Click here for this week’s European Volksmarch schedule.
We don’t know how we missed it last week, but we forgot to mention next week’s walk in Aviano, Italy. The Aviano Roadrunners hold this walk annually, and they go all-out to make it a success. Mark your calendars for April 22. More details next week.
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For this week’s walk through history, Forbach, France, is the place to visit. Forbach was one of the last French towns liberated in February 1945 as the U.S. 70th Infantry Division fought its way across the Saar River, through Saarbrücken and into Germany. After capturing the Schlossberg Castle ruins with its commanding view of the area, the 276th Infantry Regiment was involved in bitter house-to-house and street-by-street fighting as it liberated Forbach. Many of the town residents were forced to live in their basements during the fighting. When the people emerged afterward, they found that much of the town had been destroyed.
Members of the 70th Infantry Division return often to visit the town they liberated and to meet the people of Forbach. To us, it sounds like a great place for a Volksmarch and a walk through history. The start is at the Hotel De Ville, with sign-up between 7 a.m. and noon. There is only one 10-kilometer route offered, so there should be plenty of time to visit the town and the castle ruins.
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Trier-Ehrang after-action report: On our way back from Stuttgart last month, we stopped and spent a night in Trier so we could do the walk in Trier- Ehrang on Sunday morning before heading back to the Netherlands.
Truth be told, we really wanted some more of the Roman coins that were being awarded for completing the walk. We stayed at a very nice hotel on the north side of the river, way above the city, and the view from the hotel’s restaurant and our patio was fantastic. In spite of the clouds and overcast skies, we could still get quite a view of Germany’s oldest city.
Sunday morning, we were up bright and early and off to the start hall. We enjoyed the walk by just ignoring the rain and hurried back to get our Roman coins. We were fortunate to run into “Pat” and Cheryl Patterson and were able to chat for a few minutes before the return trip home.
If you are in the Trier area, we can recommend the Hotel Kockelsberg and its restaurant with a great food and a beautiful view. If you stop, make sure you say “Hi” to Herr Mueller, the 4-year-old Beagle who keeps an eye on everyone coming and going.
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The following deserve a big pat on the back for taking the time to send us fliers: William Castro and Maureen McHugh- Castro; Manfred Dahl; Bob Gambert; Michael Gdowski; Lew Harrison; Egon Hatfield; Wayne Henry; Jan and John Jensen; Ramona and Horst Kechelen; James Kelly; David Kuik; Tim and Luchi Lynch; Pat Patterson; Mary Jo Piccin; the Reynozo family; Dawn St. John; Nancy Shawley; and Ed Whitworth. Thanks everyone, we can’t do it without you.
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Notes about this week’s events:
• Folks in the Wiesbaden area have a big event in their backyard this weekend. There are three walking routes and three swim distances on both Saturday and Sunday. The start is at the Hessische Polizeischule at Schönbergstrasse 100, in Wiesbaden-Kohlheck.
• The walk in Elztal-Dallau offers a prize that no Volksmarcher should be without: a folding knife-fork-spoon-bottle- opener-and-corkscrew.
• The prize at Grosskötz is a metal, heart-shaped, tealight candle holder.
• The B-medal at Sprendlingen is an ice cream bowl at the reduced price of 2.60 euros. Please note that dogs are not allowed in the start hall.
• The prize for completing the walk at Untersiemau is one of the small pewter cups that are usually very ornately decorated. The flier shows a view of the Heidelberg castle and old bridge on their cup. This would be a very unique souvenir from Germany.
Clark Soeldner’s Italian walking notes:
• For the Verona/BorgoTrieste walk, exit the A-4 at Verona Est, take the SS11 in the direction of Verona and look for the tall communication tower on the right. The start is right by the tower.
• The view of the castle as you approach Marostica is really impressive, but the walk in 2002 did not take us to the castle grounds. Look for the house that is painted to look like a castle.
• The folks in Porcia always put on a good walk, and they really appreciate the Americans who participate.
Please e-mail Volksmarch schedule information to two.walkers@ yahoo.com. Mail brochures to: Bob and Lorraine Huffaker, CMR 460, Box 278, APO, AE, 09703-0278.
