Click here for this week’s European Volksmarch schedule.
If you find yourself in southeastern Germany this Labor Day weekend, consider hopping over the border with Austria and heading to Innsbruck for a Sunday Volksmarch.
Beginning at the Standschützen Kaserne, not far from the airport, the members of the Heeressportverein Innsbruck offer new 5-, 10- and 21-kilometer courses. Walkers have a choice between a 10k valley walk and a 10k hilly version. The 21k is a combination of hills and valleys and has a 200-meter height variation.
Marchers who complete the 21k, or half-marathon, will be awarded a certificate to commemorate their accomplishment. The award this year is a multifunction tool with a knife, file, cork screw, bottle opener and several other tools — a handy little gizmo for any Volksmarcher!
If you decide to drive, don’t forget your international driver’s license, and, if you are taking the Austrian autobahn, remember to buy a toll sticker at a service station near the German-Austrian border.
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It looks as if Cheb in the Czech Republic has a busy weekend planned for both walkers and cyclists. The town is only about 10 miles across the German border and about 50 miles from Bayreuth, Germany. The prize for this weekend’s activities is a club pin and a sticker. This might be the weekend for you to get a Czech stamp in your IVV book.
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Have you registered your team yet for next weekend’s Heidelberg International Wandering Club’s Commander’s Cup in Heidelberg, Germany? If not, get going! To register or for more information, call Rob or Cathy Floyd at 06227-841226 or 0172-6239338. or e-mail them at hiwc@yahoo.com. They’ll need to know the name of the unit and number of marchers. Members of your unit may walk on either day.
The club still needs your help to make this the best event ever; call the Floyds to volunteer. And finally, don’t miss next week’s column for all the details on the HIWC annual Volksmarch, an event you won’t want to miss.
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The walk at Höheinöd, Germany, is a close one for those living in or near the Kaiserslautern military community. Since former columnist Jennifer West used to live in this area, we’ll repeat her directions: “If you’re driving on A62 from the Kaiserslautern/Landstuhl direction, head toward Pirmasens, then take the Höheinöd exit which, believe it or not, is located within a rest area. Exit at the rest area, proceed about 100 meters, slow down and take a sharp right/left jog. At the sign, turn right toward the traffic circle and follow the signs to the start. If you’re coming from the Pirmasens direction, head toward Kaiserslautern/Landstuhl, exit at the rest area on the opposite side and take an immediate right turn after only 20 meters. Turn right under the bridge and proceed to the traffic circle. I can’t stress enough to slow down in the rest areas due to traffic and hazardous turns.”
The 5k and 10k start window both days is 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., while the 20k starts 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; finish Saturday and Sunday by 5 p.m.
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Miscellaneous short notes about this week’s Volksmarch events:
• The 20th Internationale Zomeravond- Wandel-Serie (International Summer Walking Series) closes Monday in St. Odiliënberg, Netherlands. Those in the Brunssum and Geilenkirchen military communities who have completed 10 of the 13 events can receive a commemorative patch in addition to adding 100k to their IVV books during the past three months.
• A fall pumpkin figurine is the medal this weekend for the 26th anniversary walk in Dettelbach am Main in Germany. Walk 6, 11 or 20 kilometers Saturday for the afternoon/evening walk. Start the 6k and 11k walks from noon to 6 p.m. and the 20k, noon to 4 p.m. (finish by 9 p.m.). All three marches begin Sunday between 6 a.m. and noon and finish by 4 p.m.
• A smoke alarm is the prize at Heimsheim, Germany, on Sunday. Start the 6k, 10k and 20k at the Stadthalle between 6:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and finish by 5 p.m. The 6k and 10k are stroller friendly.
• The walk in Rauenberg will be held on Sunday only.
• Notes on walks in Italy:
The Montegrotto Terme event should be a good walk for those who enjoy hills;
Participants with a valid start card pay a reduced entrance fee to the Butterfly House or the Glass Museum in Villa Draghi.
The walk in Selva di Val Gardena is always a great mountain walk. Make sure you get your start card stamped at the beginning.
Please e-mail your Volksmarch information to two.walkers@yahoo.com. Please mail brochures to Bob and Lorraine Huffaker, CMR 460, Box 278, APO, AE, 09703-0278.
