Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, the British actors and best friends, are back on the road for their fourth installment of the Long Way docuseries, Long Way Home. After their previous ride on electric Harley-Davidsons, this time, the duo opts for a trip back in time, riding vintage motorcycles through 17 European countries. The series, which premiered on May 9, sees McGregor on a 1974 Moto Guzzi Eldorado, once used by the Los Angeles Police Department, and Boorman on a rusted BMW R75/5 that he painstakingly restored.
The journey begins at McGregor’s home in Scotland, where they set off to the sounds of a bagpipe band and, fittingly, rain. Their route takes them through the Netherlands, Scandinavia, the Arctic Circle, the Baltics, the Alps, and France. Riding older bikes gives McGregor and Boorman a new sense of connection to their surroundings, as these bikes are far simpler and easier to repair compared to modern models. McGregor notes that, unlike their previous experiences with electric bikes, the vintage motorcycles are “fixable” and can be patched up with basic tools, making them more reliable on the road.
The series includes a variety of exciting and unique adventures, such as wearing Viking costumes and axe-throwing in Norway, camping near an Amsterdam windmill, kayaking beside a glacier in the Arctic, and paragliding in the Alps. They also spend the longest day of the year on a beach in Norway, enjoy a bonfire on an island, and log-roll in Finland. Throughout the trip, McGregor and Boorman emphasize the authenticity of their experience, feeling the cold and wet as they ride, making the adventure all the more real.
The journey lasts two months, during which they take their time to enjoy the sights and reduce their speed. Unlike their previous trips where they covered vast distances quickly, this time they slow down, enjoying the loop of Europe at a more leisurely pace. While they ride 50-year-old bikes, the team uses modern technology, such as GPS and cameras, to enhance the storytelling.
The series, marking the 20th anniversary of Long Way Round, underscores how much of the world McGregor and Boorman have yet to explore, despite having ridden through so many countries.
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