Ramble On - Olvers walk to Edinburgh
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Category:
Common Interest - Activities
Description:
This is the place to get involved with Mark Olver and his walk from Bristol to Edinburgh in June and July 2008.

As well as this group, which will be the place to discuss the walk, offer support, there is also a page

http://www.justgiving.com/markolver

where you can sponsor Mark and also have a look at a map of the route.

Or, and this is some sort of scoop, there is going to be a huge party/gig at Jesters in Bristol on the 8th June, the day before he leaves, with an amazing line-up of comedy... (read more)
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Ramble On - Olvers walk to Edinburgh

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Name:
Ramble On - Olvers walk to Edinburgh
Category:
Common Interest - Activities
Description:
This is the place to get involved with Mark Olver and his walk from Bristol to Edinburgh in June and July 2008.

As well as this group, which will be the place to discuss the walk, offer support, there is also a page

http://www.justgiving.com/markolver

where you can sponsor Mark and also have a look at a map of the route.

Or, and this is some sort of scoop, there is going to be a huge party/gig at Jesters in Bristol on the 8th June, the day before he leaves, with an amazing line-up of comedy... (read more)
Privacy Type:
Open: All content is public.

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News:
Last summer, Mark came up with a crazy idea that he was going to travel to the Edinburgh Fringe festival not by plane or train...but by walking. We all laughed and patted him on the back, thinking that this idea would have been forgotten about in a couple of weeks. But alas, several months later, Mark has equipped himself with all-weather walking shoes, trousers that can turn into shorts, several maps, and a huge collection of books about walking. What he hasn't done much of is actual walking...but what is increasingly real is that Mark is definitely going to do it – he is going to walk the 410 miles up the country to Edinburgh in time for the festival in August.

Along the way, Mark plans to rely on the kindness of strangers - that is, he does not plan to pay for any accommodation. Sofa beds, a tent in the garden, spare room, garage, village hall - wherever, Mark will sleep there. With six weeks of haphazard sleeping-arrangements, with people crazy enough to let him stay with them, Mark should have enough stories about meeting eccentric villagers to fill an hour’s show at the Edinburgh festival. Which is exactly what he intends to do.

Keep checking the group for updates about his training, silly photos, more info about the Edinburgh show, plus his leaving party at Jesters in Bristol on June 8th.


Oh, and if you want to send a message it's probably better to send one to me (Martha) because Mark is notoriously bad at replying!! :P


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13/03

Already had several messages from people offering up their homes or their friends homes for Mark to stay in on the way up! This is what we like! A big thank you to Heather for possibly pimping out her mum and dad's house in Chorley, and to Stephanie who has contacts in Dunbar.

Also, have heard from people who've already booked tickets for the launch party in Bristol - it's going to be an amazing night so book now to make sure you don't miss out!

Keep these suggestions coming in and all who help out will be thanked in due course!

Don't forget to sponsor Mark - even a couple of quid will make a difference.
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28/03

Very exciting developments in the last week or so.

After attending the Ordnance survey show at the NEC have made great contacts and sorted out some sponsorship for the walk.

Berghaus are going to help me out, sending me some stuff for the photo shoot, had a lot of fun trying on my kit, i almost look like i know what i am doing, pictures will be up here soon. Will be blogging for Berghaus in the next few weeks, hopefully as a "guest athlete" on their website.

Also, Jon Richardson is going to do the first gig in Chepstow, and maybe even the first leg of the walk, and other acts are being confirmed as we speak, um, write.

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31/03

He's in the news! Check out:

http://tiny.cc/wdp
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16/04

Have just completed a three day walk from Bristol to Swindon. 50 miles. Tired but managed it. Very good practice for the walk.

The other news is that the starting point for the walk in June will be The Hare on The Hill in Kingsdown. Paul and Dee have agreed to put on breakfast (for a fee of course) and then at 9am the walk will start. Join me if you want to walk off the fried brekkie
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Two things

My time and room have been confirmed for Edinburgh, Belly Dancer at the Underbelly at 9.20, tickets will be on sale very soon, before the walk even starts.

Also, gigs are being booked for the walk, with confirmed dates in Chepstow, Monmouth, Ludlow, Shrewsbury and Selattyn all confirmed, with gigs in the North East coming soon.

Having problems booking venues in the North West, from Chester up to Lancaster, so if you are reading this and can help, message me. Thanks.

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07/05

Yesterday, some bloke stopped Mark as he was getting into his car saying " 'ere mate, off to Scotland soon aren't you?". Hoorah! Word is getting around!

This week has been productive in that loads of gigs along the walk have been confirmed (I'll get O to post the details), and various hospices have been contacted along the way to help out too. He's meeting with Venue magazine today to sort out doing a weekly "Walk Diary" thing, and is seeing Berghaus on Thursday to discuss him blogging for their website.

The lovely Points West presenter Alex Lovell has not only donated to Mark's justgiving page, she has also promised to bake a cake for Mark's leaving 'do - even more incentive to go? I think so!!

Talking of which, tickets for the party (Sunday 8th June) are selling quickly so BOOK NOW to avoid disappointment!!

With less than 5 weeks to go things are getting very exciting. Keep checking the group, donate to justgiving, and if you know anyone Mark can stay with then let us know!!!

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24/05

Today Mark Olver wowed the nation as he co-presented thte morning show with Jon Richardson on BBC 6music (Standing in for Adam and Joe). Jon and all the listeners were bowled over by all Mark's tales of strenuous training programs...

Jon: So what training have you done then?

Mark: I walked to Swindon a couple of weeks ago!

Jon: Well, it was more than a couple of weeks ago wasn't it?

Mark: No, not really. 54 miles though! (it actually wasn't 54 miles...he adds an extra mile every time he talks about it).

Jon: When was it?

Mark: About 6 weeks ago?

Jon: Well it seems you're fairly flexible with the traditional definition of the word "couple", but fair enough. What other training have you done then?

Mark: Ummmm...err...

Hehehe bless 'im. If you missed the show then you can catch it on listen again for 7 days (http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/listen)

Less than 3 weeks to go! Keep those donations coming in - we've topped £600 now!

And please buy tickets for Mark's leaving party on 8th June - all the money goes to charity, it's going to be a great night (we've even booked a brass band now!!) and it's selling quickly! (see the link in the main section).

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25/05

Buy a copy of COUNTRY WALKING magazine (June issue). And turn to PAGE 131.

Yes i know! A whole page devoted to our lovely Mr Olver!!
He's now famous amongst the lovely ramblers :)

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09/06

He's gone!! The party last night was a huge success - Jon Richardson, Jared Hardy, the amazing Bucky, John Robins and the wonderful Craig Campbell created a great night, hosted by the lovely Olver himself. The cake sale and tombola went down a treat too!! Thanks for everyone who showed their support :)

Mark set off this morning a little later than planned (due to a late photographer from the Evening Post) - fried breakfast at the Hare on the Hill (thanks Paul and Dee!!) being filmed by THREE camera crews!!! Keep checking the Berghaus page for his blogs, and remember to wish him luck :)

He's on BBC Points West tonight (Monday 9th) at half past 7 - make sure you watch!

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15/07

Hello all - just a quick note to say that don't worry, Mark is not dead!! His blogs have seemingly stopped, but this is because he didn't manage to find any wireless internet for a few days this week, and so he wasn't able to email the blogs to Berghaus - now he has wireless internet, they won't be able to post them till Monday. So on Monday you should get a huge clump of blogs!

He's doing well though - I went to see him for Friday and Saturday and he's a little trooper. Probably done getting on for 90 miles now, and will probably hitting the 100 miles mark today!! Don't forget to send him encouraging messages and love on his wall, and of course if you haven't already sponsored, just go on www.justgiving.com/markolver

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06/07

Hi folks, I'm aware that Mark hasn't sent an update for a while so thought I'd just put a quick update on the group. First things first - if you're keeping up with the blog (http://www.berghaus.com/ourworld/ourteam/blog.aspx?team=18) then be aware that they are by no means up to date!! The most recent one refers to what happened from Preston to Lancaster and that happened almost two weeks ago now. All the blogs have to go through about 4 different people before being posted, and that relies on Mark not only having written them up to date and him having internet to email them away...so be patient! they will all be there eventually.

As for the walk, Mark is doing amazingly. He is running completely to schedule and has hit the north east coast. He left Newcastle today, so has approximately 130 miles to go. Considering he's done over 300 miles already this will be a doddle!
His morale is good, the end is in sight, and now that he's got used to the walking his feet, legs, and mind are just fabulous. However this doesn't mean that the last push won't be hard so he'll still need all the love and support you guys can muster!

Keep supporting and watch out for him on The Culture Show in August!!

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30/08

Hi guys it's been ages since I updated this group so thought I'd just say a bit about how Edinburgh went for Mark!

He got there!! Nearly a week early. It was incredible that he made it, let alone 6 days early! For me it was awesome because he managed to get the train back to Bristol in time to be there on my graduation day which was so special. He then had a week or so where he previewed the show in London and Bristol before heading up to Edinburgh (on the train this time!) to do the show for real at the Fringe Festival.

Compared with last year, Edinburgh this year was undoubtedly a success. Very early on it was obvious that he was going to get large audience numbers every night, and this was helped by some very lovely 4 star reviews in the press. This meant he could plaster his huge posters with lots of stars and quotes. He also had a couple of really big interviews with the major magazines at the festival - Festmag, and ThreeWeeks. Basically if you were in Edinburgh in the first week of August you wouldn't have been able to escape Mark Olver!

As the month went on he did radio interviews, panel shows, podcasts, and even joined Neil and Christine Hamilton on their lunchtime show! He seemed to be having a wonderful time. Meanwhile the show itself was going really well, with it's emotional ending even making some of the audience cry!! (in a good way of course).

Now we're home and having a well earned holiday (ironically we're going to Madeira which is renowned for its amazing rambling/hiking opportunities...). Mark's justgiving site stays live for a while so if you haven't already done so please sponsor him for such an amazing achievement.

Unfortunately the Culture Show decided not to air their feature on Mark, which is a real shame. However, there will be a 10 minute piece about him on a BBC show very soon - so watch this space.

Keep checking every now and again for more news. Mark is hoping to perform his show at the Kendal Mountain Film Festival and might even be performing alongside Chris Bonnington at some point in the future!