Click here for this week’s European Volksmarch schedule.
We had to make some tough decisions about this weekend’s walks. The thought of completing three walks in three different countries — Diekirch, Luxembourg; Bütgenbach, Belgium; and St. Odiliënberg, Netherlands — on one day was very tempting. Then we heard about the volksmarch at Camp Elsenborn, Belgium, and this changed our plans.
The Belgian Army camp will be open to the public and will have numerous displays and exhibits. Its museum, which is normally closed on weekends, will be open Sunday as well. Organizers are offering routes of six, 12 and 20 kilometers. We have heard about this walk and open-day activities, and now we’re finally going to participate.
Depending on how long we spend there, perhaps we’ll do the walk in nearby Bütgenbach before heading up to St. Odiliënberg for its 22nd annual Aspergeswandeltocht, or asparagus walk. The W.V. Roerdal ’87 is another club that always puts on a well-organized walk, and St. Odiliënberg has become one of our favorite places to walk. It will have five routes, plus a marathon.
We really hate to drop the Diekirch event from our plans, because it is an excellent walk, but the visit to Camp Elsenborn is an opportunity not to be missed.
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With the days getting longer and the weather getting warmer, don’t forget the importance of keeping well-hydrated on your walks. As a general rule, control points are about five kilometers apart, but this is entirely at the discretion of the host club, so they might be farther apart. Pack your own water and don’t wait until you feel thirsty to take a drink. Take a little bit of money with you because they might only have bottled drinks for sale. You might want to carry a cup with you as well. Some clubs have free water or tea if you take your own cup. This also reduces the amount of trash generated by the walkers and we all need to be environmentally friendly.
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Don’t forget the Volksmarching 101 class given by Mike Medolo at the Ramstein Air Base library at 6:30 p.m. on May 19. For more information, please call the library at DSN 480-6667.
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A million thanks for sending fliers on upcoming events to: William Castro and Maureen McHugh-Castro, William Collins, Manfred Dahl, John and Evelyn Golembe, Lew Harrison, Wayne Henry, Ramona and Horst Kechelen, Tim and Luchi Lynch, John and Patty Marsh, Pat Patterson and Nancy Shawley.
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Rob Floyd, Jim Zoschenko and the members of the Heidelberg International Wandering Club deserve a big pat on the back for their efforts in hosting the recent Kiddie Volksmarch at Patrick Henry Village. Rob reports that about 250 youngsters and their parents participated. Getting young walkers involved is the way to ensure volksmarching will continue. Good job!
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Notes about this week’s events:
• The start for the walk in Grosskötz is at the Betriebsgelände for AL-KO on Ichenhauser Strasse.
• Ramona and Horst Kechelen sent a note awhile back saying, "Maxweiler OT Neuburg/Donau is flat and an excellent walk. It goes through beautiful forests, along the Danube River and near a castle. It is one of our favorite walks." Maxweiler is off the B16 east of Neuburg. If you are in this area, you might want to give it a try.
• The award for the Nove walk is the next ceramic whistle in the ongoing series.
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.
