See this week’s European Volksmarch schedule.
Happy Fourth of July, everybody! We hope you have a lot of fun this weekend and work a volksmarch or two into the festivities. The Belgian walks in Hünningen and Longvilly have been excellent in the past. This Sunday might find us trying this doubleheader with a stop in Bastogne for good measure.
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We are in the middle of the summer PCS season and, sadly, a lot of volksmarchers are heading back to the United States. However, you don’t have to stop volksmarching when you leave Europe. The American Volkssports Association (AVA) is a nationwide organization that promotes volksmarching in the United States. From its national headquarters in Universal City, Texas, the AVA divides the country into 10 regions. Each has a director who oversees the volksmarch clubs and activities within its area. There are currently 314 volksmarch clubs that provide about 3,000 events each year.
The AVA has a web site, www.ava.org, which allows you to locate a nearby club and see what they have planned. The site also has an interactive map to help you find and plan your volksmarches. You also can find out how to start a club and get information on bylaws, regulations and awards.
The AVA also publishes a bimonthly newspaper, The American Wanderer, which is full of volksmarching news and information. You can even order volksmarch accessories, such as jackets, books, pins and patches. Most of all, there are pictures from events documenting the fun that people are having on volksmarches. So when your time in Europe winds down, look to the AVA to keep your passion for volksmarching alive.
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Miscellaneous short notes about this week’s events:
• The walk in Wiesbaden, Germany, on Sunday is in the neighborhood of Naurod, northeast of the city. Start the six- 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 Altrich, Germany, walk is convenient for the Bitburg, Spangdahlem and Baumholder communities.
• The prize for the walk in Dachtel, Germany, is a ceramic bunny.
• A monster truck toy can be yours for completing the walk in Donzdorf, Germany, this weekend.
• Ramona Kechelen says the Spalt, Germany, region is a great area for fresh-picked cherries.
• Sunday’s marathon walk in Folgaria, Italy, is the first of three special marathons in the Trentino area this year. The others are at Biacesa du Ledro on July 12 and Tres on Aug 30. Completing all marathons will get you a certificate, a T-shirt and a small trophy.
• There is no information about the award at the Soncino, Italy, walk except that it is limited to the first 1,000 participants.
• The Palse, Italy, walk will begin at Dall’area dei Festeggiamenti.
• The start for the Gambugliano, Italy, 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, 09752.
