Happy (almost) Fourth of July, everybody! We hope you have fun this weekend and add a volksmarch or two into the festivities. You will have some very nice walks to choose from. It’s fun to cook out on the grill for the Fourth, but even better when someone else does the cooking. Head to a volksmarch and let them do the cooking — and the cleanup afterwards!
• The event in Weierbach, Germany, near Idar-Oberstein is close to the Kaiserslautern Military Community. It offers routes from six to 42 kilometers, which start at 6 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. They also have a unique prize in a gemstone dolphin.
• The walk in Wiesbaden, Germany, Sunday is in the neighborhood of Naurod, northeast of the city. Start the six- and 10-kilometer routes between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. and the 20-kilometer route between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Finish all routes by 5 p.m.
• Sunday’s walk in Lichtenwald, Germany, is a Stammtisch event for the Stuttgart German-American Wandering Club. Look for their blue club flag in the start hall. Speaking of Stuttgart, be sure to mark your calendars for their big walk July 30 and 31.
If you head to the event in Spalt, Germany, Ramona Kechelen tells us that the region is a great place to get some fresh picked cherries.
• Located in the history-rich Ardennes, the walk in Hünningen-Büllingen, Belgium, has been an excellent event in the past. Keep an eye out for the many monuments in the area dedicated to U.S. forces that fought there in World War II.
• Longvilly, Belgium, is also steeped in WWII history. Fighting was very heavy in the Longvilly area as the Wehrmacht advanced toward Bastogne.
• The Bueriis, Italy, walk is a nice one. All participants get a bowl of pastasciutta at the end.
• The start for the Gambugliano, Italy, walk is Presso il Campo Sangre di Monte San Lorenzo.
• We enjoy reading the American Wanderer newspaper and seeing the names of people who have reached milestones, whether in kilometers walked or events completed.
In the June/July edition of the paper, we saw the names of two people who have been volksmarching friends for many years. Richard “Rick” White was the person who introduced Bob to volksmarching when they both were instructors at the Academy of Health Sciences in the late 1970s. Ellen Ott and Bob were Army nurses together at Brooke Army Medical Center. It’s good to see that both Rick and Ellen are going strong and racking up events and kilometers in the San Antonio area. Keep up the good work!
• Kudos to the contributors of this week’s article. They are: Michael and Michelle Connor; Cath and Rob Floyd; Richard and Donna Glenn; Wayne Henry; Ramona and Horst Kechelen; John, Mary and Tess Laub; Tim and Luchi Lynch; “Pat” and Cheryl Patterson and Rick and Wanda Sciascia.
• We hate to say goodbye to people, but we guess most of us will return to the U.S. at some time, so goodbyes are inevitable. This time it is the Laub Family that is heading back. John, Mary and Tess have been sending fliers from the Garmisch area and we will miss their frequent envelopes. We wish them the best of luck and many more volksmarches in their future.
E-mail volksmarch information to two.walkers@yahoo.com. Mail brochures to Bob and Lorraine Huffaker, CMR 460, Box 278, APO, AE, 09752.
