I was excited to learn that there was a group in Greenbelt entirely devoted to walking, having recently decided that I am pretty much the walkiest. The Greater Greenbelt Volksmarchers, part of the American Volkssport Association, has been in existence for over 34 years and, even though I’ve been in existence for over 47 years, I hadn’t before been aware of them. Given that it was obvious to me this is a group I should get to know, I sent them an email and asked if we could connect and take a walk together.
“Sure,” came the quick and friendly reply. “Would you like to do a 5k or a 10k walk?”
“Yeah, so, obviously we haven’t met yet,” I said. “I will definitely be doing the 5k.”
They let me know they had a formal event coming up that Wednesday and invited me to join them, so I trotted, and by trotted I mean I drove, down to the rallying place by the Community Center Wednesday evening. There I met mother-daughter team Pat Astill and Yvonne Pennington, club secretary and president, respectively, who staffed the check-in table.
I learned a lot about
volksmarching and about this particular walk as I talked to them. They explained that Greater Greenbelt Volksmarchers hold these formal walks on the third Wednesday of the month, May through September. They typically get 20 or so people coming in for these evening walks, with folks regularly traveling from as far as Hagerstown, Md. and York, Pa., to participate.
During these events people sign in, pay three dollars (which covers insurance, water, printing costs, etc.) and head off on their own to walk the route, which Yvonne and Pat map out in advance and provide printed directions to each of the walkers. Signs are posted along the route, with blue-and-yellow chalk marks on the sidewalk to indicate turns.
Although these are not typically guided walks, Pat accompanied me on mine, which proved to be even better than anticipated. For one thing, I definitely would have gotten lost without her, in no small part because everything, including the directions, fell out of my pockets as we walked, something I only noticed because Pat trailed along after me picking up my detritus from time to time. Most importantly, however, it turned out Pat is my sister of the Commonwealth, having immigrated to the United States from England in the 1960s while I immigrated here from Canada not so many years ago.
As it turns out, Pat knows a lot about Greenbelt. I like to think I’ve walked through a lot of town but the path created by Greater Greenbelt Volksmarchers for this evening walk took me through paths I had never before seen, including behind the first townhome occupied in the new town of Greenbelt back in 1937. I had no idea there was such a thing, although of course there must be, and the house – on Gardenway – even has a plaque that commemorates its accomplishment. Pat and I took a selfie by it to commemorate our accomplishment.
I loved talking to Pat. I learned about volksmarching, how American soldiers brought it back to the United States when they returned from the war, how there are branches across the country and around the world. I learned that the Greater Greenbelt Volksmarchers will celebrate their 35th anniversary at the Labor Day Festival next year. I learned that Pat kayaks on the Potomac River. I learned that Pat should probably be my new best friend and I learned that I really, really do like to walk.
Although the formal evening walks are done now until next May, Greater Greenbelt Volksmarchers still have events going on throughout the winter. They are supporting the HUG Walk around Greenbelt on October 10 and are supporting a Scottish festival in Alexandria in December. They also have mapped routes to walk on your own at any time of year – you can get some that take you around Greenbelt from the Aquatic Center office, some from the pilot’s lounge at College Park Airport that take you around that area and some you can find online (go to ava.org, click on events and enter in Greenbelt).
And, in case it is not obvious, Pat is lovely. If you need a reason to join Greater Greenbelt Volksmarchers and you’re not really sure what it has to offer you – other than beautiful walks through parts of town you have never seen before and the chance to collect little stamps in an official American Volkssport Association Distance Book – consider it your chance to get to know Pat and Yvonne. I can’t think of more delightful people to walk around town with, I promise you that. And you may learn something about Greenbelt.
Learn more about the American Volkssport Association by visiting ava.org. To learn about events around the state, visit mdvolks.org. To connect with Greater Greenbelt Volksmarchers, email Greenbeltmva@gmail.com.