Click here for this week’s European Volksmarch schedule.
A year has passed since we began adding the postal codes to the walks in Germany. As we head into the second year, we would like to remind everyone of the list of considerations we established when we started listing the codes.
• Postal codes have different formats in different countries.
• Not all the fliers we receive have postal codes on them. It is the sponsoring club’s decision/ responsibility to provide the postal code information. If it isn’t in the flier, we can’t put it in the chart.
• The postal codes that are given are not always for the start hall, but are sometimes for an individual who is the point of contact for the walk and might live in another town.
• Don’t forget to refer to the German state and region code listed in the directional reference column of the chart. That should eliminate most of the choices when there is more than one town with the same name.
• Nothing can replace a good road map. We also like Microsoft AutoRoute 2006 and will print out an enlarged map of potential problem areas we identify on the route. There are several online map services that people like, but so far, AutoRoute has worked fine for us as a supplement for our road maps.
• Bad weather, road construction, accidents and other incidents always will be wild cards that require flexibility in your search for the next walk, but always be aware of and obey the street signs.
If you use the postal codes to find your walks, please let us know. There are also several mapping programs on the Internet, such as Google Maps, Mapquest and Michelin that can help you find your walks. If you have any suggestions, please drop us a line at two.walkers@yahoo.com.
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For this weekend’s walk through history, the town of Hünningen, Belgium, is the place to go. The area is rich in World War II history as the place where the 99th Infantry Division, along with others, fought during the Battle of the Bulge. Members of the 99th who were killed in the fighting and listed as MIAs are still being recovered in the area.
Bob recommends the book "The Dead of Winter" by Bill Warnock as an excellent story on how these missing men are being sought and recovered by dedicated battlefield investigators and WWII veterans and then identified by forensic scientists so they can be returned to their families after more than 60 years.
The Hünningen walks start at Salle Concordia at 6:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The distances range from a 4-kilometer wheelchair route to 50 kilometers. I, Bob, hope to be there Sunday, so keep an eye out and say hello.
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Next week we’ll have more information about the big walk in Stuttgart, Germany, on July 26-27. You’ll definitely want to attend this walk, so clear your calendars now.
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Even though it is not walking-related, there is an exciting event that we feel needs to be mentioned. Talented actor Gary Sinise is on tour with his Lt. Dan Band, and it is an excellent show. If the show comes to a military base near you, make sure you attend.
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Notes about this week’s events:
• The walk in Wiesbaden, Germany, on Sunday is in the neighborhood of Naurod, northeast of the city. It is offering B-medals at the reduced price of 2.50 euros. Start the 6- and 10-kilometer routes between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. and the 20k route between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Finish time for all routes is 5 p.m.
• The prize for the walk in Hunderdorf, Germany, is an edelweiss scarf with a pendant. They come in three colors.
• At the Pottenstein, Germany, walk, the prize is a beer glass with a colorful picture on it.
Notes from Clark Soeldner, our expert on walks in Italy:
• The Bueriis walk is a nice one. All participants get a bowl of pastasciutta at the end.
• The Palse walk will begin at Dall’area dei festeggiamenti.
• The start for the Gambugliano walk is Presso il campo Sangre di Monte San Lorenzo.
E-mail volksmarch information to two.walkers@yahoo.com. Mail brochures to Bob and Lorraine Huffaker, CMR 460, Box 278, APO, AE, 09703-0278.
