See this week’s European Volksmarch schedule.
There are several interesting walks coming up through the end of August. Mark these on your calendar:
• July 25-26, Fichteneau, Germany: Near the walled city of Dinkelsbühl.
• July 25-26, Glan-Münchweiler, Germany: North of Ramstein.
• July 25-26, Bad Rodach, Germany: Northeast of Schweinfurt.
• July 25-26, Weywertz, Belgium: Beautiful Ardennes area.
• Aug. 1-2, Küps, Germany: Near Bamberg.
• Aug. 2, Ettelbruck, Luxembourg.
• Aug. 8-9, Langscheid, Germany: On the Rhine near Bachrach.
• Aug. 9, Schin op Geul, Netherlands.
• Aug. 13-16, Berg en Terblijt, Netherlands: This is a very popular four-day walking event.
• Aug. 14-23, Wiesbaden, Germany, wine festival. Why not do one of the permanent walks while you’re in town for the wine festival?
• Aug. 15-16, Crailsheim, Germany: Always a popular walk. This is a Ramstein Roadrunners’ bus trip with a side trip to Dinkelsbuhl on Aug. 15.
• Aug. 15-16, Bellevaux, Belgium.
• Aug. 22, Eben-Emael, Belgium: Just across the Belgian border from Maastricht, Netherlands, this is a good walk in a small town with a historical fortress. The Heidelberg International Wandering Club will be coming up on a bus trip.
• Aug. 22-23, Creglingen, Germany: North of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
• Aug. 22-23, Schiersfeld, Germany: North of Kaiserslautern.
• Aug. 22-23, Lambsborn, Germany: Southwest of Landstuhl.
• Aug. 23, Consdorf, Luxembourg.
• Aug. 29-30, Höheinöd, Germany: South of Landstuhl.
The annual walk hosted in July by the Stuttgart German-American Wandering Club was canceled this year. An unfortunate combination of injuries and job turmoil to key personnel made this year’s walk impossible to carry out. The club plans to come back strong next July.
These are just the volksmarches we know about. If you know of another good walk coming up, let us know so we can spread the word.
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The Ramstein Roadrunners are introducing a "Speedy-Bird" discount of 20 percent on their bus trips for those who sign up and pay before a certain deadline. For example, if you sign up and pay for the Aug. 15 trip to Crailsheim before July 31, you pay 20 euros, a 5-euro saving. (Spend it on goodies at the start hall.) For more information on the discount, the trip to Crailsheim or the Ramstein Roadrunners, contact Gene at parrotdad@hotmail.com.
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If you live in the Kaiserslautern, Germany, area, think about attending the weekend event at Bruchweiler-Bärenbach. This is always a great walk; the area and trails are beautiful. Walk a five-, 10- or 20-kilometer route on Saturday, starting between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. and again on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Saturday evening, Bruchweiler has a Sommernachtsfest (summer evening party) featuring a dance beginning at 4 p.m.
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Miscellaneous short notes about this week’s events:
• The walk in Hütten, Germany, is convenient for those in the Grafenwöhr/Vilseck area.
• After attending the walk in Gänheim, Germany, stick around for their Sommernachtfest on Saturday. This walk is convenient for those of you in the Schweinfurt area.
• A multifunction pocket knife is the prize at the Rotfelden, Germany, walk.
Some words of wisdom from Clark Soeldner, our Italian walking connection:
• The highlight of the Bordano walk is the dozens of butterfly-themed murals painted on the houses in Bordano (found on all trails) and Interneppo (included on the 14- and 21-kilometer routes). With a start card, you’ll enjoy reduced admission to the House of Butterflies.
The 7k is flat, while the 14k and 21k are in the hills. To reach the walk, exit A23 at Gemona-Osoppo in the Trasaghis direction. Look for the sign to Bordano to the right.
• A warning about the Piancavallo walk: You will be traversing the summer cow pastures. Beware of biting flies and the "decorations" left on the trail by the cows!
