November is here. That means shorter days and a shorter list of walks each week. The number goes down, but with Christmas drawing near, the quality of walks increases. Check stripes.com/go/volksmarch for important upcoming dates.

• The week’s hot walk is in Volkach, Germany, where a torch walk is planned. The Fackelwanderung, which starts Saturday between 4 and 6 p.m., is a small part of a weekend’s worth of walking. The daytime walks start between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday for the 6- and 11-kilometer trails. Sunday, start between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. These events are for IVV credit only. Torches will be for sale.

• Volkach/Main is east of Würzburg and south of Schweinfurt. The start hall is at the Mainschleifen-Halle on Obervolkacher Strasse.

• Another nice walk will be in Monreal on Sunday. You can walk 5, 11 or 20 kilometers starting between 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Finish by 4 p.m.

• Good luck to the Heidelberg International Wandering Club as they head to the walk in Willstätt-Sand on Sunday. After the walk they plan to visit Les Secrets du Chocolat museum. The next trip for the Heidelberg club is Dec. 10-11 and includes two walks and a visit to the Christmas Market in Nuremberg. Contact Don Casper at Don.Casper1@t-online.de.

• Dec. 10 is also the Ramstein Road Runner’s trip to Metz, France, for an evening walk that goes through the decorated city and Christmas Market. Contact Gene Behrends at parrotdad@hotmail.com to join the club.

OK, time to pull out the calendar and mark these dates for some interesting volksmarches. All walks are in Germany, unless noted otherwise.

• Nov. 5: Volkach/Main, torch walk;

• Nov. 6: Willstätt-Sand, Heidelberg club bus trip with visit to a chocolate museum;

• Nov. 6: Monreal;

• Nov. 13: St. Odiliënberg, Netherlands;

• Nov. 19: Niederelbert (Montabaur);

• Nov. 20: Gilsdorf, Luxembourg;

• Nov. 20: Puth, Netherlands;

• Nov. 24: Ramstein Turkey Trot;

• Nov. 27: Luxembourg city, LUX, Christmas market walk;

• Dec. 3-4: Ebernhahn;

• Dec. 3-4: Hüttigweiler;

• Dec. 4: Alt-Hürth, Christmas market walk;

• Dec. 4: Bregenz, Austria;

• Dec. 4: Landscheid (Eifel);

• Dec. 10: Metz, FR, and Christmas market, Ramstein Roadrunners’ bus trip;

• Dec. 10: Bastogne Historical Walk, Belgium, Stuttgart club bus trip;

• Dec. 10: Ruhlkirchen, torch walk;

• Dec. 10-11: Oberasbach, Heidelberg club overnight bus trip with a trip to the Nuremburg Christmas market;

• Dec. 11: Hamm, Luxembourg;

• Dec. 18: Cologne, start at the Chocolate Museum;

• Dec. 28: Gemminich, Belgium, Marche des Crèches;

• Dec. 30: Simpelveld, Netherlands, Oliebollen walk;

• Dec. 31: Tongeren, Belgium.

• Did you clear your calendars for the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot in Ramstein? It’s only three weeks away. Start making your plans now to add a little German culture to your American holiday. There is nothing like a Volksmarch and a bratwurst in the morning to get you ready for turkey and trimmings in the afternoon. You can start the 5- or 10-kilometer trails between 8:00 a.m. and 1 p.m. If you cannot break loose from other commitments to participate in the walk, at least try to drop off some baked goods at the start hall in the morning. Homemade goodies are always in big demand, but store-bought items will be greatly appreciated as well.

For more information about the Turkey Trot, volunteering, making a donation, or attending the “pre-walk,” email the Roadrunners at ramsteinroadrunners@yahoo.com.

E-mail volksmarch information to two.walkers@yahoo.com. Mail brochures to Bob and Lorraine Huffaker, CMR 460, Box 278, APO, AE, 09752.

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