Long Way Down: An Epic Journey by Motorcycle from Scotland to South Africa Paperback – June 9, 2009

Due to scheduling complications with the ferry for the first 1/3rd of the trip, Long Way Down (LWD) had a rushed and more stressful feel to it in comparison to Long Way Round. This led to a slightly less enjoyable experience for the reader/viewer in my opinion.Nevertheless, this voyage is still Ewan and Charley at their best. These guys enjoy motorcycling and traveling on them so much that they make the best out of any situation.The way they document the trip is so honest, and really opens you up to their personalities - something you rarely get to see with famous people. It's so honest and humble, yet funny and appropriately opinionated at the same time. The quality of the book - the editing, the photos and the writing are superb in their natural style.The fact that they take time to do charity work as well as show the world things that most choose to ignore is wonderful. Plus, like the LWR trip - it's an incredible way to show the beauty of our world and politeness of so many of the people in it.The books and movies are true magic on film - whether or not you like motorcycles or not (i am obsessed), it is nearly impossible to not fall in love with these two guys and their journey of a lifetime.

In Long Way Round, Charlie and Ewan set the stage for two best friends and their motorcycle journeys across the globe. You get to know the cast and crew in a personal way and see the journey through the eyes of avid adventure motorcyclists. In Long Way Down, they've ditched the whiney trip doctor from the first trip and replaced him with a doctor who better fits the spirit of the team. This film feels more personal to the viewer. Charlie and Ewan are more emotional this time around and the scenery and imagery is amazing. The stories of the journey are heartfelt and you really get a different perspective of how people live with each other and their environment throughout several different countries in Africa. The language is colorful at times for a younger audience (Charlie uses the F word extensively) but the story and journey are worth it. If you are not a motorcyclist, you will probably still enjoy the movie. If you are a motorcyclist, you'll be planning your next trip!

Every few years I read a travel biography. I like them, but when I'm done I tend to have that feeling of 'well that didn't really tell me much' or 'Good night that was about as dry as a stale biscuit.'Not so here.The Long Way Down is well written with a light sense of humor and full of details about the where as well as the who. Which, to me, is just as important as the where.By giving insights into the people they meet, the charities that serve them - without being preachy - and themselves, you leave the book with a greater sense of fulfillment. Because, how can you truly understand a country if you don't understand her people as well as the land & creatures that inhabit it? Oh. Final bonus. They don't picture Charlie & Ian as perfect. They honestly reflect the ups and downs of being together over 3 months on such a - at times - grueling journey.Net - highly recommend. Made me want to immediately run out and watch the series, which is also fantastic.

Wife and I enjoyed the series. I am a motorcycle touring rider. I enjoyed the segments on preparation, logistics, the story, and the sideline stories of this event. It inspired my wife and I to begin donating to UNICEF again after seeing, how UNICEF was providing its service around the world.I was impressed by the BMW bikes the guys were riding the punishment the bikes take during this journey, the candidness about the mistakes they made preparing and executing the journey.Over all an excellent account of the event, I even bought the book after watching as well as The Long Way Round video.

Long Way Down was a lot more than I expected it to be. What an adventure! And kudos to Ewan and Charley for the support they give to UNICEF. They are true class acts.

No puede faltar en la colección de un motociclista

I've enjoyed both of the "Long Way" books. They're an enjoyable read even if they aren't great literature or exceptional travel writing. Ewan and Charley seem like two great guys and their humanity and down-to-earth natures really show in these stories. Some of the reviews here have been negative, with many of them criticizing the trip's supposed lack of purity in that Ewan and Charley had a support team and a few sponsors. Whatever. If you ask me, the support team was pretty thin, and it's clear that many times they were just winging it and improvising as they went along. This was emphatically not a Camel Trophy-type extraveganza, with flocks of accompanying helicopters, spare vehicles, and squads of mechanics standing by with truckloads of spare parts, and it certainly didn't appear to be a luxury trip by any stretch. Call it a compromise between a full-on expedition (complete with porters and truckloads of "essential equipment") and a threadbare by-the-seat-of-our-pants penniless slog taking many months or even years. Sure, in a perfect world you'd take two years to undergo such a journey, and thus provide yourself with plenty of time to see everything and get to know the people and cultures in great detail. But let's face it, 99.99 percent of us will never be able to pull that off, either due to: 1) family/career obligations; 2) a lack of time; 3) a lack of money; 4) a lack of balls; or 5) all of the above. That's just the way it is. But these guys went out and did it, however imperfectly. That's just fine in my book. Jolly good, blokes!

Amazing book of Charlie and Ewan (and company) travels. After watching the videos and reading the book I think it would be fun to reread each chapter and then watch the corresponding video. Or vice versa.