Click here for this week’s European Volksmarch schedule.
This weekend, the Wanderfreunde Crailsheim e.V., holds its 44th Internationale Wandertage and 29th marathon only 30 minutes from Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions. The 6k, 12k and 20k routes begin Saturday between 5:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Sunday, between 5:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A Jugendwanderung, part of the DVV Junior Series, also will be held each day. The 42k marathon starts both days between 5:30 and 9 a.m. We have not been to this walk, but we are told the club members are friendly, the trails are well organized and marked, and there is plenty of parking available. And if you’re in need of gas, an ESSO station (and McDonald’s, too) is right off Autobahn 6 on the edge of town toward Rothenburg and Autobahn 7.
Speaking of Rothenburg, if you finish your Crailsheim walk early in the morning, consider spending your afternoon visiting the walled city. Since you’re already in the area, take advantage of your proximity to this picturesque and famous German town.
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This week’s featured Volksmarch club:
The Ramstein Roadrunners
• Web page:www.walkingpartners.info/RamsteinRoadrunnersHome
• Location: Ramstein, near Kaiserslautern, Germany.
• President: Judy Kintz
• Telephone: 0631 537 8498
• E-mail: judy.kintz@us.army.mil
• Meetings: first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m., Duale Oberschule, Ramstein City, near Schwimmbad Azur.
• First annual walk: Usually the first weekend of May and usually at same location as the monthly meeting.
• Second annual walk: Thanksgiving Day, 5- and 10-kilometer walking trails. Start location: Ramstein TV-03 Turnerstube.
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It’s only three weeks until one of our favorite walks; in fact it is one of our “top two” walks in Germany. Of course we are referring to the Heidelberg International Wandering Club’s annual walk in Heidelberg.
I (Bob) first did this walk in 1996 and, since we have come back to Europe, we have always put this walk high on the priority list. Instead of writing a list of things to do on the weekend of Sept. 8 and 9, and then seeing if there is any time left for a Volksmarch, make this walk the top item on the list and tackle the other things afterwards. Make sure you allow some time to help as a volunteer, too. Contact Rob and Cath Floyd for more information and/or to register as a Volksmarch volunteer. Phone: 06227-841226, e-mail: volunteers@hiwc.de.
Heidelberg is a beautiful city, the trails are well marked and organized, the food at the start hall is always very good, there will be live music, and the mug given as the prize is always beautiful. What more can you ask for in a Volksmarch? Look for us there, and let’s talk Volksmarching!
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If you are in the Heidelberg area on Aug. 25, there is a 5k walk for Kinder Cancer sponsored by the Eppelheim Schutzenhaus. A 10 euro donation gets you a beer and a schnitzel as big as your plate. This is not an IVV sanctioned event, so you will not get your book stamped. You will, however, get some exercise, a great meal and the knowledge that you are helping a worthy cause. For more information e-mail Margaret.McGinley@ eu.dodea.edu.
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A heart-felt "Grazie" goes out to the loyal readers who send in the tons of flyers. This week they include: Mary Campbell; William Castro and Maureen McHugh-Castro; Theresia Fontaine; Bob Gambert; Lew Harrison; Egon Hatfield; Wayne Henry; Jan and John Jensen; Ramona and Horst Kechelen; James Kelly; David Kuik; Tim and Luchi Lynch; John and Patty Marsh; Pat Patterson; Dawn St. John; Nancy Shawley; and Ed Whitworth.
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Miscellaneous short notes about this week’s Volksmarch events:
• The walk in Bellevaux, Belgium, is close to two of Bob’s favorite Battle of the Bulge museums in La Gleize, and Poteau. If you are in the area, try to visit at least one of these two excellent museums.
• Note that the Radwanderung (bike event) in Steinberg, Germany, is a Saturday-only event, while the Volksmarch is a Sunday-only event. Bike 25k or 50k, starting 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and finish by 8 p.m. Sunday, hit the 5k, 10k or 20k trail 6 a.m. to noon and finish by 4 p.m.
• In Mainz-Gonsenheim, Germany, the start times this year have been shortened by at least one hour. The new times are as follows: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the 5k, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the 10k and 7 a.m. to noon for the 20k. The Volksmarch starts in the Karl-Geib-Haus on Kapellenstrasse 44 in Mainz-Gonsenheim and is adjacent to a wild animal park. The start is small but quaint and lies in an extremely popular walking area. If the weather is hot, sunny and dry, you should try to arrive early as parking will be at a premium. A coffee mug is the prize.
• The start hall for the Wattendorf walk is not mentioned in the flier. We recommend that you look for signs that will guide you once you get in the town of Wattendorf.
• Wednesday’s march in Nieder-Wiesen, Germany, offers walkers an opportunity to start the 6- and 10-kilometer events until 6 p.m., great for those folks who want to walk after work. If you get off work a little earlier, or happen to have the day off, walk the 20k, which begins 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A toy tractor pulling a trailer is the souvenir.
• Notes on the Italian Volksmarching scene:
The Saturday afternoon walk in Jegher di Rovere Veronese will be limited to a maximum of 200 walkers. The cost is 10 euros and includes a special supper. The Sunday morning walk includes some beautiful views from the mountains.
The food given as a prize at the walk in Villanova di Pordenone is usually cheese. This is a flat walk in conjunction with a fest, so plenty of food will be available after the walk.
This week’s listing of Pieris is short for Pieris di San Canzian d'Isonzo.
E-mail Volksmarch schedule information to two.walkers@yahoo.com. brochures to Bob and Lorraine Huffaker, CMR 460, Box 278, APO, AE, 09703-0278.
