European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 5, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse Ril 5 2007 s tars and stripes Page 31 Fri Cycle tour celebrates the liberation of France Belgium by Alice verberne stripes travel Reader Spring is Here if s time to get on your Bike to enjoy the european country Side and for those interested in More than Leisure Riding it is also time to Start training for the annual Voie de la liberte Bike tour scheduled for june 13 not Only will you get in shape by memorial Day but you also can play Diplomat while cycling rub elbows with about 300 Bik ers from Europe and North America As you Glide through 220 Miles of belgian Countryside All in the name of peace this event draws people who not Only love cycling but also the camaraderie of cycling with others the tour is designed to bring together people reinforce alliances and give thanks to those who liberated France and Bel Gium and if s a great Way to learn about the history of world War n while seeing the Vintage military jeeps and troop carriers driven by people in authentic period uniforms i always come Home with something that makes me feel great be it Friendship culture history says Freddie Johnson of the Wiesbaden Germany outdoor recreation Center he will participate in the tour for the seventh time this year the ride alternates Between Nomandy France and Belgium this year it takes place around Bastogne where participants will cover about 75 Miles per Day cyclists can choose to do the whole ride or portions depend ing on their endurance level while the tour sounds brutal it is noncompetitive and is broken up in a civilized Way participants hit the Road around 9 am after breakfast besides stopping for memorial dedications riders also take Breaks to refuel with snacks and liquids there is a Nice sit Down lunch Complete with wine for those who want it about 20 to 50 cyclists from the United states participate each year the groups will form photons cyclists Riding in an organized fashion peddling 12 to 14 Mph depending on the terrain riders Are looked after properly there is medical support police patrols to escort the riders and mechanical service for those whose bikes break Down and there is a Sag Wagon a bus used to pick up cyclists who lag behind the group once you get Over the Ian Page Barrier and Start talking to Weals youll find that Many have wonderful memories of the us to tips who fought to free the area fellow cyclist Dave mat tally says that it has been an Nonor to shake hands with elder of n cd and who quickly say we appreciate riders from Heidelberg Germany gather before starting a leg of the Voie de la liberte in Normandy France this years edition of the event will be in Belgium photos Courtesy of Ron and Steffanie Paoletti cyclists round a Bend in Normandy France during last years Voie de la Uberte More than 300 riders including a contingent from us military communities in Europe participate in the annual tour what the american soldiers did to help us and thank you for returning to celebrate our free Dom much of those thanks Are aimed at Gen George s Patton who led the us troops who helped liberate the area from its German occupiers a Patton will be advancing through Belgium with the troops again this year Helen Patton Lusczyk granddaughter of the general plans to join the group and ride for a Section of the tour with her two sons she participates in the tour most years in an Effort to pro Mote peace and International cooperation she is married to German surgeon Thorsten plus Zyk and when i met her two years ago she said she and her husband want their relationship to stand As a witness to intercultural Exchange the couple has established the Patton Lusczyk stif Tung a non profit foundation in Germany aimed at International cultural exchanges details at wow american participants say they feel a deep sense of connection Between themselves and the european participants and Are often surprised to discover that the French and belgians Are fans of american culture naturally individuals May disagree about various subjects on occasion such As politics but most agree on the big issues such As free Dom of speech and democracy some americans Are surprised to discover that France helped finance the american revolution and gave us the statue of Liberty and the French and belgians have not forgotten that America returned the loyalty when its troops helped liberate them More than 60 years ago that is one reason everyone rides together each year to keep that spirit alive Aiice verberne is a writer and artist living in Germany email her at know go cyclists can Register online at Tio Nhym in the Cost is 85 euros which can be paid by Bank wire from any Community Bank customer service desk for a fee or from a Bank on the Economy the fee should be transferred the same time that participants Register online organizers Are in the process of ordering jerseys and need to have registrations shortly information on paying is on the web at an English translation is available by contacting Steffanie Paoletti of Heidelberg outdoor recreation at Eura Raymil registered participants can stay overnight in the Bastogne sport Center thursday night May 31 through sunday morn ing june 3 showers Are Avail Able take a Towel sleeping bag air mattress earplugs and a comfortable jogging suit in which to sleep three lunches plus snacks during the morning and after noon Breaks Are included in the registration fee take extra Money for dinner a cycling Jersey and wind jacket Are included in the sign up fee you will need to take cycling shorts a water bottle and Road Bike to rent a Road Bike Contact your local outdoor recreation Cen Ter Cost is about s20 Day Moun Tain bikes Are not permitted if you need help with transportation or have any other questions about the tour con tact Freddie Johnson at wies Baden outdoor recreation Dan 3375760 or Paoletti at Heidelberg outdoor rec Dan 3706489 or 06221576489 Alice verberne where when How from wire services during a summer trip to Germany i spend four Days each in Munich and Berlin with three to spare in Between where should i go the Countryside wedged Between the two cities consists of rolling Hills dotted with villages and Beautiful for ests so youll want to see that if tourism is on your mind consider Nuremberg Weimar and Leipzig according to the German National tourist office about an hour by train from Munich Nuremberg is known for its medieval buildings the huge germanic museum dating to 1852 and the somber Docu mentation Center where nazis once rallied and paraded and later were tried for world War n War crimes Weimar Germany intellectual Center in the 18th and 19th centuries is a three hour train ride from Nuremberg the baroque House where poet novelist and theorist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe spent 50 years is now a museum when you head next to Leipzig an hour by Stop by the historic districts Auerbach Keller reputed to be the coun try second oldest restaurant Goethe Bach and other bygone German glitterati Hung out there Leipzig also has several museums and Fine shopping for information visit or Call the German National tourist office or visit it at i would like to visit Reykjavik Iceland and Bergen Norway including the next summer what Are your suggestions for planning a trip a there Are several web Sites that contain valuable information including lodging museums activities festivals currency Exchange rates and weather your first Stop should be the scandinavian tourist Board where you can link to official Sites for Iceland Norway Denmark Finland and Sweden you can also request brochures for the countries you want to visit and Check out newsletters listing upcoming events the link to Norway has information on fjords but you should also visit and fjord com both will give you suggestions for lodging Tours and summer activities including Glacier skiing Mountain climb ing rafting kayaking and water skiing look for the fjord Cam q what clothes should i take for a trip to Rome in May a aim for simple Neutral clothing that leaves room for an expanding Waistline As you enjoy the food Romes temperature in May is 70 degrees and delightful truly the Only place you will feel like an Ameri can schlump is when you walk via Condotti Romes most fashionable Street even there youll see plenty of tourists in jeans and sneakers but dont Wear shorts in Rome nobody does
