Long Way Down on BBC

**ZeroIndex** · 2nd November 2007, 17:43

Originally Posted by k14

Was it just me or did everyone elses warning bells go off at the thought of Ewans wife doing a part of the trip having never ridden a bike up until 6 months before the trip left??

I know you can't really compare a trip distance like that, but my first weekend I got my first bike (pretty much no riding experience at all), I went on a KB group bike ride... I binned at one point of the ride, but I learnt heaps from that crash. I'm sure she did fine.

**FkNAmerican** · 3rd November 2007, 11:14

There are so many reasons why his wife should NOT be even asking to go:

1. This is Charlie and Ewans special trip. They have done the planning, they have the experience, they have the history of having done it together before and, most importantly, they have the passion for the experience.

2. She has no real interest in motorcycles to begin with. Ewan's been riding forever. They have been married for years and she's never expressed even the slightest interest in motorcycles UNTIL NOW when all of a sudden she wants to ride a segment with them. I call B.S. on that.

3. Its Africa. There is a certain element of danger. What if something happened to both of them. What about thier kids......

Ok so thats all I've got but dammit if it aint enough to send her packing so Ewan and Charlie can do thier thing together as best mates.

**k14** · 3rd November 2007, 11:31

One things for sure, I wouldn't blame Charley if he spat the dummy and told Ewan to shove his trip. I certainly would if my mates Mrs at the eleventh hour decided to join a trip we'd been planning for ages. Sounds like she thinks its just going to be a sunday drive.

**ZeroIndex** · 3rd November 2007, 18:33

Originally Posted by FkNAmerican

There are so many reasons why his wife should NOT be even asking to go:

1. This is Charlie and Ewans special trip. They have done the planning, they have the experience, they have the history of having done it together before and, most importantly, they have the passion for the experience.

2. She has no real interest in motorcycles to begin with. Ewan's been riding forever. They have been married for years and she's never expressed even the slightest interest in motorcycles UNTIL NOW when all of a sudden she wants to ride a segment with them. I call B.S. on that.

3. Its Africa. There is a certain element of danger. What if something happened to both of them. What about thier kids......

Ok so thats all I've got but dammit if it aint enough to send her packing so Ewan and Charlie can do thier thing together as best mates.

Originally Posted by k14

One things for sure, I wouldn't blame Charley if he spat the dummy and told Ewan to shove his trip. I certainly would if my mates Mrs at the eleventh hour decided to join a trip we'd been planning for ages. Sounds like she thinks its just going to be a sunday drive.

You gotta admit though... it will add quite a bit of humour... considering the Long Way Round... they were pretty damn experienced riders, and I know I'd do nowhere near as well as they did on all that dirt and sand, but everytime they crashed, I would laugh, rewind it, play it again and laugh again... Ewan's misses, if she goes through with trying to ride, is surely gonna give me a few minutes of laughter?

**FkNAmerican** · 5th November 2007, 12:16

No, I'll tell you what would make me laugh: Ewan's wife gets down there, has her first spill, decides she hates motorcycles (again), pulls Ewan off to do some safari around Lake Victoria, and then Charlie decides to ride the rest of the way with Claudio while Ewan tours the lake!! In the process Charlie and Claudio decide they enjoyed eachothers company so much they are going to do "El Viaje Grande" from the top of Mexico down to the bottom of Argentina. LOL.

THAT would make me laugh a little.

**ZeroIndex** · 5th November 2007, 14:01

Originally Posted by FkNAmerican

No, I'll tell you what would make me laugh: Ewan's wife gets down there, has her first spill, decides she hates motorcycles (again), pulls Ewan off to do some safari around Lake Victoria, and then Charlie decides to ride the rest of the way with Claudio while Ewan tours the lake!! In the process Charlie and Claudio decide they enjoyed eachothers company so much they are going to do "El Viaje Grande" from the top of Mexico down to the bottom of Argentina. LOL.

THAT would make me laugh a little.

HAHAHA!!! Love your thinking... when is the next episode coming out? Top Gear is now on the net, but I'm still waiting for LWD ep.2 to be released

**steveb64** · 6th November 2007, 13:27

Originally Posted by k14

Doubt it, its awesome watching that. I still haven't seen the 10 episode extended series, only the 7 episode one. I've watched it from start to finish in one sitting on more than one occasion. Think I've watched the lot 5 or 6 times now, along with sporadic episodes on sky too.

Working my (our - missus enjoys it too) way through the 10 episode version currently... Definitely better than the 7 episode one (seen that multiple times also...

), as it fills in quite a bit more detail. Picked up a copy of the book from a 2nd hand bookshop - good too, 'cos it fills in some stuff that the series didn't cover.

First saw some of the 10 episode version on Sky - Doco channel... had me buggered, thinking - "I don't remember seeing that before?"

- then found out it was a 10 episode version...

**ZeroIndex** · 6th November 2007, 14:23

New episode is finally out... busy downloading it onto my friendly http server

**Krayy** · 7th November 2007, 09:53

Just watching it now...interesting to see that Ewan rides a Griso in normal life.

**sAsLEX** · 7th November 2007, 09:58

Originally Posted by EJKDDORAI

PIRACY IS A CRIME!

So is not paying your TV license in the UK MWAHAHAHAHa I get it free and see it first! till I leave this cold damp isle finally on sat!

**FruitLooPs** · 7th November 2007, 10:09

The second Ep is pretty awesome, the stuff they check out in Libya is amazing!

Oh and Naples, oh boy I want to go check that out one day..

I think letting Eve go is pretty silly really, and is she just doing a road section (when the bikes are lined up in ep.1 her bike is a 650 roadbike?). IMO if I was her, I would wait and go with Ewen off on a trip thru Oz together or something like that, a decent intro but not too challenging..

Charlie, to me at least is pretty damn close to Ewen and is understandably taking it a bit hard. Suck to be the third wheel, especially after having been round the world as a dynamic duo.

**Thunder 8** · 7th November 2007, 11:04

Originally Posted by FkNAmerican

News Flash,

They seem to have planned an amazing route through Africa so if you've ever dreamed about touring Africa on a motorcycle then this should be an excellent source of information and inspiration to you.

Official website:
http://www.longwaydown.com/

Link to torrents of the first episode (choose which one you like):
http://www.mininova.org/search/?search=long+way+down

Thanks for that really enjoyed both episodes so far and looking forwardto the rest.

**Alpha Solo** · 7th November 2007, 11:11

I just watched the 1st episode.

I too couldn't believe Ewan getting his wife involved, hope she backs out! I love girl's riding but it was a last minute and stupid decision... Charlie's face said it all.

I think it's great that they are doing the trip and popularizing 'adventure riding' but I think they should pay tribute to the riders who have done similar (if not the same routes) before them WITHOUT support vehicles and the worlds media etc backing them up. (Silk road rider couple spring to mind, cant remember their names but they did it off their own backs on 650gs's).. maybe they mention them in the books? There seems to be a popular misconception that they are the first to ever do anything like this, I meet lots of people who think they are the last two explorers on earth, I tell them to check out Mondo Enduro and similar...

Ho Hum Rant over - looking forward to episode 2!!!