Long Way Round
- Ewan McGregor
- Charley Boorman
Long Way Round is the title of a ten-part documentary series by director David Alexanian (filmed 2004) and a book by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman.
- 3.1 weight
Content
TV series, DVD and book documenting that began in April 2004 motorcycle trip from McGregor and Boorman in 115 days and 30,395 km around the world. The main points of the route were:
London ( UK ), Brussels ( Belgium), Germany, Prague (Czech Republic ), Kiev (Ukraine ), Volgograd (Russia ), Almaty (Kazakhstan ), Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), Yakutsk (Russia, Siberia), Magadan (Russia, Siberia ), Anchorage ( USA, Alaska), Whitehorse (Canada), Calgary (Canada), Chicago ( USA), New York (USA).
The idea for this trip is from the book " Jupiter 's Travels " by Ted Simon, a famous motorcyclist, met the McGregor and Boorman in Mongolia.
McGregor and Boorman were escorted to the majority of the journey from the cameraman Claudio von Planta on his own bike. In addition, a full crew with equipment and supply drove in two SUVs. The team in the support vehicles were among the producers David Alexanian and Russ Malkin, the cameraman Jim Simak, temporarily, the Russian advisor Sergey and Vasily doctor. It was planned that the three motorcyclists should ride provided the bulk of the trip on its own. Was agreed that the main actors and support crew should meet only at the state borders to cross them together. The so-called " bone road " between Yakutsk and the Russian Pacific coast, however, was almost completely dealt with together.
McGregor and Boorman took the trip in order to draw attention to UNICEF. The series was broadcast in many countries around the world via satellite and cable television.
A sequel to "Long Way Down" from Scotland to Cape Town was held between May and August 2007. Charley Boorman undertook this project in October 2006 test runs in southern Africa with a BMW R 1200 GS Adventure K255, which is 256 kg fully fueled at least 29 kg lighter than the previous model.
Filming
McGregor and Boorman were equipped with cameras that were specially developed for this trip from the company Sonic Communications. The installed in the helmet camera allowed for a wide-angle view, a second removable served for handheld shooting. Both drivers also conducted a video diary in which they held their impressions and thoughts on the trip. From Planta conducted a more extensive camera equipment with and drove ahead or stayed behind to take pictures of McGregor and Boorman while driving. All three were also equipped with microphones, which allowed them to talk with each other during the ride.
DVD
The DVD edition was published on 27 April 2006 on two DVDs are seven episodes (each about 45 minutes) included. ; the third DVD features several extras such scenes not used ( Unseen material) and numerous interviews (Exclusive post-trip interviews, interviews with the Series Creators ), but in which were overlapping with the consequences. The individual episodes are not entitled; they describe the following travel sections
- Episode 1: Preparations
- Episode 2: London to Volgograd
- Episode 3: Kazakhstan
- Episode 4: Barnaul to Western Mongolia
- Episode 5: Western Mongolia to Yakutsk
- Episode 6: Yakutsk to Magadan ( the "Bone Street " )
- Episode 7: Anchorage to New York
This footage was not synchronized. Subtitles are available in English, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish. The DMAX showed a German dubbed version of the series, is spoken in the McGregor by Philipp Moog. This dubbed version is not available on DVD according to a statement of the transmitter DMAX at the time.
The motorcycle sponsors
Boorman and McGregor initially subjected Motorcycles BMW, KTM and Honda consider companies with the Honda finally fell from the shortlist.
For travel 950 Adventure and BMW R 1150 GS Adventure models KTM came in question, which were run in addition to smaller models, the manufacturer of Boorman and McGregor on appropriate test sites sample.
McGregor preferred BMW motorcycles, while Boorman tended to KTM machines. Boorman prevailed with his desire. As a condition of sponsorship, KTM had reserved the evaluation of travel planning by an expert. Thomas Junker, who had failed on a similar route in Siberia, had after a meeting concerns, fearing that the journey of McGregor and Boorman could also be a failure. KTM leaned out from the sponsorship. Then three BMW R 1150 GS presented ready.
Weight
The weight of a fully fueled and ready to ride BMW R 1150 GS Adventure is 285 kg. This is the weight of the mounted motor crash bars, fog lamps and various other attachments not included, also not the weight of rack system, aluminum cases, top case, video systems and packrolls as well as all the luggage. McGregor and Boorman had to realize in the course of the journey, that they could see the motorcycles with high payload move very difficult in unwegigen terrain, mainly McGregor was having trouble on the ground by his lack of experience. They then sorted from unimportant luggage to save weight.
Breakdown
In a collision with a boulder in Mongolia the frame of the machine by Claudio von Planta broke. After trying to weld the frame again, failed the integral ABS. Ewan McGregor keeps it finds that the brakes in the mode " residual brake" either do not work ( "you do not have any brakes at all" ) or block ( "otherwise the front wheel would not unlock" ), so that handling / dose of the residual brake has not been possible. The bike was shipped from Ulaangom (Mongolia) to Ulaan Baatar (Mongolia) and repaired there. On the Integral ABS Machine by McGregor there was also an unusual event that shone " ABS " warning lamp; the cause and solution is explained in detail. Next burst into Russia, the frame of the machine by Ewan McGregor on both sides. His luggage was brought to a stopped truck in the nearest city, while the three drove behind this to be welded to the frame in the city.
Ewan McGregor described his BMW GS in retrospect as "astonishing". Although they had to put a lot of punches and two weeks inferior 76- octane gasoline got that she was " just weitergetuckert ".
Charley Boorman, however, expressed to the effect that had been the stage in Mongolia " cry " that they " prefer left out of sheer desperation lie in the mud " had the heavily laden bikes one time or another. He also points to the river crossings in Siberia.