See this week's volksmarch events.
This is Easter weekend, and over the four-day weekend there are a lot of walks to choose from. There are several Friday and Monday walks, but fewer than usual Sunday. If you have some extra time off this weekend, spend it with your family at a volksmarch near you.
The following are walks in Germany, with an Easter theme:
• At the volksmarch in Bischofsdhron, an Easter bunny will be at the control point in the castle ruins.
• The prize at the walk in Lahm is a ceramic mommy bunny with child bunny. B-medal beer mugs will also be offered.
• The ever-popular German-American Friendship Walking Day in the town of Langenzenn is hosted by the Wanderfreunde Alte Veste Zirndorf, folks who always greet Americans with open arms. The prize for this walk is a choice of a male or female ceramic bunny figure holding an Easter egg.
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Monday’s volksmarch in Jettingen has been designated as a "Stammtisch" walk by the Stuttgart club. Look for its blue flag at the start hall. Even though the prize does not have an Easter theme, it’s a nice one — a stuffed lion doll. Starting time for the six-, 10- and 20-kilometer trails is 6:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Closing time is 5 p.m.
Friday there are two walks close to the Kaiserslautern area. The towns of St. Wendel and Urexweiler are only about three miles apart and less than 40 miles from Kaiserslautern. It would be easy to do both of these walks. Both start at 7 a.m.; Urexweiler’s starting time ends at 1 p.m., while St. Wendel’s ends at 2 p.m.
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Sunday, the town of Tongeren, Belgium, is having its "Ambiorixtocht." This walk is named after the Germanic tribal leader whose warriors annihilated a Roman Legion in 54 B.C. A huge statue of Ambiorix stands in the Tongeren town square across from the church. The real reason we like Tongeren is because of its Sunday morning flea market. As the weather warms up, the number of vendors increases. Get there early for the best selection and don’t be afraid to haggle a little.
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A couple of weeks ago, we asked you to contact Brad Crandall to volunteer for the annual Ramstein Road Runners’ walk May 8 and 9. However, we gave the wrong phone number. His correct number is — in Germany — 06374-801179.
The Road Runners also are planning a "Spring Fling" bus trip April 24 which combines a trip to the Auto & Technik Museum Sinsheim and a volksmarch in Cleebronn, Germany. Contact Gene Behrends at parrotdad@hotmail.com. Sign up and pay before April 16 to receive a 20-percent discount.
The Cleebronn walk is also a "Stammtisch" walk for the Stuttgart German American Wandering Club.
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• Today is the last day to sign up for the Heidelberg International Wandering Club’s bus trip to Sprendlingen and Rudesheim. Contact Don at don.casper1@t-online.de.
• This weekend, the walk in Bellaire, Belgium, will be convenient for those of you in the Brunssum/Geilenkirchen area. If you walk there Saturday morning, you could then drive the short distance to Petit-Rechain for its afternoon walk.
• In Italy there are no walks on Easter Sunday. However, they make up for it on Pasquetta — Easter Monday — which is a holiday in Italy. If the trees are in spring bloom, the walks in the hills can be beautiful!
E-mail volksmarch information to two.walkers@yahoo.com. Mail brochures to Bob and Lorraine Huffaker, CMR 460, Box 278, APO, AE, 09752.
