Click here for this week’s European Volksmarch schedule.
Today is Ascension Thursday and it kicks off a big weekend for walking. Thursday’s walks include one in Flacht, Germany. Should you go, look for the friendly folks from the Stuttgart German-American Wandering Club. If you are new to Volksmarching, these are the people to steer you in the right direction.
The Michelbach walk continues Thursday and you might still be able to get one of last year’s pewter cups as a B-medal. For those in the Montabaur area, the town of Oberelbert is the start for Thursday’s 5- 10-, 20-, and 42-kilometer walks.
Friday offers the rare opportunity to earn four IVV event stamps in one day. Start in Dankmarshausen, walk 5k or 10k and finish by 11 a.m. Then drive three miles to Kleinensee and walk 5k or 10k there. Don’t worry about having enough time to make it because this walk doesn’t start until the one at Dankmarshausen ends. Finish by 2 p.m.
Then drive seven miles to Wölfers- hausen, site of the last 5k or 10k walk for the day. Wrap up the walks by 5 p.m., in time to drive three miles to the Freibad (swimming pool) in Heringen, then swim 300 meters to complete the last event of the day (finish by 6:30 p.m.).
The Wanderfreunde Glück Auf Wölfershausen Werratal e.V., has timed each event so you can participate in all four.
One of the largest events this weekend is at Recklinghausen-Hochlarmark, Germany. Sponsors are hosting a triathlon Saturday and Sunday in which you can walk 7, 12, 24, or 42 kilometers, bike for 25k and swim 200 or 500 meters to complete all three events. A multicolored patch is the prize for completing one event.
Sunday will find us in St. Odiliënberg, Netherlands, for their 21st Annual Aspergeswandeltocht, or asparagus walk. There will be five routes, plus a marathon. This is another club that always puts on a well-organized walk.
Tuesday begins the four-day evening walk series in Schinnen, Netherlands, sponsored by the youth organization Jongeren Initiatief Schinnen. Each day, between 6 and 8 p.m., you can walk six or 10 kilometers. Start between 6 and 7 p.m. if you want to go 15k. The routes will be different each evening.
Organizers have gone the extra mile (no pun intended) to make this event easy for the English-speaking community. The instructions for walking the routes are available in English, as are the directions to the start hall on their Web site. The start hall is in the back of the firehouse and library building next to the big pond in Schinnen. This walk now gives IVV credit. For more information, visit www.hetjis.nl.
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Dogs are not allowed in the start hall at the event in Bertrange, Luxembourg.The Italy walk listed in the chart as “Selz di Ronchi” Italy is really “Selz di Ronchi dei Legionari.” The walk’s 28k route crosses into Slovenia. You have to sign up for a special bib to wear, which allows you to cross the border without a passport. The first restoro offers large quantities of grilled sausage and polenta.E-mail Volksmarch information to two.walkers@yahoo.com. Send brochures to: Bob and Lorraine Huffaker, CMR 460, Box 278, APO, AE, 09703-0278.
