wife lets him
Table of Contents
Contents
Prologue
1 Where's Charley?
2 Three's a Crowd
3 Break a Leg
4 Saddle Bags and Steroids
5 Five...Four...Three...
6 Here We Go, Charley
7 Cobblestones, Cars and Kissing
8 Sea Legs and Security
9 Under African Skies
10 Here's Sand in Your Eye!
11 Ice Cold in Alex
12 Pyramids and Porn
13 Riding Bikes and Saving Lives
14 The Stuff of Dreams
15 The Sand in Sudan
16 Kalashnikovs and Customs
17 A Cup of Ginger Tea
18 The Road at the End of the World
19 Stewed and Brewed
20 Lola
21 Size Does Matter
22 Another Country
23 Destination: 'Transit'
24 Lilongwe Down
25 Out in the Cuds with the Girls
26 A Motorcycle Diary
Appendix A Route
Appendix B Equipment
So What Next: UNICEF
Acknowledgements