The Rover Reporter. Rover s Message. Inside this issue: Hello all,

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1 The Rover Reporter The Newsletter of the Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Club 2017 Executive Officers President Sharon Miller Vice Presidents Lester Miller Bill Rhoat Marcy Lucas Secretary Regina Zapotosky Treasurer Gloria Grabenstein Executive Committee Members After Action Pat Eby Map Maker Lester Miller Membership Mary Watts Newsletter Pat Eby Publicity Kimberly Rowe Sales Manager Amy Trommer Trailmasters Lester Miller Bill Rhoat Volunteer Coordinator Alice Eckardt Webmaster Regina Zapotosky Hello all, March - April 2017 Edition Rover s Message Hope you all have been having a wonderful New Year. The weather has been pretty good for winter walking. Hope you have been taking advantage of the opportunities to walk. We have been doing the Saturday group walks and enjoying them even if it has been cold. That means the hot lunch during or after the walk is very welcome. Have also been doing other year rounds during the week on some very beautiful days. There have been some really nice Ice festivals that are located where there are year rounds events. There was one in Lititz where they did a traditional walk rather than the year round walk. What a nice way to walk and see the ice sculptures and all the families out enjoying the festivities. I have also been working on my 250 steps each hour. In order to do it each hour, it involves walking up and down the driveway. Oh so boring, so I starting reliving some of my past trips, working on the upcoming weekend walks and bike in April, and planning for the future. I am writing this between my walking bursts. It is much more fun getting my minutes in walking someplace else, like doing a volksmarch. Hope you are planning on coming to The Susquehanna Rivertowns Weekend Events, April 28, 29 and 30, Have had the opportunity to check the directions and enjoyed seeing these beautiful river towns. It is amazing all the beauty in these small towns and the pride people are taking while restoring the buildings. We have been taking the time to read the historic signs and learning a lot about the industrial complex that existed along the Susquehanna River during the Civil War. Look forward to seeing you on the trail very soon. Sharon Inside this issue: Meeting Times, Group Walk Pictures, Awards, AVA Conv 2017 Page 2 Susquehanna Rivertowns Weekend Page 3 Online Start Box and Appalachian Trail event, Seriously? Page 4 Bike Events for 2017, Ice Festivals, In Memory Page 5 PA State Parks & Forest Challenge, Weekend Events Page 6 Schedule of Events Page 7

T HE R O V E R R E P O R T E R PAGE 2 New Member enjoying the Lititz Ice Festival Except for Sharon Miller falling on a crack in the sidewalk and breaking her wrist and thumb, it was a good day for

She wanted to sit in this sweetheart chair, but the weather was warm - the chair was starting to melt and so it was too icy in front of the chair to actually get close enough to sit.

Meeting Location Meeting Time Club meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM at Bass Pro on Paxton St in Harrisburg in the Hunt Club Meeting Room on the second floor next to the

The next meetings will be: April 25, 2017 May 30, 2017 June 27, 2017 Group Walk Pictures New Years Day Harrisburg From Left - Sharon and Lester Miller, Marcy Lucas, Pat and Fred Welch, Pat Eby and

2 T HE R O V E R R E P O R T E R PAGE 2 New Member enjoying the Lititz Ice Festival Except for Sharon Miller falling on a crack in the sidewalk and breaking her wrist and thumb, it was a good day for most of those that went on our group walk. Nancy Fink enjoyed her experience at the Lititz Ice Festival. She wanted to sit in this sweetheart chair, but the weather was warm - the chair was starting to melt and so it was too icy in front of the chair to actually get close enough to sit. So as a good volksmarcher, she found an alternate way to get her picture taken. We also had a nice lunch at Tomato Pie. New! Meeting Location Meeting Time Club meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM at Bass Pro on Paxton St in Harrisburg in the Hunt Club Meeting Room on the second floor next to the gun counter. Everyone is welcome to attend! The next meetings will be: April 25, 2017 May 30, 2017 June 27, 2017 Group Walk Pictures New Years Day Harrisburg From Left - Sharon and Lester Miller, Marcy Lucas, Pat and Fred Welch, Pat Eby and Gloria Grabenstein. Small, but fun group. You should join us some time. Mechanicsburg YR From Left Tom D Aprile, Sherri Little, Sis Clugston, Marcy Lucas, Roy Clugston, Ed and Diane Sandnes, Lester and Sharon Miller. Pat Eby took picture. Events Distance 10 Katherine Ellison Martha McGraw Jim McGraw 1200 Lester Miller 3000 Ellie Kuntz 11,000 Lester Miller 2017 AVA Biennial Convention June 7-9, 2017 Billings, Montana Carlisle YR From Left - Sara, Marci, and Eleanor Garcia (from Everett PA), Lester Miller, Tom D Aprile, and Sharon Miller. Pat Eby took the picture. Again small group but fun! Walks in Buffalo, Billings, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Red Lodge, all in Montana and Cody Wyoming 1 swim 1 bike Conference Hotel - Billings Hotel and Convention Center, 1223 Mullowney Lane, Billings MT Promo Code AVA avaconvention.org You can walk Crazy Horse the weekend before going to Billings.

THE ROVER REPORTER PAGE 3 Susquehanna Rivertowns Weekend Three Walks and a Bike Friday, April 28, to Sunday, April 30, 2017 Wrightsville PA AT17/106621 York County Marietta PA AT17/106617 Lancaster

3 THE ROVER REPORTER PAGE 3 Susquehanna Rivertowns Weekend Three Walks and a Bike Friday, April 28, to Sunday, April 30, 2017 Wrightsville PA AT17/ York County Marietta PA AT17/ Lancaster County Columbia PA AT17/ Lancaster County Columbia PA Bike AT17/ Three separate Patches - One for each walking event. Sponsored by the York White Rose Wanderers Susquehanna Rovers & Penn Dutch Pacers Start Point for all events: Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, 41 Walnut St, Columbia PA Start and Finish Times: Start 8 am to 1 pm; Finish by 4 pm. Eligibility: Everyone is welcome to participate. Walk at your own pace. Runners are welcome. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Registration and Fees: These events are Free to those who wish to participate without IVV Credit. IVV Credit is $3.00 for each event. IVV Credit with the award is $8.00 for each event. You may pre-register. Pre-registration is $7.00 for IVV Credit with the award for each event. You must pre-register before April 14th. Award: There are three awards as shown above, a patch for each Rivertown walk. They are fully embroidered. Each patch is 3 X There are 100 patches for each event and they will not be reordered. The bike has no award. Parking: There is plenty of parking. You must drive 4 miles to begin the Marietta Trail. Wrightsville PA 5K or 10K trail Rated 1A eventid= Point of Contact: Pam Copenhaver ; indigo1704@aol.com Website: sites.google.com/site/yorkwhiterosewanderers/ According to a plaque at Samuel S. Lewis State Park, which overlooks Wrightsville and the Susquehanna River, Wrightsville was among George Washington's choices as location of the capital of the United States. The Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge and Wrightsville Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The trail will go over the Wrightsville Bridge. Most of the trail will be sidewalks with a little roadside walking. Wheelchairs will have a difficult time; strollers will have medium difficulty. Marietta PA 5K or 10K trail Rated 2B eventid= Point of Contact: Sharon Miller ; millersd@ptd.net Website: avaclubs.com/srvc Marietta is a Rivertown located on the eastern banks of the Susquehanna River in Western Lancaster County just north of Columbia PA. It was incorporated in 1812 and prospered due to the river commerce on the PA Canal and the railroad. The varied architecture is a result of this time period. Most of the trail will be sidewalks with a little roadside walking. The walk will be difficult for wheelchairs as there are inclines. Stollers will have medium difficulty. Columbia PA 5K or 10K trail Rated 1A eventid= Point of Contact: Maria Roshon ; Losgann10@comcast.net Website There are two 5K loops; one is on the rail trail and the other is on sidewalks. Those doing a 5K can do either loop. 10K walkers must do both loops. This walk will feature the Civil War and Underground Railroad history of Columbia as well as the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail. Some historic sites that you will pass include Wright's Ferry Mansion, Mt Bethel Cemetery and the Turkey Hill Experience. You will also pass Zion Hill Cemeterythe burial site of many black soldiers who fought in the Civil War. (continued on page 5)

PAGE 4 THE ROVER REPORTER Online Start Box There is a new way to register for an event. It is using an Online Start Box. The following event is using this new way to register.

If that doesn t help, then contact the point of contact for the events. Info may not be available until the new year.

4 PAGE 4 THE ROVER REPORTER Online Start Box There is a new way to register for an event. It is using an Online Start Box. The following event is using this new way to register. The new event for Milford and Ricketts Glen State Park will also be using this Online Start Box. I m sure there will be questions, but you will be able to go to to find your answers. If that doesn t help, then contact the point of contact for the events. Info may not be available until the new year. Appalachian Trail Year Round Walk January 1 to December 31, K to 42K Trail Rating 4D An Extended Distance Event AT17/Y0088 register for this event. Payments for event credit, $3.00 and directions use PayPal. The directions and insert cards are PDFs that you can download and print as needed. The POC does not provide event directions or accept alternate payment methods. The entire online process should take less than 10 minutes for a first time user. START/FINISH TIMES: Please walk daylight hours only FEES: The A award is a 3x3 inch embroidered patch featuring a downy woodpecker on a white blazed tree as shown to the left and IVV credit is $7.00. IVV Credit Only is $3.00. You must register and pay $3 for IVV Credit for each day you walk. You can take event credit for each day and take distance credit for the amount walked that day. COUNTIES: Counties the AT covers include: Franklin, Cumberland, Perry, Dauphin, Lebanon, Schuylkill, Berks, Lehigh, Carbon, Northampton, and Monroe. CONDITIONS: For these trails, wheelchairs or strollers are not allowed. Pets are welcome, but need to be kept on leashes and you must follow clean-up laws. Bring extra water, wear sturdy shoes, and the use of hiking sticks is highly recommended. Use insect repellent - Lyme Disease is a major problem here. TRAIL: The Appalachian Trail (AT) in Pennsylvania is where the trail maintainers sharpen the rocks and hiking boots go to die. Many sections of the AT are very rocky and/or have lots of tree roots. The terrain is up and down in most areas and trail difficulty is anywhere from 3B to a 4D. Allow extra time to complete your hike. Do not hike when there is snow on the ground or very muddy. You are advised to hike with someone else and not alone and carry water. The entire miles (369.5K) of the AT in PA is sanctioned as an extended distance event. The KSVA website ( has a link that identifies 21 segments that can each be day hiked if you are able to place a car at each end. You can also do an out and back hike, either southbound or northbound, anywhere you can access the trail. Obviously, the trailheads identified at the link on the KSVA website are the best places to access the trail. Additional Information: Jane Holmes jensenholmespa@gmail.com I wonder why no one takes me seriously? START POINT: WEB REGISTRATION ONLY ( PROCEDURES: Please use the online start box provided by the California Volkssport Assn website ( Follow the left side link, Online Start Box, and the instructions provided to sign a waiver and

THE ROVER REPORTER PAGE 5 (Continued from page 3) Some of these soldiers are from the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, who were portrayed in the 1989 film, Glory, starring Matthew Broderick and Morgan

avaclubs.org/srvc Bike Events The Guided Bike concept is being tested by the AVA National Executive Committee. A Guided Bike event currently scheduled for April 23, 2017.

Ride will take you through parts of Marietta where there are places to eat. The rail trail is new black top except for around Marietta.

5 THE ROVER REPORTER PAGE 5 (Continued from page 3) Some of these soldiers are from the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, who were portrayed in the 1989 film, Glory, starring Matthew Broderick and Morgan Freeman. Columbia PA Bike 15K or 25K trail Rated 2B eventid= Point of Contact: Sharon Miller ; millersd@ptd.net Website: Bike Events The Guided Bike concept is being tested by the AVA National Executive Committee. A Guided Bike event currently scheduled for April 23, A 35K bike ride on a newly constructed bike trail from Columbia to turn around at the Bainbridge River Access (Mile Marker 11). Ride will take you through parts of Marietta where there are places to eat. The rail trail is new black top except for around Marietta. Special event note: We are fortunate to have our Rivertowns Weekend coincide with Fourth Friday, which is a monthly occurrence, where the public is invited to enjoy an evening visiting galleries, restaurants, antique and specialty shops and other various venues in Columbia, Marietta and Wrightsville. You may want to add Fourth Friday to your weekend plans! Directions: From Harrisburg/North: Take I-83 South to Exit 21-US 30 East. * Take US-30 East to exit PA-441. At the stop sign, turn Right onto Linden St. At North 2nd St turn Left. At Walnut St turn Right and follow to the start point. From Gettysburg or West: Take US-30 East. Follow from * above. From Lancaster /East: Take US-30 West to PA-441. At traffic light, crossover 3rd St, and continue on PA-441 to Walnut St. Turn Right on Walnut St to the Start Point. Enjoying the Chambersburg and Lititz Ice Festivals! Ariana Leigh and April Little are seated in the chair at our Chambersburg group walk in January and Eleanor Garcia is with a mouse on Swiss cheese at Lititz in February. There will be nine chances to do year round or seasonal bikes in 2017 in Pennsylvania. New seasonal bikes will be held in Bird In Hand, Punxsutawney, Cook Forest State Park, Pine Creek Trail in Tiadaghton State Forest and the entire Pine Creek Trail is currently sanctioned as an Extended Distance Bike Event. A new year round bike will be held in Easton and Mount Joy. There will be year round bike events in Gettysburg, Valley Forge, and the 2 on the York Heritage Rail Trail. For more information contact Tom Jackson thomasjackson@embarqmail.com In Memory of those recently gone. We have lost several members of our walking family since the beginning of November. Lynne Haffner of Maryland. She used to come and work at our walks. She was also a past president of the Freestate Happy Wanderers. Sam Tollett of Virginia. He was a past Atlantic Region Director, Virginia Volkssport Assn President, president of a few clubs and was often seen at our walks on his scooter. Kitra Burnham of West Virginia. She used to have a VW bus that took her everywhere. She was often seen dressed in purple wandering around taking pictures. John McCoy of York White Rose Wanderers. He ran a lot of their bus trips. Randall L Disend - son of Shirley Disend of the Susquehanna Rovers passed away suddenly January 21st. Kitra s parting words were Love to all - see you on the trail in the future! Amen to that.

6 PAGE 6 THE ROVER REPORTER Weekend Events! Save the Dates. Susquehanna Rivertowns Weekend April 28, 29, 30, 2017 Walks in Columbia, Marietta, and Wrightsville PA A Bike in Columbia Info on page 3 State Parks Weekend II Oct. 20, 21, 22, 2017 Liberty Bell Wanderers and the Chester County Red Rovers are hosting this weekend. There will be a walk at Marsh Creek State Park, Nolde Forest State Park, Hopewell Furnace/French Creek State Park and not a state park but just as lovely, Warwick County Park. All walks are in Chester or Berks County and they are on natural trails. Contact Dave Brown ocmdbreeze@aol.com or Jeanne Clancy clancygirl1@verizon.net Haunted Gettysburg Weekend Nov. 10, 11, 12, 2017 The events are called: Stories of the Women, Ghost Walk, Gettysburg in the Great War, and in Orrtanna, A Winery Walk Contact Tom Jackson thomasjackson@embarqmail.com Get your calendars marked so as not to miss these great events. PA State Parks and Forest Challenge Keystone State Volkssport Assn will again sponsor this challenge program to encourage participation in events in our State Parks and State Forests. All of them have a lovely and colorful patch. Are you up to the challenge! We have so many wonderful parks and forests and this will be the year to get out and enjoy them. But be sure to wear bug spray in the summer. Many of these walks can be snow shoed. So that would be a new adventure. There is even a swim and bikes. You can get either the first time challenge book or the 2nd time challenge book on line at The list of qualifying State Parks and Forests for 2017 Year Round or Seasonal events are as follows: Shawnee State Park Ricketts Glen State Park Michaux State Forest 2 Snow Shoes and a walk Susquehannock State Park Presque Isle State Park Caledonia State Park walk and swim Mont Alto State Park Pine Grove Furnace State Park Cowan s Gap State Park Delaware Canal State Park in Morrisville and New Hope Little Buffalo State Park Cook Forest State Park walk and bike Tiadaghton State Forest walk and bike A couple of these are new for Access information about the State Parks and Forest Challenge at To find information about these walks, you can get our new KSVA Year Round and Seasonal Booklet at the Hershey Walkfest or go to

7 THE ROVER REPORTER PAGE ATLANTIC REGION CALENDAR of EVENTS From ava.org as of March 1, 2017 March 18 WM Greenbelt MD (Atlantic Reg Meeting) Great Greenbelt Volksmarchers W Norfolk VA (Hawaii in Virginia) Gator Volksmarsch Club W Baltimore MD (Park and Harbor) Baltimore Walking Club M Harrisburg PA (6 pm BassPro) Susquehanna Rovers April 1 W Gloucester VA (Daffodil Festival) Virginia Vagabonds W Fayetteville PA (Chicken Dinner) Cumberland Valley Lead Foot W Amelia VA (JL Hamner Pub Lib) Lee Lepus Volksverband W Catonsville MD (St Paul Luth. Church) Columbia Volksmarch club W Cantonsville MD (Spring Walk) Columbia Volksmarch W College Park MD (Airport) Great Greenbelt Volksmarchers W Williamsburg VA (Newtown walk) Peninsula Pathfinders of VA W College Park MD (College Pk Airport) W Newark DE (White Clay State Park) Liberty Bell Wanderers W Rockville MD (Swim & Fitness Center) Seneca Valley Sugarloafers GB Shippensburg PA York White Rose Wanderers M Harrisburg PA (6 pm BassPro) Susquehanna Rovers W Columbia PA (Susq River Towns) Penn-Dutch Pacers B Columbia PA (Susq River Towns) Susquehanna Rovers W Marietta PA (Susq River Towns) Susquehanna Rovers W Wrightsville PA (Susq River Towns) York White Rose Wanderers W Laurel MD (Lynne Haffner Mem) Freestate Happy Wanderers W Princeton NJ (Communiversity Arts) Princeton Area Walkers May 6 W Bedford PA (Bedford High School) Penn Mary Walkers GW Huntingdon Valley PA (Lorimer Park) Liberty Bell Wanderers W Potomac-Great Falls MD (Tav Vist Ctr) Washington DC Area Volksmarch W McLean VA (Great Falls Visitor Ctr) Washington DC Area Club W Kiptopeke VA (Eastern Shore Extra) Gator Volksmarsch Club W Onancok VA (Eastern Shore Extra) Gator Volksmarsch Club W Washington DC (Embassies Open) US Freedom Walk Festival Club W Bordentown NJ Princeton Area Walkers W Lorton VA (Occoquan Reg Park) Northern VA Volksmarchers W Camden-Wyoming DE First State Webfooters W Montross VA (Stratford Hall) Germanna Volkssport Assn W Rockville MD Seneca Valley Sugarloafers W Sterling VA (National Trails Day) Loudoun Walking & Volkssport W Huntingdon PA (Juniata College) Nittany Nomads W Goochland VA (Goochland Cty) Virginia Volkssport Assn W Louisa VA (Louisa County) Virginia Volkssport Assn W Schuyler VA (Nelson County) Virginia Volkssport Assn M Harrisburg PA (6 pm BassPro) Susquehanna Rovers Legend: W=Walk, GRP= Group Walk, GW=Guided Walk, NW=Night Walk, M=Meeting, S= Swim, B=Bike GB=Guided Bike

8 The Rover Reporter March - April 2017 Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Club 390 Old Quaker Road Etters PA Dated Materials

The Rover Reporter. Rover s Message. Inside this issue:

The Rover Reporter. Rover s Message. Inside this issue: The Rover Reporter The Newsletter of the Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Club 2016 Executive Officers President Sharon Miller 717-805-9540 millersd@ptd.net Vice Presidents Lester Miller 717-938-3488 millersd@ptd.net