In the summer of 2004 we went on a trip riding a bus through the wilderness of Alaska. We had a general route to follow, but our day-to-day activies were left up to chance, weather, people we met and things we say.
Ironically, just a couple months before us, two guys on motorcycles passed through Alaska doing basically the same thing but their trip was going around the world-- from London to New York going east.
The two guys were Ewan McGreggor and Charlie Boorman. They became friends working on a movie together and share a love of motorcycles. So they planned the trip, and got a producer to follow them and document the experience.
The trip is a very enlightening view of parts of the world you usually never hear about. Although they do go through England, France & Germany, not to mention the United States from Alaska to New York, the documentary focuses on places like Khazakstan, Mongolia and remote parts of Russia. It is really interesting to see how people live in the cities and rural areas of these countries-- and how they respond to these two visitors. In every city they are welcomed with friendship, food, lodging, and sometimes the local TV news station.
The two bikers and their camera man also have to deal with rough weather, bad roads (or lack thereof) and mechanical problems. On a few occasions it becomes so extreme they are forced to reconsider their plans, but ultimately choose to push on.
From the logistics of planning and executing such a trip to the exotic landscapes and interesting people they pass by, this is a great adventure story, well told.
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