Click here for this week’s European Volksmarch schedule.
The Grafenwöhr Garrison commander, Col. Nils Christian Sorenson, extends a hearty welcome and invites all volksmarchers, especially those from the Grafenwöhr and Vilseck communities, to attend this weekend’s walk in Grafenwöhr.
He says, "A volksmarch is an excellent medium for Germans and Americans to participate in an interesting, healthy and relaxing sport, in which language is not a barrier. It offers opportunities to get acquainted with the beautiful Oberpfalz landscape while meeting and talking to co-marching neighbors. This is important to continue promoting outstanding relations and friendships among the soldiers, civilians and family members of Germans and Americans, as well as people of all other nationalities, who also participate."
Although we have never met Col. Sorenson, we could not agree with him more. In fact, we feel that the volksmarching traits he describes can be applied across Europe and the world. Once you have done a few walks in Germany, or wherever else you are stationed, you’ll be tempted to try a walk in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy or the Netherlands. After that, you’ll be hooked on volksmarching and will want to continue when you move back to the States. This would not only benefit you as a walker, but also would promote the growth of the sport.
The first step, if you are anywhere near Grafenwöhr, is to get out and attend this walk. The start location again this year is in the Jugendheim, near the church, on Kolpingstrasse. The start times for the five-, 10-, and 20-kilometer trails are 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and 7-11 a.m. Sunday. Saturday’s finish time is 5 p.m.; Sunday’s is 3 p.m.
The award is a wooden shovel decorated in an autumn motif. Join your fellow American and German volksmarchers this weekend in beautiful Grafenwöhr and enjoy the trails as well as the superb hospitality of the club members,
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Heidelberg after-action report. After the 2007 Heidelberg Volksmarch, we wrote in this column, "All told, it was an outstanding volksmarch on a beautiful day. The Heidelberg International Wandering Club has kept their string of excellent volksmarches intact. We’re already looking forward to next year’s walk!"
We were equally impressed by this year’s walk on Sept. 6. We heard rain falling as we awoke at the hotel, but by the time we got to the start hall, it had stopped. It remained overcast, but we didn’t mind. We were pleased to renew acquaintances with so many walking friends, especially Bob Gambert, who drove from Stuttgart to work in the registration area. We got so involved talking with Rob, Cath, Tina and so many others, that we almost forgot there was a walk to complete.
Once on the trail, we were pleased to see that we were on a new route from previous years. We liked walking past the vineyards heavily laden with ripe grapes. After the first checkpoint and a few more vineyards, we noticed we were on a familiar-looking part of the trail again. This residential section is one of our favorite areas because of the beautifully painted murals on the sides of the houses.
Some of the murals include very realistic windows with flower boxes. Soon we were going up the hills towards the second checkpoint. We eventually wound our way back down the hill, and as we approached the start we could smell the steak and bratwurst on the grill. Then comes arguably the best part of any walk — the food, drink and camaraderie at the end.
A tip of the hat to the Cub Scouts, who were busy keeping the tables in the hall clean. Before we left, we stopped by the Heidelberg International Wandering Club’s boutique to get a couple more T-shirts, stickers and other assorted memorabilia.
The bottom line is that their string of outstanding Volksmarches remains intact. All the volunteers who put forth the supreme effort to put on this walk deserve the utmost praise as well as the appreciation of all the walkers.
HIWC, you’ve done it again! Job well done and see you all again next year!
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Isn’t this the best time of the year? The days are shorter, the weather cooler and the leaves are starting to turn colors. It’s also when more walking clubs will be offering just five- and 10-kilometer trails. The number of control points may also decrease. While most clubs typically have two controls points during the summer for a 10k course, a great many will only provide one during the fall and winter months; we’ve even attended a couple that had no controls at all.
Keeping this in mind, it’s even more important to carry a small water bottle with you. In the colder climates, you, your family and even the family dog must still stay hydrated. Don’t let the cold weather fool you … carry fluids.
More clubs will be offering broth at control points instead of tea. If you’ve walked by it in years past, give the broth a try. It’s a great warm drink alternative and tastes terrific. We’ve never had a "bad" cup and we’ll gladly take this homemade soup over tea on a cold day.
It’s also time to keep your eyes open for pea soup at the start halls. Before I (Bob) tried the pea soup, I thought it sounded kind of gross, but was I wrong! On a cold day, it is the kind of soup to stick to your ribs and really warm you up. We have seen some varieties with all kinds of vegetables mixed in, and some have meat as well. It is now at the point where if it’s a cold day and they don’t serve pea soup, we’re disappointed! Try it … you’ll like it!
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Thanks a million to the folks who make this column possible by sending us fliers with volksmarch information. This week’s contributors are: Maya, Tom and Petra Casarez, William Castro and Maureen McHugh-Castro, Tim and Luchi Lynch; and Sherri Alderson, Manfred Dahl, Bob Gambert, Lew Harrison, W. Hawkins, Wayne Henry, Pat Patterson, Dawn St. John and Nancy Shawley.
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Miscellaneous short notes about several of this week’s volksmarch events include the following:
• For the hot prize of the week, finish the walk in St. Goar on Wednesday and get two wineglasses with the outline of Burg Rheinfels on them.
• You can walk in the Heidelberg, Germany, area again this weekend and then visit the castle and other sights of this fabulous city. The Heidelberg-Emmertsgrund march affords folks the chance to walk five, 10 or 20 kilometers on Saturday or Sunday.
• The start for the walk in Wiesbaden-Klarenthal is at the Geschwister-Scholl-Grundschule, which appears to be near Klarenthaler Strasse to the west of downtown Wiesbaden. They are offering B-medals at the reduced price of 2.50 euros.
• Allenbach, Germany, is offering B-medals again this year, but maybe you can still pick up an onyx elephant with an upturned trunk. We were pleasantly surprised how nice this prize was when we attended this walk. This walk is in the backyard of the Baumholder and Kaiserslautern Military Communities, and close to the Eifel community, too. Start the 5k and 10k Saturday and Sunday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. and the 20k 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Finish both days by 5 p.m.
• The big print on the flier says Geretsried, but the start hall is in nearby Gelting, Germany. Located between Munich and Bad Toltz, this year’s prize is a B-medal, but two years ago sponsors gave out a silver hiking shoe on a key chain as the prize. You still might be able to get one of them this year at the reduced price of 3 euros.
Clark Soeldner had these notes about a walk in Italy:
• The flier for the Bassano del Grappa walk notes new courses for this year. In addition to the walk, a trip into the town of Bassano del Grappa is well worth the visit. Don’t miss the covered bridge.
Of special interest is the grappa shop on the east end of the bridge. Don’t sample the grappa unless you have a designated driver!
E-mail volksmarch information to two.walkers@yahoo.com. Mail brochures to Bob and Lorraine Huffaker, CMR 460, Box 278, APO, AE, 09703-0278.