At Home with John and Debbie

Long after Ruth recommended it, we finally got around to watching Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman motorcycling from London to New York via (among other places) The Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Siberia in The Long Way Round.

When it first aired (on Sky, I think), I didn’t pay very much attention, but I was aware of the occasional scathing snipe in the press (”Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman with only their motorbikes for company… and their cameraman… and their support crew…”).

It turns out that both the motorcyclists and the support crew were on a pretty hardcore adventure. At first Debbie and I thought everything looked perfectly pleasant apart from the rod they’d made for their own backs by choosing to use motorbikes instead of Land Rovers. However, on Stalin’s Road of Bones in NorthEast Siberia, you can’t blame them for deciding that the rivers they encounter just can’t be forded on a motorbike. They are barely fordable in a 6 wheel offroad truck. Sarcasm from the typewriter of a snotty journalist in Hoxton is not welcome.

To my surprise, it was thrilling and inspiring. Mongolia and Siberia look particularly amazing. My only criticism is that the last episode, from Alaska to New York severely lacks the impact of the preceding episodes — so much so that they have to keep sneaking flashbacks to Mongolia or Siberia to keep the interest up. Smooth roads and comfy motels make for less interesting television.

I’d better start saving up and get some Russian lessons…

(Long Way Round web site)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 29th, 2006 at 14:39 and is filed under Media. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.