| Successful Hollywood actor Ewan McGregor and his | | | | Boorman saw some of the projects done by the |
| best friend and fellow actor Charley Boorman simply | | | | international relief agency at first-hand in Ukraine, |
| love having adventures on their motorbikes. | | | | Kazakhstan and Mongolia. |
| However, it's just not a case of travelling a few | | | | Three years later the pair decided to dust off their |
| leisurely miles on Sundays; these boys are serious, | | | | bike leathers, and this time travel the 'Long Way |
| long distance bikers. On their last two trips the | | | | Down' from John O'Groats in Scotland to Cape Town |
| intrepid pair, plus their cameraman Claudio Von Planta | | | | in South Africa, another gruelling 15,000 miles. The |
| - along to record their travels for documentary | | | | journey took just under three months to complete. |
| broadcast - have managed to clock up a staggering | | | | Starting out on May 12th they reached Cape Town |
| 34,000 miles on their odometers. | | | | on 4th August 2007, the entire ride and their |
| In 2004, the pair decided to take a trip between | | | | sometimes hairy adventures again all captured on film |
| London and New York. But, rather than take the | | | | by Von Planta. Again, the trip was used to highlight |
| easy option of flying or cruising the Atlantic, they | | | | UNICEF's relief efforts and the two actively |
| decided to ride their motorbikes the opposite way | | | | encouraged viewers of their documentary broadcast |
| around the globe; taking 'The Long Way Round'. Their | | | | to contribute to the charitable effort. |
| 19,000 mile circuitous route involved travelling across | | | | Although both trips were overwhelming successful, |
| Europe and Asia, before crossing the Bering Strait by | | | | there were some serious incidents, and the extensive |
| air, then back on the road to travel the final leg from | | | | damage done to the bikes on their travels made it |
| Alaska to New York. With the exception of their | | | | clear to see why they were unable to get motorbike |
| flight, a 600 mile train journey through Siberia, and an | | | | insurance, and why their life insurance premiums were |
| impassable short section of their trip through Russia, | | | | almost prohibitive. They were held up at gunpoint, |
| the entire route was completed on two wheels and | | | | suffered horrendous swelling following insect bites, |
| took three and a half months. | | | | were victims of theft and endured numerous |
| Although the pair were accompanied only by | | | | mechanical failures, including water in the engines; |
| cameraman Von Planta on bikes, they did have a | | | | certainly not adventures for the faint-hearted, and |
| support and security team following behind in two | | | | also why both trips made such compelling TV. |
| off-road vehicles, otherwise they would have been | | | | Despite their joint declaration that they won't |
| unable to complete their arduous trip. But, the whole | | | | consider doing it again in the near future, keep your |
| expedition wasn't just a jolly for the two thespians, it | | | | eyes peeled for the pair's next two-wheeled |
| was undertaken to help highlight the work done by | | | | adventure, as they are sure to get the bug again |
| UNICEF, and during their journey McGregor and | | | | soon. |