The days are slowly getting longer, and so is the weekly list of volksmarches. We hope you are enjoying the milder weather, even though it seems to have meant more rain. Next weekend, Sunday, March 25, we “spring forward,” so switch your clocks forward one hour. You will get your hour back Sunday, Oct. 28, when we “fall back.”
• Wayne Henry of the Stuttgart German-American Wandering Club reminded us that marathon events will be starting to pop up on the schedule as the weather turns nicer. He tells us that there will be a good marathon event in Bitche, France, Saturday. You can start either the 42- or 50-km routes between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. There will be shorter distances offered both Saturday and Sunday as well.
Also from the Stuttgart club, Bob Gambert sent us a nice email. He has recently returned from Hawaii, where he did a volksmarch in Honolulu that went up Diamond Head. He sent some great pictures from the top with Waikiki Beach in the background. The pictures brought back a lot of fond memories of when we were first married and stationed at Tripler Army Medical Center.
On his way home from Hawaii, Bob stopped in San Francisco, where he did another volksmarch. He has now walked in 42 of the 50 states. Way to go, Bob!
He also told us that the Stuttgart club had 115 walkers at Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany, a couple of weeks ago. We think that is amazing. The Stuttgart folks have some good trips in the planning stages, including walks in Berlin and Munich. Then they will host their big walk at the end of July. There is a lot of good volksmarching going on in Stuttgart.
• Sunday we probably will be at the walk in Schinveld, Netherlands. We have not seen any cows out in the fields yet this year, so we don’t know whether we will see the local herd of Scottish Highlanders.
•Last weekend we did the Lamb Walk in Margraten, hoping to see the newborn lambs as we have several times in the past. When we got to the control point with the barn full of lambs, we noted that it was quiet. As we got our cards stamped, we asked about the lambs. We were told that they would not be born for another week or so.
We had to giggle at the apparent lack of coordination between the walk organizers and the lambs. Here’s hoping they do better next year!
• There are a couple of interesting prizes being offered at walks this weekend. Complete the event in Freudenberg, Germany, to earn a St. Bernard dog doll, complete with a whiskey cask around its neck. Or you can go to the event in Kirchenthumback to earn a hanging butterfly and flower decoration. Clubs often have limited quantities of their prizes, so get there as early as possible if you want the prize. Email volksmarch information to two.walkers@yahoo.com. Mail brochures to Bob and Lorraine Huffaker, CMR 460, Box 278, APO AE 09752.
