We have another weekend with a few good walks. Here are some that caught our eye.
First, in the Baumholder area there is a volksmarch in Heimbach/Nahe. This event starts at the Besenbinderhalle, where the doors open both days at 6 a.m. You must start the six-, 10- or 20-kilometer trails before 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. There is no medal offered, but you can get IVV credit.
Just a little farther to the north is the walk in Ehlenz. Located just north of Bitburg, this event is very convenient for folks in the Eifel region. You can start this Sunday-only event at 6 a.m. from the start hall in the Gemeindehaus at Schulstrasse 1. You have until 2 p.m. to start the five- and 10-kilometer trails, and until 1 p.m. for the 20-kilometer trek. This walk, too, is for IVV credit only.
In the Heidelberg area is a walk in Meckesheim. The routes on offer are six, 11 and 20 kilometers. Start these trails between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. and finish by 5 p.m. This, too, is a Sunday-only event for IVV credit only.
Closer to Stuttgart is the event in Eigenzell. This is a two-day event with routes of six, 12 and 20 kilometers. Start time is between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. both days. B-medals are the prize.
If you complete the walk in Gallspach, Austria, you can choose between a statue of a dog holding a newspaper in its mouth or a flower arrangement as the prize.
Two more walks to add to your summer schedule are:
• July 14: Hestroff, France: Walk along the Maginot Line;
• Aug. 18: Consdorf, Luxembourg: See the caves and rock formations.
This is the weekend for the International Militaria Show at La Gleize, Belgium. This is a large, outdoor military flea market with vendors from all over Europe. We’re not sure where we will walk this weekend, but we will be in La Gleize.
Two weeks ago we did the walks in Hosingen, Luxembourg, and Sibret, Belgium. Saturday’s walk in Hosingen was very nice. The start was in a nature park and the trails were easy to follow. We were fortunate to have very nice weather as well. Sunday, in Sibret, we were not as fortunate. Perhaps we were lulled into complacency by the nice weather the day before, but the skies opened and we were caught in a downpour. In Texas that’s called a “toad-stranglin’ gully-washer.” We had rain coats and umbrellas but still got soaked. After the walk, we were going to have lunch at the Brasserie d’Achouffe. We drove to the town of Achouffe and found the brewery and a couple of nice restaurants, but without a change of dry clothes decided to go back another day. Bob did make a quick trip into the gift shop to get a couple of the little Achouffe gnomes. Lessons learned from this weekend: • No matter how lucky you are, sooner or later you’re going to get soaked. • Be sure to keep some dry clothes and spare shoes in the car. • Finally, keep some extra plastic bags in the car for your wet clothes and shoes; these will keep your car seats dry.Email volksmarch information to two.walkers@yahoo.com. Mail brochures to Bob and Lorraine Huffaker, CMR 460, Box 278, APO AE 09752.
