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See this week's volksmarch events.

This weekend Europe switches to daylight-saving time. Don’t forget to set your clock ahead one hour Saturday night before you go to bed or you’ll be late to your favorite volksmarch Sunday! You’ll get your hour back Oct. 31.

• Are you going to the United Kingdom anytime soon? Would you like to get a U.K. stamp for your IVV books? It might be easier than you think.

There are a lot of permanent trails in the U.K., so you should be able to find a walk close to where you are visiting.

At the British Walking Federation Web page, www.bwf-ivv.org.uk, there are several links leading to information on different types of walks. We want the flexibility of walking a permanent route, so we chose the “Permanent Trails” link.

There we found that the United Kingdom is divided into regions, such as Scotland, West Midlands and Wales, to mention just a few. By clicking on the Scotland region, you will find it is further broken down into subregions.

If you look at Scotland’s Lothian subregion, for instance, you see two walks in Edinburgh. Clicking on the Edinburgh Trail link will bring up a detailed description of the walk, including distance, starting point, degree of difficulty, cost, award and contact information. Below this are a series of questions for you to find the answers to as you walk the trail. The answers are to be recorded on the Permanent Trail Entry Form that can be found at a link at the bottom of the walk page.

You need to print out the questions and the entry form for recording your answers. On the day of the walk, make sure you have the trail description page, the entry form and a pen or pencil. Find your way to the starting point, follow the directions you printed, and have fun looking for the answers as you walk the trail.

After completing the trail and answering the questions, you should complete the Permanent Trail registration form and send it, along with the appropriate fee and a stamped, self-addressed envelope (at least 6½-by-9¼ inches) to the trail organizer. You can get your IVV stamp by sending your IVV cards to the trail organizer or by asking the trail organizer to supply your stamp on new insert cards. We don’t feel comfortable mailing our IVV books, so we would ask for the insert cards.

Please note that the fees are in pounds, and that the stamped return envelope will require U.K. postage. These issues would be better taken care of while you are in the U.K.

Now that you know how to find a permanent trail in the U.K., it is time to start making plans!

• If you are located anywhere near Bamberg, Germany, and you want a good, old-fashioned volksmarch beer mug, head to Eggolsheim this weekend. It is becoming very rare that clubs offer these prizes. You probably want to show up early for this walk, as we have a feeling these mugs will go quickly.

• This weekend will be a busy one for walking in Kirn-Sulzbach, Germany, about 30 kilometers north of Baumholder. When Tina Kracke did this walk a couple of years ago, she wrote us that what appeared to be gentle hills turned into what felt like the Himalayas. As she thought she was nearing the top of a hill, it only revealed another hill beyond.

• This weekend’s volksmarch in Bodelshausen is a Stammtisch walk for the Stuttgart club. Look for its blue flag at the start hall and go up and say, “Hi.”

• Wednesday’s walk in St. Julian, Germany, is convenient for those in the Kaiserslautern and Baumholder military communities. You can start the five- and 10-kilometer trails until 6 p.m., so you can still make it after work. The only prize this year is IVV credit; the club sold all its 3-euro B-meldals last year.

• The Belgian walk in Montzen is close to the American cemetery at Henri-Chapelle. While in the area, stop and pay your respects to the Americans who died in the liberation of Europe.

• The start for the Vicenza, Italy, event is at the middle school on the back side of the train station near the Parco Retrone.

• Caltrano, Italy, is at the foot of the Altopiano Asiago, so the routes get into the mountains.

• The flier for the Rivadolmo di Baone, Italy, walk notes the course is hilly and panoramic. You’ll see the splendid scenery of the Colle Euganei Park.

E-mail volksmarch information to two.walkers@yahoo.com. Mail brochures to Bob and Lorraine Huffaker, CMR 460, Box 278, APO, AE, 09752.

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