The Long Way Down

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Ewan and Charley burst with infectious enthusiasm whenever they discuss their adventures. So what inspired them to break out from their comfort zones?

Just before Ewan and Charley set off on the Long Way Round, Ewan declared that the trip was 'a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, my wife understands that'. But, boys being boys, the pair were already planning their next odyssey just a few days after returning to London. Hooked on adventure, their eyes turned towards Africa.

'When we looked at a map of the world, the first thing that grabbed us was going from London to New York,' says Charley. 'Then you take another look at the world and you think 'Africa'. Everyone is different, but Ewan and I looked at Africa and thought 'this is the one'.'

But what's the point of these complicated, exhausting, dangerous quests? Why jump on your bike and charge across the tundra, or ride deep into the jungle, when you've got a great life and wonderful family at home?

'A few years back Ewan started doing little trips straight after he'd finished movies,' explains Charley, who's been good mates with him for over a decade. 'In movies your life is very controlled. You do what you're told, go where you're told. So by the time the film is finished you need to escape. He found those little trips gave him the freedom from control that he craved.

'Then we started talking about doing a trip together. It started off as a ride to southern Spain where we'd meet up with our families. Then we thought about riding to Beijing, because Ewan's wife grew up in China. Then one day he rang and said 'come round to dinner'. He got out a map and said, 'Look, the Bering Straight is so small, why don't we just keep going from Asia to North America'.'

This time they got out a map and decided on a longitudinal rather than latitudinal trip. But the basic concept is the same - it's all about the lure of the open road and the fun of meeting people from different cultures. 'We're going off to have an adventure and see who we meet along the way,'adds Charley.

'The people and events they experienced on Long Way Down inspired this next journey. 'It's strange, but in a way the worst moments can also be the best,' says Charley. 'The funny times and laughs are great, but you don't remember them as much as the bad times.

'Mongolia was probably the hardest part of Long Way Round, but the bit I'll always remember. Everything was difficult. The terrain was a nightmare, and then one of the support vehicles had a huge accident and we couldn't help because we were a day's ride ahead. It was so tough. However, we met the most incredibly kind, generous and beautiful people.'

Of course, Africa is going to be a very different experience. 'It's a hard, tough place to get across,' says Charley, who speaks from experience, having competed in the legendary Dakar Rally in 2006. 'Politically it's very volatile. A lot of the people live in very difficult situations. And it's tough riding.

'It's also much more crowded than Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia. In Africa everyone lives by the road because it's the lifeline. It'll be very different.'

So is Africa the second and final trip of a lifetime? 'Perhaps Alaska to South America will be our next one,' grins Charley. Or maybe the other way round...anyone for the Long Way Up?