Click here for this week’s European Volksmarch schedule.
We are listing next Thursday’s (Nov. 22) Ramstein Roadrunners’ Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot this week because many of you won’t be able to pick up next Thursday’s Stars and Stripes to look at the start times before this annual holiday walk begins. Look for information in next week’s column, too.
As usual, the event begins in the village of Ramstein, Germany, at the intersection of Jahn- strasse and Landstuhler Strasse. The easiest way to reach the TV 03 Turnhalle is to hop on the road connecting the towns of Landstuhl and Ramstein, head toward Ramstein and you’ll see the Turnhalle on your left, less than a half-kilometer from the little traffic circle near the Shell gas station.
The 5- and 10-kilometer trails start between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Please finish by 3 p.m. so club members can quickly clean up the hall and then enjoy their Thanksgiving meals later that afternoon.
This year’s souvenir is a 35- centimeter-tall snowman doll. He is wearing a green outfit and is holding a small tree and a shovel. This is a terrific souvenir and will be snatched up very quickly by walkers, so arrive early enough to be sure you get one!
Take the opportunity next Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, to log a few extra kilometers and spend some quality time on the trail with family and/or friends. This site also has information about two upcoming bus trips to Christmas markets in France and the Netherlands.
The Roadrunners could use some help making this a successful holiday walk. Please e-mail Judy Kintz at Ramsteinroadrunners@yahoo.com if you can volunteer. If you can’t give your time, you can still help by donating baked goods for the club to sell — homemade or store bought. For more information, visit the club’s Web site at www.ava.org/clubs/ramsteinroadrunners.
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This weekend is the Spangdahlem Bazaar. While Lorraine is checking out the loden coats and other Christmas items, Bob will be hanging out with his friend Peter Dupré of Aviation Arts and Collectibles at Peter’s booth. As the name states, Peter’s specialty is aviation artwork but he also carries a variety of other military prints and collectibles. Look for us there on Saturday.
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It’s torch walk season, and this week we have four Fackelwanderungs to select from:
• For those close to Stuttgart, there will be a torch walk on Saturday at Kernen-Rommels- hausen. Start between 1 and 6 p.m. and finish by 9 p.m. Sunday. They will have regular routes of 6, 11 and 20 kilometers starting between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• At Balingen-Weilstetten, south of Stuttgart, is a second torch walk. Start the 5- and 10- kilometer routes between 4 and 6 p.m. and finish by 8 p.m. The flier states that this is the last year this club will offer a Facklewanderung.
• If the Saarland is closer to you, go to the torch walk in Sitterswald. It, too, is Saturday, starting between 4 and 7 p.m. You must finish by 9 p.m. The distances are 5 and 10 kilometers.
• The town of Elgersweier is also offering a torch walk on Saturday starting between 2 and 6 p.m. The distances are 6 and 10 kilometers. You must be finished by 9 p.m.
Here are some more November torch walks as listed at the DVV Web site:
• Nov. 24: Manderbach (HE), starting between 5 and 6:30 p.m.
• Nov. 24: Offenburg-Fessenbach (BWS), starting between 2 and 6 p.m.
• Nov. 24: Gundelfingen (SCH), starting between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
To learn more, visit the Web site www.dvv-wandern.de and scroll through the events looking for the “F” code.
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In 2001 the club in Vorbachzimmern, Germany, offered a decorative church candle holder as its souvenir. In 2002 it offered a Pfarrhaus, or rectory candle holder. In 2003 it was a Rathaus (town hall); in 2004, a Gasthaus; 2005 was a Schulhaus (school house); and in 2006 it was a Bahnhof (train station.) This year the prize is a farmhouse. Why are we mentioning the past years’ prizes? Because if you’re interested in collecting these candle “houses” (place a tea light candle in it and watch it glow), you might still be able to get one or two since B-medals are available in limited quantities.
In 2001, we were so excited about getting the church that we really didn’t pay attention to how far away it was. We ended up driving several hours each way! But, we got the church and love collecting these buildings. And, yes, we have given some as Christmas gifts. Start times for the 5-, 10- and 20-kilometer trails are Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The finish time for both days is 6 p.m. So, unless you walk a 20k in two hours, don’t wait until 4 p.m. on Saturday to start the long course.
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"Grazie" to the following people who sent fliers for this week’s column: William Castro and Maureen McHugh-Castro; Manfred Dahl; Lew Harrison; Egon Hatfield; Wayne Henry; Diane Lockman; Tim and Luchi Lynch; John and Patty Marsh; and Pat Patterson. Keep up the great work!
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Miscellaneous notes about this week’s Volksmarch events:
• Sunday’s walk in Bettendorf, Luxembourg, is convenient for folks in the Bitburg and Spangdahlem areas. Not only is the countryside beautiful, it is close to Bob’s favorite Battle of the Bulge museum in Diekirch, Luxembourg. We know where we’re going to be on Sunday!
What is probably the last biking event of the year takes place this weekend in Hattenhof, Germany. Ride the 25-kilometer course Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and finish by 7 p.m., or ride Sunday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and finish by 5. If you want to walk, too, there are 5- and 10-kilometer trails both days with the same start window as the biking event.
• The prize in Badia Polesine, Italy, is 250 grams of nodini ia funghi porcini and 250 grams of nodini d’amore pasta. The pasta looks like tiny sacks closed with a cord at the top. The cost for the restoros and pasta is 3.50 euros.
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.
