By Keith May
(Originally appeared in Cycle World magazine)
After months of training, instruction and marketing hype, what began for friends and thespians Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman as a boyhood dream, soon becomes a larger than life reality-series. Documented every mile of the way, warts and all. Support crews wait at borders to grease authorities but otherwise these lads are on their own. So long as they meet PR commitments along the way. An unfortunate necessity when leveraging star-power.
It’s hard to travel light on a 20,000 mile adventure. Especially your first time. The two BMW R1150 GS (three if we count cinematographer) are stout, but overloaded with every item and luxury imaginable. The bikes groaning under a mountain of free gear, catastrophe appears imminent. We’ve all been there; paring luxuries down to bare necessities only to find a thousand miles later you over-packed. When you’re an admitted fancy-boy like McGregor, it’s hard to leave the hair-gel at home. Can he prove to us (and himself) that he’s more than a pretty face?
A more experienced rider, best-mate Charley assumes leadership early on. Setting a fine example for young Obi Wan. Picking him up, cheering him on, pushing him forward. Hitting rock bottom in a bog on Mongolia’s Road of Bones, the lads finally begin ejecting cargo. Wearing thousand-mile stares and numb with exhaustion, Ewan's vanity is painfully stripped away. It’s a transition any traveler can relate to. The pivotal moment in any adventure when the rider lets go of preconceptions to share responsibilities with fate. Blissfully throwing himself into the unknown. With a second-wind and drunk with liberation the lads finally settle into the journey they originally had in mind. Relishing hardship and immersing themselves in local culture they prove their mettle and find freedom at last. Compelling stuff.
Both lads are professional actors and exhibitionist by nature, but often seem too aware of the camera. It’s like asking a dog not to lick itself, but ease with a spotlight is necessary for a good storyteller and humor becomes them. Even at the worst of times their chins remain jauntily forward, determined to complete their stated mission.
A tastefully integrated soundtrack courtesy of Coldplay, Blur, Stereophonic and others compliments deft camerawork by Third Man Claudio. Radio communications between Ewan and Charley are tasteful addition to helmet-cam footage.
Charley went on to attempt the Dakar Rally in 2006 producing a book and video in the process and he and Ewan would later release “The Long Way Down,” which chronicles their ride from Scotland to South Africa.
Don’t hate these lads for having the resources to live out their dreams. Applaud them for having the imagination to do so in such high style.
No comments:
Post a Comment