FWC News for the New Year
Join Us for Our Next Upcoming Group Walks
- WHEN: Saturday, February 18th, 2023
- TIME: 10:00 a.m.
- WHERE: Meet at the Warrenton Town Hall/Visitor’s Center, 21 Main St., Warrenton, VA 20186
- DISTANCE: 6K/3.6 miles
- DETAILS: Everyone is welcome. This is one of our club’s Year-Round Walks (YRE). If you’re an AVA* member, bring your Event/Distance books to get them stamped, plus $3.00. If not a member, we’ll have New Walker Packets available for purchase ($10), if interested.
- MORE DETAILS: Warrenton is named after Gen. Janes Warren, a Revolutionary War hero, and is a well-preserved town reflecting its historical role as an agricultural crossroads. The walk will follow brick sidewalks in historic Warrenton past the post-Civil War home of Col. Mosby, the Gray Ghost. The walk will be on sidewalks with a few hills.
- ALSO: After the walk, those who are interested can join us for lunch at Molly’s Irish Pub, which is located across from our start point. https://mollysirishpub.com/
- NOTE: Walk will be cancelled in case of rain/snow. Check back here or on our Facebook page for updates. We’ll also send out an email.
- DIRECTIONS: The Visitor’s Center is 12 miles West of Manassas. Coming from North or South, take Hwys. 15, 17, or 29 to Warrenton, VA. Follow Eastern Bypass 17/29 to East Lee St. (County 643). Go right to Falmouth St. which becomes Main St. Visitor’s Center is on the left. There is a parking lot behind the Town Hall which can be accessed from Horner St. (Horner St., which is North of Main St., can be reached from the Alexandria Pike or 3rd St.) Also, there are parking lots between Main and Lee Sts., between 2nd and 4th Sts. – South of Main St.
Save These Dates for More Upcoming Walks:
- WHEN: Sunday, March 5th, 2023, 10:00 a.m.
- WHERE: Ashland, VA
- SPECIFIC DETAILS TO COME: The walk is our FWC Year-Round Event walk, called “Ashland Center of the Universe.”
- More details will be posted closer to the event.
- WHEN: Sunday, March 19th, 2023, 9:30 a.m.
- WHERE: Fredericksburg, VA
- SPECIFIC DETAILS TO COME: The walk is our FWC Year-Round Event walk, called “First Day of Chancellorsville.”
- More details will be posted closer to the event.
- WHEN: Saturday, April 8th, 2023
- WHERE: Richmond, VA
- SPECIFIC DETAILS TO COME: We will participate in a traditional volksmarch sponsored by the Lee Leepus Volkssport Club, called the “Bryan Park Welcome to Spring” walk in Richmond.
- More details will be posted closer to the event.
- WHEN: Sunday, April 23rd, 2023
- WHERE: Fredericksburg, VA
- SPECIFIC DETAILS TO COME: Our club will have a traditional volksmarch in Fredericksburg called, “Walk into Spring.”
- More details will be posted closer to the event.
If you’d like to be on our mailing list, contact our club president, Sharon Vines at: fredericksburgwalkingclub@gmail.com.
The Fredericksburg Walking Club (FWC) is part of the Virginia Volkssport Association (VVA). Learn more about other Virginia walking events and clubs at: https://www.walkvirginia.org/
*The FWC and the VVA are members of the American Volkssport Association (AVA). Volksmarching is a form of non-competitive fitness walking that developed in Europe. Participants typically walk 5k (3.1 miles) or 10k (6.2 miles) on an outdoor trail. Volksmarch clubs offer incentives for AVA members for their AVA sanctioned walks. Volkssport participants enjoy recording distances and events in international record books. Incentive awards, like pins and patches, are given for collecting a certain number of events. If you would like to become an FWC or AVA member, contact us by the email, or come to one of our walks and ask us about it. You do not have to be an AVA member to walk with us, although we encourage it. The FWC schedules non-AVA walks along with AVA walks. For more information about the AVA: https://ava.org
Scenes from our Januray 14th Culpepper walk:
Despite the cold weather, we had a great turnout with 14 of us starting in historic downtown Culpepper at the Visitor’s Center/Museum and then walking to and around Yowell Meadow Park. We passed numerous historical markers and memorials as shown in the photos. Afterwards we warmed up with lunch at the Frost Cafe. Very enjoyable!
We hope you enjoyed the 2022 holiday season. Our annual downtown Historic Fredericksburg Holiday Walk held on December 17th was a great success with 54 walkers participating! Thanks to all who helped make it happen.
From our November 19th, 2022 walk:
Ten of us had a great time walking 3.5 miles on the Fredericksburg Canal Path/Rappahannock River Heritage Trail loop, with a side jaunt to the Cossey Botanical Park. It was chilly, but the sun was bright and warmed us up. Happy to welcome three new club and AVA members!
From our October 29th, 2022 walk:
We had a great 3 1/2 mile walk beginning and ending in beautiful Alum Spring Park in Fredericksburg. After leaving the park, we headed towards downtown Fredericksburg until we reached historic Sunken Road, where the Battle of Fredericksburg took place. We continued onto the nicely paved Virginia Central Railway Trail (VCR) that goes back to Alum Spring Park. Another beautiful fall morning, and we were happy to welcome more new members!
From our October 22nd, 2022 walk:
We had a great four-mile walk starting in Pratt Park in Fredericksburg, following a trail that took us across the new Chatham Bridge into downtown, walking on the charming Sophia and Caroline Streets before heading back. It was a beautiful morning.
From our October 16th, 2022 walk:
A small but enthusiastic group of people who love to walk met in Curtis Memorial Park in Fredericksburg for a beautiful 3.5 mile walk on a trail through the woods. So nice with the changing leaves and cooler temps.
September 2022 Walks:
On September 10th we walked 3.5 miles through parts of St. Clair Brooks and Pratt Parks in Fredericksburg, with the highlight being walking around the beautiful grounds of historic Chatham Manor.
On the evening of September 19th, we went on our club’s downtown Historic Fredericksburg walk, a Year-Round Event (volksmarch) sanctioned by the American Volksmarch Association (AVA*). It was very enjoyable especially because several walkers knew the history of some of the houses and buildings we saw.
You can also find out what’s happening by joining our Fredericksburg Walking Club Facebook group. Just do a search and you’ll find us.
Walks From Spring 2022
The Fredericksburg Walking Club joined the Northern VA Volksmarchers’ sponsored walk at Vint Hill, Warrenton, VA on May 21st, 2022.
The walk started at Old Bust Head Brewing Co., 7134 Farm Station Rd., Vint Hill/Warrenton, VA.
Six of us from the Fredericksburg Walking Club met at 9:00 a.m. and walked an enjoyable 5K – despite it being a 90+ degree day. It was too hot to take on the 10K! Afterwards, we had a very nice lunch at the Cafe. The Vint Hill area is so interesting historically:
Originally rural farmland where cattle and sheep were raised, Vint Hill’s purpose changed dramatically in 1942. Farmers noticed that they were intercepting German messages on their radios and contacted the U.S. Army. It turned out that the land sits on a rare geological formation that serves as a long-range antenna, and the messages were from Berlin. The Army purchased the land and the country’s newest listening post was born. After World War II, Vint Hill Farms Station served as a training outpost for cryptanalysts and radio operators. It closed in the 1990s and today is known for great food, local beer, and entertainment. After lunch, some of us visited the Old Bust Head Brewery, the Cold War Museum, and the Vint Hill Craft Winery. All in all, a great day!
* For more information about the American Volkssport Association (AVA): https://ava.org/
More Walks From Spring ’22:
Our Dalgren Rails to Trails walk on May 1st was a success!
Over forty people joined us for a self-guided or group walk on the Dalgren Heritage Trail in King George, VA, walking 5K, 13K, or any distance they preferred. The trail is through 240 acres of preserved land and is clear because the historic railroad ties have been removed. The natural surface is even and good for walking, hiking, biking, and running. The first four miles are particularly well-used, maintained, and are suitable for strollers and children. We offered brats and hot dogs that could be topped with member Kay Shoemaker’s delicious sauerkraut, plus chips, cookies, and water. AVA/IVV credit was available for $3.00.
For more information about the Dahlgren Heritage Trail – https://www.dahlgrentrail.org/
We celebrated National Walking Week on Sunday, April 3rd by walking The First Day of Chancellorsville Battlefield Trail in Spotsylvania, VA – our new Seasonal Event. Click here for more information.
Start Point: The Spotsylvania County/First Day of Chancellorsville Visitor Center/Museum, 6159 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, VA (across from the Battlefield Country Store)
We had a great turnout on a beautiful morning! Walkers had a choice of a 5-, 8-, or 10K trail. The trail is mostly grass or gravel with a few hills, plus a short distance (paved) through a housing development. Carrying water was recommended.
For more information about The First Day of Chancellorsville Trail: https://www.battlefields.org/visit/battlefields/chancellorsville-battlefield
WALK ANYTIME!
We sponsor the following Seasonal and Year-Round Events (YREs) below that can be done any time the Start Point is open.
NEW SEASONAL WALK! Chancellorsville, VA – First Day at Chancellorsville Battlefield – more information – Visitor Center open daily 9am to 5pm, except Thanksgiving, Dec. 24/25, and Jan 1.
Ashland, VA – Center of the Universe – more information – Visitor Center open daily, 10am to 4pm.
Culpeper, VA – Historic Streetscapes – more information – Visitor Center is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10am-6pm.
Fredericksburg, VA – Historic – more information – Visitor Center open daily, 10am to 4pm.
Fredericksburg, VA – River Ramblers – more information – Visitor Center open daily, 10am to 4pm.
Warrenton, VA – Brick Sidewalks – more information – Tuesday-Friday 10-2, Saturday 8:30-4:30.
Fredericksburg Walking Club 