Long Way Down: Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman Plan Second Long Distance Trip

While Ewan McGregor may be best known for starring roles as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels, as junkie Mark Renton in the cult hit Trainspotting and as the love struck writer Christian in Moulin Rouge, he is also developing quite a reputation as a globe-trotting adventurer and humanitarian after his round the world motorcycle trip, dubbed Long Way Round, with best friend Charley Boorman.

In 2004, the actors set off on a pair of BMW motorcycles and rode 20,000 miles from London, through Europe, Mongolia, Russia, Canada and the United States before arriving in New York. Cameras captured every mile and event, from being the guests of the Ukranian mafia to visiting the victims of Chernobyl to the dangers of the Road of Bones. The trip was turned into a successful and critically acclaimed television series, DVD and coffee table book. It also spawned a hit soundtrack. The pair were accompanied by a support team, including producers and a doctor, since medical care would be non-existent on parts of their journey. The pair suffered numerous accidents that threatened to end their adventure. Ironically, the most potentially serious accidents did not occur over the rough terrain of Russia, but in Calgary, where both McGregor and Boorman were struck by other drivers. Neither rider was injured in the accidents.

Not content to rest on their laurels, the two road warriors are in the final planning stages for their next adventure, aptly title Long Way Down. The pair plan to travel from John O'Groats at the northernmost tip of McGregor's native Scotland, down through Europe and Africa before ending at Capetown, South Africa. The trip is scheduled to begin in September of 2007 and will find McGregor and Boorman visiting UNICEF mission sites and traveling through unfamiliar terrains.

Once again, the two will be traveling on BMW motorcycles and will be accompanied by a support team and a camera operator. Also joining the men on segments of the trip will be McGregor's wife, Eve.