This Hardcover Book item from Atria was reviewed on 16-Oct-2008.
Search ISBN:1416577459 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Long Way Down: An Epic Journey by Motorcycle from Scotland to South Africa Reference Book. Classifications : General Biographies & Memoirs Subjects Books General Motorcycles Automotive Nonfiction Subjects Books General Scotland Great Britain Europe Travel Subjects Books Essays & Travelogues Reference & Tips . Click the following link to view the cover of Long Way Down: An Epic Journey by Motorcycle from Scotland to South Africa. Related topics: General. Subjects. Books. General. Motorcycles. Automotive. Nonfiction. Subjects. Books. General. requestid: ef1f8c00-60a2-4480-8490-b154039fe910
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1) Hardcover Book Long Way Down: An Epic Journey by Motorcycle from Scotland to South Africa by Atria. Being an avid motorcyclist, adventurer and non-fiction reader, I was excited to pick this book up when I saw it. Tried to get thru it several times, but it was just uncompelling. Very little about the actual bikes other than that they were BMW´s. Having an entourage of trucks and cameras following them... What kind of adventure is that? ANYWAYS I never did get thru it although it was a good aid to falling asleep at night - 5 or 6 pages and I was out like a light.¤ 2) Hardcover Book Long Way Down: An Epic Journey by Motorcycle from Scotland to South Africa by Atria. I bought "Long way Down" ages ago with great expectations but I have to say, having finally found time to read it and having gotten myself half-way through, I feel decidedly underwhelmed. I went out and paid a handsome sum for this publication in hardcover after having my appetite aroused by blurbs which promised a great read, and a little humour, in the vein of classic travel writing. But that is not what I got. "Long Way Down" sallies forth into rich landscapes but gives up only a dull stream of prosaic impressions of the worlds and people which it passes. Its understanding of the nuance, complexity and colour of the locales it encounters is utterly superficial. This, it must be said, would be forgivable if the reward for such nearsightedness was a series of amusing or charming ironies. But charm and irony is a destination the writers of this drivel are unlikely ever to reach. It will remain a lasting shame to this century that Little Brown´s Sphere buffoons have attempted to shove this abomination into the same generic space occupied by classics like Eric Newby´s "A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush". Like a square peg into a round hole this common little book will not make for such a fit. What was Sphere thinking? Surely there was someone working at LB who had read Waugh, Steinbeck or Sinclair; someone who could have applied the proverbial brakes before Sphere foisted this shameless potboiler on the world with promising blurbs of truly faith destroying proportions. Lies, damned lies, and a couple of fat gits. That´s really all this book turned out to be. Thanks for nothing...¤ 3) Hardcover Book Long Way Down: An Epic Journey by Motorcycle from Scotland to South Africa by Atria. A travel story. Short on drama and suspense but a lot of description of lands and peoples. Little talk about motorcycles even though they had some difficulties that could have added some interest. I enjoyed it for what it is.¤ 4) Hardcover Book Long Way Down: An Epic Journey by Motorcycle from Scotland to South Africa by Atria. Being someone who loves motorcycles, travel, and thought Long Way Round was awesome, this book was already high on my list. I saw the one time showing of the Long Way Down movie and I am currently watching the full series on the Fox Reality Channel. I love this stuff!
So why didn´t the book get five stars? Well, I think it suffered from being the second time around. It never felt quite as much of a seat of your pants adventure as Long Way Round did. I suppose it shouldn´t since this is the second major trip and all the crew kind of know what they are doing. I also thought that having Ewan McGregor bring his wife along for part of the trip did change the dynamic of the trip, as you´ll hear Charley Boorman say a few times. But it was damn funny to hear about her falling all the time.
I won´t say much more so as not to ruin some of the truly entertaining and interesting parts of the book. But if you love motorcycles, travel, or both, this book is for you. Heck, you´ve probably already read it!¤ 5) Hardcover Book Long Way Down: An Epic Journey by Motorcycle from Scotland to South Africa by Atria. The first book was great and so was the series. This one is awesome as well. Very funny and a great read.¤ 6) Hardcover Book Long Way Down: An Epic Journey by Motorcycle from Scotland to South Africa by Atria. Eighteen countries. Five shock absorbers.
Two bikers. One amazing adventure... After their fantastic trip round the world in 2004, fellow actors and bike fanatics Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman couldn´t shake the travel bug. Inspired by their UNICEF visits to Africa, they knew they had to go back and experience this extraordinary continent in more depth. And so they set off on their 15,000-mile journey with two new BMWs loaded up for the trip. Their route took them from John O´Groats at the northernmost tip of Scotland to Cape Agulhas on the southernmost tip of South Africa. Along the way they rode some of the toughest terrain in the world -- and met some of the friendliest people. They rode their bikes right up to the pyramids in Egypt and visited Luke Skywalker´s house in Tunisia. They met people who had triumphed over terrifying experiences -- former childhood soldiers in Uganda and children living amidst the minefields of Ethiopia. They had a close encounter with a family of gorillas in Rwanda and were nearly trampled by a herd of elephants in Botswana. Riding through spectacular scenery, often in extreme temperatures, Ewan and Charley faced their hardest challenges yet. With their trademark humor and honesty they tell their story -- the drama, the dangers and sheer exhilaration of riding together again, through a continent filled with magic and wonder.¤ Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 13-Nov-2008, 14165774599781416577454, 440-750-210-591-YWB-Y0B-8 
Long Way Down: An Epic Journey by Motorcycle from Scotland to South Africa, Book, Image © Atria
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