Long Way Up
| Long Way Up | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Documentary |
| Created by | Ewan McGregor Charley Boorman David Alexanian Russ Malkin |
| Starring | Ewan McGregor Charley Boorman |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 11[1] |
| Production | |
| Producers | David Alexanian Russ Malkin Lucy Trujillo |
| Cinematography | Claudio Von Planta Jimmy Simak Anthony Von Seck |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | Apple TV+ |
| Release | 18 September – 13 November 2020 |
| Related | |
Long Way Up is a British television series which debuted on 18 September 2020, documenting a motorcycle journey undertaken in 2019 by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, from Ushuaia in Argentina through South and Central America to Los Angeles in the United States.[2] It is a follow-up to 2004's Long Way Round where the pair rode from London to New York, and to 2007's Long Way Down, when they rode from John o' Groats in Scotland to Cape Town in South Africa.
The first three episodes of Long Way Up premiered globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, 18 September 2020, and eight further episodes aired weekly through to 13 November 2020.[1]
Overview
[edit]The journey covered a 13,000-mile (21,000 km) route, through 13 countries, over 100 days from 5 September 2019 to 14 December 2019, using prototype Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycles that had been converted into adventure bikes.[3]
Accompanying Ewan and Charley were the key team members from Long Way Round and Long Way Down, including director/producers David Alexanian and Russ Malkin and directors of photography Jimmy Simak and Claudio Von Planta. Joining for the first time were associate producer Taylor Estevez and cinematographer Anthony Von Seck.
The production team followed Ewan and Charley's route in prototype Rivian electric pick-up trucks built especially for the journey.[4] Trucks and motorcycles were sometimes charged at charging points built especially for the journey by Rivian.[5][6][7] They were supported by diesel powered vehicles and generators.
Episodes
[edit]The series follows Ewan and Charley as they journey up Latin America through Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, and on into Central America — Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala — and Mexico, before entering the United States and finishing in California.[8]
Episode 1: "Preparation"
[edit]Release date: 18 September 2020
Eight months prior to the intended start date of 1 September 2019, the team maps out the route, revealing that they plan to use electric motorbikes. Having tested an electric road bike, Charley and Ewan are satisfied that they have made the correct choice. After discovering that the range of even the best off-road electric motorbike is limited to 72 miles, doubts start to creep in as they intend to travel 150-mile (240 km) per day, which would need a lengthy charging session, placing the entire fourteen-week schedule in jeopardy.
During the planning stage, Charley had a serious motorcycle accident. After recovering, he tests an all-electric Harley-Davidson Livewire. Although designed as a street bike, the team work with the Harley engineers to adapt the design for dual purpose use, receiving the prototypes ten weeks before departure.
Both Charley and Ewan want to offset their carbon footprint for the journey which necessitates using BEVs as support vehicles. Rivian agrees to supply two hand-built pre-production R1T pick-up trucks and install 150 fast chargers along the 13,000-mile (21,000 km) route to keep both them and the electric motorbikes charged.
Episode 2: "Ushuaia"
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Release date: 18 September 2020
In Tierra del Fuego the team meets with heavy winter snow. The Harleys’ ability to use level one AC charging is a concern as the level three DC fast-charging equipment is too cumbersome for the duo to carry. The team decides to wait until a new component arrives, delaying their start by three days.
During the initial leg, Charley and Ewan make the first of several border crossings and detour down Ruta Y-85 to Pinguino Rey Natural Reserve on Inútil Bay, to see the only colony of King penguins in South America. Range anxiety resurfaces and they plan to charge from a support vehicle that has solar panels. When this fails, they attempt to charge from sockets at the reserve’s research station, but with a low current, the motorbikes fail to take a charge. The pair take refuge at Estancia Caleta Josefina, which although closed for the winter, opens for them. The production team runs out of charge with ten miles to go, and resorts to tow-charging the R1Ts.
ROUTE: Ushuaia (ARG) → Ruta Nacional 3 
→ Tolhuin (ARG) → Ruta Nacional 3 → Border crossing (San Sebastián) → Ruta 257-CH 
→ Onaisin (CHL)
Episode 3: "Southern Patagonia"
[edit]
Release date: 18 September 2020
After unsuccessful attempts at charging overnight, Charley and Ewan ask the support team to bring a diesel generator to charge the motorbikes. Nevertheless, Ewan runs out of charge within sight of the ferry and the production team has to assist him.
Two days are spent in the Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia. Whilst lodging at EcoCamp Patagonia, charging proves challenging and overnight both the 12-volt batteries that power the motorbikes' electrical systems discharge. After jump starting both motorbikes, it appears they have enough range in the traction batteries to make it to the border with Argentina, but once across, again they have to use a diesel generator for recharging before the 100-mile (160 km) section to El Calafate in Santa Cruz province.
The duo decides to take the next day off to recharge the motorbikes, and to take a boat trip to the Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park.
ROUTE: Onaisin (CHL) → Ruta Y-71 → Porvenir (CHL) → Ferry (Pathagon) → Punta Arenas (CHL) → Ruta 9-CH 
→ Torres del Paine (CHL) → Ruta Y-150 / Y-156 → Torres del Paine National Park (CHL) → Ruta Y-156 / Y-150 → Torres del Paine (CHL) → Ruta Y-205 → Border crossing (Río Don Guillemo) → Ruta Nacional 40 
→ El Calafate (ARG) → Ruta Nacional 40 → La Leóna (ARG) → Ruta Nacional 40 → Tres Lagos (ARG) → Ruta Nacional 40 → Las Horquetas (ARG)
Episode 4: "The Andes"
[edit]
Release date: 25 September 2020 (despite the name, this episode features very little of the Andes!)
The pair crosses back into Chile, now understanding that the bikes' batteries perform worse in cold temperatures. They adjust their expectations, traversing the Aysén region and the Carretera Austral to the port of Chaitén. Here the team elects to cross both the Gulf of Corcovado and the Gulf of Ancud by ferry to Puerto Montt as there are several gaps in the Carretera Austral further north which need either multiple water crossings or a long detour inland.
Whilst Charley and Ewan head along the Pan-American highway toward another border crossing, and into the Argentinian province of Neuquén, the production team, off-grid and running low on charge, co-opt a semi-truck driver to give them a tow-charge. David’s R1T has its first breakdown on the way to Las Lajas, but a system reboot sees it on its way. After adjusting their route to visit the Bajada del Rahue switchbacks on RP46, Charley and Ewan face another delay in Zapala whilst they wait for cameraman Claudio, who is riding a petrol Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1200, to refuel. Nevertheless, they manage a 137.6-mile (221.4 km) distance on a full charge due to warmer temperatures. They visit the indigenous Mapuche communities in Chorriaca and Chos Malal, and then camp for the first time on the trip near Barrancas. They are awestruck by The Catwalk (La Pasarela), where the RN40 crosses the Rio Grande and the Agua del Toro hydroelectric dam in Mendoza province.
ROUTE: Las Horquetas (ARG) → Ruta Nacional 40 → Perito Moreno (ARG) → Ruta Provincial 45 
→ Border crossing (Ingeniero Pallavicini) → Ruta X-65 / Ruta 7-CH 
→ Villa Mañihuales (CHL) → Ruta 7-CH → Puyuhuapi (CHL) → Ruta 7-CH → Chaitén (CHL) → Ferry (Agios) → Puerto Montt (CHL) → Ruta 5-CH 
/ Ruta 215-CH 
→ Border crossing (Cardenal Antonio Samoré Pass) → Ruta Nacional 231 
/ Ruta Nacional 40 → Villa La Angostura (ARG) → Ruta Nacional 40 / Ruta Provincial 23 
→ Aluminé (ARG) → Ruta Provincial 46 
→ Zapala (ARG) → Ruta Nacional 40 → Las Lajas (ARG) → Ruta Nacional 40 → Barrancas (ARG) → Ruta Nacional 40