When one of the crew gets an awful bout of altitude sickness, near Salta in Argentina on their way to ride Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds), McGregor’s concern is visceral. As an aside, I could watch Charley Boorman layer up (please put this on TikTok) all day. Courtesy of Apple TV+ĭealing with things such as insane cold meant moving bikes indoors overnight and wearing all the clothes. That meant electric bikes (Harley-Davidson supplied prototypes) that could withstand myriad environments – snow, ice, altitude, wind, rain – and very few charging stations.Ĭharley Boorman and Ewan McGregor stop in Bolivia on their electric Harley- Davidson LiveWires. They decided the “Long Way Up” would be an electric voyage – a way to see the world without aiding its decay.

It was exactly what the doctor ordered.”Īpparently, after completing two epic motorbike adventures, the two felt they needed an additional challenge. It’s very rare that you get that period of time to hang out with your best buddy and ride motorbikes. “When I was getting a little bit better, and Ewan came to London to stay with me … we started chatting about that third trip that we really wanted to do. Portions of Boorman’s recovery from the horrific accident are shown in the first episode of “Long Way Down.” These snippets show how dedicated Boorman was to getting back on the bike and how important it was for him to do this third trip. And so we found each other again and decided to do this trip.” To let that friendship dwindle or drift, I realized, was a mistake. I realized we share something that I don’t share with anyone else. Charley had a terrible accident and was very badly injured. In a video interview with CNN Travel, McGregor explained, “We drifted apart somewhat. Why now, after a 12-year hiatus, did the duo decide to return for a third run? Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman take on a 13,000-mile e-bike journey in the Apple TV+ series, 'Long Way Up.' Courtesy of Apple TV+

A long way up documentary