NEW YORK (AP) — The last time Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman went on a motorcycle adventure, they rode cutting-edge, electric Harley-Davidsons. For their latest trip, they took a trip back in time.

The British best friends and actors chose to use vintage bikes this time as they ride through 17 European countries for Apple TV+’s “Long Way Home,” the fourth installment of their popular road trip docuseries. It starts airing Friday.

McGregor picked a 1974 Moto Guzzi Eldorado, which was used as a patrol bike by the Los Angeles Police Department and California Highway Patrol. Boorman picked a rusted-out BMW R75/5 and scrambled to make it road worthy.

“I guess there’s just sort of nowhere else to go other than backwards,” says McGregor. “We felt that we hadn’t done a trip on old bikes. I’ve always loved old bikes.”

A trip to see their neighbors

The duo start at McGregor’s home in Scotland — they leave serenaded by a bagpipe band and, naturally, rain — into Holland, up through the Nordics, Arctic Circle, down to the Baltics before going through the Alps and France.

Unlike the Harleys or BMWs they’ve ridden before, using older bikes gave McGregor and Boorman a nostalgic feeling and something practical: The ability to get them back on the road should disaster strike.

“They’re fixable,” says McGregor. “At the side of the road, you can pretty much — with a bit of sandpaper and a screwdriver and a hammer — you could probably pretty much get them running again. Whereas with something like the electric bike, if something happens — if something goes wrong, as we learned in Central America — it’s catastrophic.”

Series highlights include the duo donning Viking costumes and axe throwing in Norway, camping at a windmill near Amsterdam and kayaking alongside a glacier in the Arctic Circle, “It’s so Mad Max everywhere” says McGregor beside the icy water.

The duo spend the longest day of the year on a beach with a bonfire on an island off the Norwegian coast, try logrolling in Finland, get tattoos in Poland, paraglide in the Alps and spend the night in the northern-most cabin in the world.

“One of the great things about it is seeing the planet that we live on off the back of a motorcycle when you’re sort of part of the environment. If it’s cold, you’re cold. If it’s wet, you’re wet. It’s a very real experience,” says McGregor.

They spent about two months on the road before finishing at Boorman’s home in England, taking time to enjoy the scenery more this time and reducing their speed.

“We were doing a loop of Europe. We weren’t covering days and days getting across far eastern Russia, where the landscape barely changes. On those BMWs, we could ride at 80 miles an hour, 90 miles an hour,” says McGregor. “We didn’t need to do that on this loop. So riding at 60, 65 is a nice speed to go at,” he adds.

Fourth time out there

The series marks the 20-year anniversary of the first series, 2004’s “Long Way Round,” which saw the pair drive from London through Europe, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia, across the Pacific to Alaska, then down through Canada and America.

They also paired up in 2007 for “Long Way Down,” a 15,000-mile journey from Scotland to the southernmost tip of South Africa, and in 2019 for “Long Way Up” through 13 South and Central American countries.

This time, tents blow inside out and age takes its toll. “My arse is so numb, oh my gosh” says McGregor at one point. The food is not very fussy, ranging from Swedish seaweed gathered from the sea to a wheel of gouda in Amsterdam and packaged fish paste and crackers in the snow.

The irony this time was that while McGregor and Boorman were riding 50-year-old bikes, they and their team were using the latest technology — GPS, GoPros, drones and Insta360 cameras.

“You’re embracing these beautiful old motorcycles, but at the same time using whatever is around you to be able to enhance the story,” says Boorman.

“When we look back at the TV show, there were bits where I remember exactly where we were, but when you pull out with the drone, I didn’t realize there was a big river running beside us or a big mountain. So we get to experience a little bit as well. I like to embrace the technology.”

While it’s endlessly fun watching the duo banter while zooming through the landscape, there are moments more sobering, like when McGregor and Boorman visit UNICEF’s massive hub in Copenhagen and when they see for themselves the impact of global warming on glaciers.

McGregor, 54, who despite riding thousands of miles and seeing dozens of countries, suggests there’s still so much for he and Boorman to see.

“I always remind myself we’ve ridden around the world and up and down and sideways, but we only saw a couple of hundred yards from either side of our bike,” he says. “There’s a lot left to discover yet.”

Cooking for your mom on Mother’s Day is probably the Best Gift Ever for a lot of moms. Sure, we’re delighted to get flowers, or a lovely box of chocolate, or a new power drill, but what we really want is to be taken care of for one single, blessed day. Just kidding, we know you love us. Now cook something to prove it.

A chill brunchy breakfast is a great way to go. And, by the way, it doesn’t have to be in bed. In fact, having balanced a toddler, a mug of hot coffee and a plate of eggs on my lap while lying in bed in years past, I can say that’s challenging, even when charming.

The smell of French toast cooking up on the stove should make a morning person out of anyone. There are few breakfasts that feel as indulgent, but it couldn’t be easier to make!

In some parts of the world, French toast is called “eggy toast,” “Bombay toast,” “gypsy toast” and ”poor nights of Windsor.” In France, it is actually called “pain perdu,” which means “lost bread,” as the bread is dunked into an eggy custard to soak for a while. Besides, the name French toast probably has nothing to do with France -– the most reasonable story is that a man named Joseph French invented it.

Whatever you call it, it’s a fan favorite.

For best results, choose an eggy bread

Challah is far and away my favorite bread to use for making French toast. The bread is made with eggs, so it is richer than plain white loaves, and the middle becomes almost custardy in texture when it is soaked in a milk and egg mixture and griddled up on a pan.

Brioche is another egg-based bread that is a great choice. And you can definitely use a plain Pullman loaf, a firm white bread, if you like – just make sure your slices are nice and thick.

Use bread that is a bit on the dry side, meaning it needs to be a few days old. When I have a fresh challah, I simply slice it 3/4-inch thick and leave the slices on the counter for about 24 hours to dry out a bit. Flip them sometime in the middle of the day so both sides have a chance to air dry. Or put them on a wire rack, and then you can just let them dry without having to flip them.

And it should be said that French toast leftovers heat up nicely in the microwave, so make a few extra pieces for later in the week.

Tips for making perfect French toast:

— Mix the custard batter thoroughly so you don’t get patches of just egg or milk.

— Use two skillets to make the cooking go faster, especially if you are making it for a crowd.

— Your bread slices should be around ¾-inch thick, and no more than 1-inch thick. Thinner slices might get too soggy in the custard dip and fall apart. Thicker slices are hard to cook through properly.

— Soak the bread for just long enough: too long and it will get soggy and disintegrate, too short and the milk and egg mixture won’t penetrate to the center of the bread, offering that custardy texture in the middle.

— Use moderate heat: too high and the bread will burn on the outside, too low and it won’t get that nicely browned crusty exterior.

— Preheat the pan. Again, this will allow for the nice browned exterior.

— Use a heavy skillet if possible, which holds heat more evenly. Cast iron is perfect, regular or enameled.

The recipe:

Challah French Toast

Serves 6

Ingredients:

3 large eggs

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

½ to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

3 tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon kosher salt

2 cups milk (I prefer whole)

1 loaf slightly stale challah, sliced ¾ inch thick

About 4 tablespoons butter for cooking, divided

For serving (pick and choose, or combine)

Maple syrup

Confectioners’ sugar

Berries or chopped soft fruit, like ripe peaches or nectarines

Directions:

Use a whisk or a fork to beat the eggs in a wide shallow bowl or baking pan. Beat in the vanilla, cinnamon (if using), sugar and salt. Add the milk and whisk to combine thoroughly.

Heat a very large skillet over medium heat. While the skillet is heating up, place a piece of the challah in the milk mixture and let it sit for about 1 minute. Flip the bread and let soak for another minute. If your bread is very dry, it might need to soak for longer. Take it out when it is soaked through, but not mushy.

When the skillet is quite hot, take the bread from the milk mixture, allow any excess to drip back into the bowl, and then melt a tablespoon of the butter in the pan, swirling it to coat the bottom. Place the dipped bread in the skillet, and repeat with more slices, fitting as many pieces in the pan as possible in a single layer. Cook for about 2 minutes on each side, then transfer the French toast to a serving plate or platter. Repeat with the remaining butter and dipped bread.

Serve the French toast hot with confectioners’ sugar, maple syrup, berries or other fruit, and whatever other toppings you like.

French toast also goes well with Strawberry Sauce, Fruit Salad and Crispy bacon.

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Katie Workman writes regularly about food for The Associated Press. She has written two cookbooks focused on family-friendly cooking, “Dinner Solved!” and “The Mom 100 Cookbook.” She blogs at https://themom100.com/. She can be reached at [email protected].

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For more AP food stories, go to https://apnews.com/hub/recipes.

New car prices continue to rise for the latest high-performance sports cars. Even a new Chevrolet Corvette, long considered a performance bargain compared to the likes of the Porsche 911, has a starting price of almost $70,000. But that doesn’t mean driving enthusiasts on a budget can’t find a car that’s both fulfilling to drive and genuinely capable.

The auto experts at Edmunds have come up with their five favorite performance vehicles for under $35,000. True, you won’t be able to buy anything with a V8. The same applies to electric power — the best-value electric performers cost more. But the vehicles listed here have other distinct advantages. All of the following prices include destination fees.

There’s some irony in the first vehicle in a list of budget-performance cars not being a car at all. But Dodge’s Hornet isn’t your usual small SUV. First off, it has an Italian heritage. Though you wouldn’t know it by its styling, the Hornet shares much of its mechanical design with the Alfa Romeo Tonale small luxury SUV. Second, it’s genuinely powerful for a pint-size SUV. The GT version has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that cranks out 268 horsepower and is good enough to get you from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds. Another bonus: It has standard all-wheel drive for all-season driving and more cargo space than the typical performance car.

2025 Hornet starting price: $31,590

A Ford Mustang GT with its rumbly V8 is well beyond our $35,000 price cap. But the less expensive Ford Mustang EcoBoost is a viable substitute. Having a turbocharged four-cylinder under the hood might seem like heresy, but you can’t argue with the output of 315 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. With its 10-speed automatic spinning the rear wheels, the Mustang EcoBoost can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in a quick 5.6 seconds. The newest Mustang provides a classic American driving experience while being comfortable, stylish and well equipped with the latest technology features.

2025 Mustang coupe starting price: $33,515

You’re as likely to see a Mazda MX-5 Miata roadster in the hands of a cool-headed retiree on lonesome canyon roads as you are spotting one ripping through cones at an autocross. In both cases, the Miata’s appeal comes down to the fun-to-drive fundamentals. A four-cylinder engine directs 181 horsepower to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. That’s not much, but you don’t need much when the car is as light as the Miata. A manual-equipped Miata went from 0 to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds at the Edmunds test track. Beyond the numbers, the Miata is all about playfulness. Quick steering, nimble handling and an easy-to-lower top combine to make any drive worthwhile.

2025 MX-5 Miata starting price: $30,715

The Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 are mechanically related. Both use a four-cylinder rated at 228 horsepower that sends its power to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. Edmunds found these cars can sprint to 60 mph in about 6 seconds when equipped with the manual. There’s enough power to be entertaining but not enough to get a new driver in too much trouble, making these fantastic beginner’s sports cars. And there’s a low center of gravity and classic rear-wheel-drive balance to help drivers enjoyably learn about car control. But the Toyabaru twins don’t stop being fun once you master them.

2025 Toyota GR86 starting price: $31,135; 2025 Subaru BRZ starting price: $32,380

The Volkswagen GTI is the quintessential budget performance hatchback. It’s fun and engaging to drive yet practical and comfortable day to day. Few cars can do as many things as well as the GTI. Its turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 241 horsepower. For 2025, every GTI has a seven-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Edmunds has found it’s good for a 5.9-second 0-60 mph sprint. Besides performance, the GTI has a spacious cabin and a generous cargo area for its size. The original hot hatch that traces its American lineage all the way back to 1983 is a solid performance value.

Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price: $33,640

Edmunds says

Spending less than $35,000 can get you a fun vehicle to drive in 2025. Each model here has distinct advantages. You’ll likely prefer the Hornet or Golf GTI if space and practicality are priorities. The Miata, BRZ and GR86 all provide a great feel and connection to the road; picking one of these comes down to whether you want a convertible top or the extra security of a coupe. The Mustang can’t be beat for its classic pony car styling and heritage.

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This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds. Josh Jacquot is a contributor at Edmunds.