Back to Germany?

“After 16 years in the Army, I'm actually getting sort of a choice of where to go, and a little time to think about it. I've got a few options. I'm talking with my wife, but honestly, my #1 or #2 consideration is the hiking in the area.

1. (My favoritew) go back to Germany for 3 years as an OC in Hoensfeld. That is in the Bavarian Alps. Not a lot of overnight type trails, but it is something different.

2. Knoxville Tenessee as a Reserve training consultant. Near the AT! Lots of other hiking options in that part of the Appalachians.

3. Pensylvania as an ROTC instructor at a college, not sure where exactly. The AT goes through there, and they have mountains.

4. Arkansas doing the same job as #2. Ozark Highlands trails, Hot Springs, etc.

5. Fort Irwin California as an Observer Controler. In the middle of the freaking desert. Sierra Nevadas PCT, etc.

How about it hikers, what would you ask to do?”

“I'd say Knoxville but then you'd have to put up with those annoying Vol fans.
I'd prolly go to Pennsylvania.”

“Come on Sarge! Look at your name! You'll fint right in here in Arkansas. We're "Big on Little Rock."”

“Arkansas sucks. The trails are bad and the locals are worse.”

“Arkansas has some of the best trails I ever hiked.
hehehe”

“Thanks Bacpac. Do you consider yourself one of the locals?

If bacpac is trying to keep SGT ROck away, that must mean there is something he's hiding from the rest of us. Maybe we should consider this further. hmmmmm”

“#2”

“Germany. Then slip into Austria and do the high alpine hikes, hut-to-hut, or head to the Dolomites on the Italian border. The travel distance from Bavaria to lots of great mountain hikes can't be any farther than from state to state here, and the beer is LOTS better.”

“Mather is correct. I am a local, stay away.”

“After two trips to the NTC, Fort Irwin, I would stay the he!! away from there. To damn many scorpions, spiders, snakes, wrecked vehicles and wrecked soldiers. I don't know much about the hiking but your job would suck big time. If you want to stay married, stay away from the NTC. To many nights in the field and weekends away from home. Why not go back to Ho. It isn't the best in Germany but it would do nicely. From Parrsberg, just off post, you can catch a Regional Express train to just about anywhere, and they can get you real close to Austria which is awesome for hiking. I tried myself and liked it. Remember, stay away from Fort Irwin, it sucks.”

“Germany man, the NTC (Fort Irwin) sucks.”

“Forget the hiking for the moment. Go where the job is that you think you'd enjoy the most!

Nuff said!

Seriously.”

“You can see mountains from Ft. Irwin and be at a Sierra trailhead or Las Vegas in just a few hours...but it sure is hot there.

Don't make your decision based on only one factor. Try to maximize as many as possible.

The top three all look like they could be fun.”

“Pick the best job, as long as it's in PA or TN, lol.”

“Rock I will give ya my 2 pennies worth here.
Point 1:Knoxville has everything that a wife will probably want.The hiking in and around the Smokies is awesome and most of the people are great.

Point 2: I've spent some time as a ROTC instructor at Radford University in Virginia and that was a great assignment.You will also have time to hike.Some of the students will want to join you on your hikes.

Pont 3: Ya have to hike your own hike brother.No one else can make that decision for you but iffin it were me I would choose Knoxville.LOL!

V/R SFC Harrison”

“Ever thought of asking yer wife?”

“I did ask my wife. I'm going to Germany in March!”

“Sweeeeeeeet!”

“Cool! I would have said Germany also. Knoxville would be cool too!”

“Good luck and Happy Trails!”

“Easy choice, the Alps, great skiing, civilized hut system, shopping for the wife, chalets, nice trails, well kept forests, all the peaks you want to climb, close to the Pyrenese, Scottish highlands, ALPS, ALPS ALPS!

That's my vote.”

“Hey man, don't forget to stop by the Hofbrau house in Munich. It is in the same area as the Glochenshpiel. Both are cool. Good Luck Sarge, stay in touch.”

“I will. I guess I'll have to look into how to get an internet connection in Germany”

“Okay, Sgt. Rock, time to start planning the first TT Alpine hike. You arrive in March, so that gives you plenty of time before summer to scout a good route in the Alps to some choice huts. Then you figure how to get us all snuck onto a military transport plane to your base (no parachute drops, please). July looks good for me, anybody else, LOL?”

“Outstanding.”

“Do you speak German? If not, how will you comunicate?”

“Ish spekenzie kline Deutches.

More Germans speak proper english than Americans LOL”

“No Sh!t?”

“No Sh*t walkindude. In all of the German speaking countries it is not necesary to know one word of German. But it does help to at least try to learn a few phrases.”

“Who woulda thunk it?”

“Greece was like that also. They teach English in the Greek schools. I did learn to speak a good bit of greek when we lived over there but have now forgotten most of it.”

“Hey B66. Are you waiting for someone to say "It's all Greek to me?"

My 17-year-old is in Germany visiting his exchange-student brother. He says that even the 9&10-year-olds speak enough English to get by.
The guys are in the Stuttgart area, traveling all over by train. Some of you may remember Florian. He was on the Buffalo Stampede with us last year. They've been doing lots of biking and hiking in the Alps. I wish I were there!”

“My 16-year-old daughter just spent a month in Germany, the last week in Munich area. She loves her German class in H.S., so I'm counting on her being a translator if necessary someday.

When my wife went to Finland, she was counting on the Finnish reputation for being well versed in English from the school system, since her Finnish is miniscule. She came back and said it was true, all the Finns she met spoke English -- except her cousins up north of Oulu. She could talk to strangers, but not to her kin, LOL.”

“Two words - German Beer! Oh, and be careful if you cross the border into France, thay may mistake you for a German, and the whole country would surrender again. hehehe

Good luck and happy hiking - Tell all my bavarian relatives I said hi!”

“Have fun, Sgt. I loved the time I spent in the Bavarian area of Germany. Man, the beer is gooood. The people are nice and you don't have to be fluent in German. If you can say hello, goodbye, and thank you, you are in.”

“Looks like I am REALLY going to spend christmas in Germany. I am SO excited!!

Sort of would like to have New Years in Germany, but sort of not. It's party time during New Years in Germany. It will be hard to not act like a damn fool.

Now I need to figure out how I can get away for a couple of days to backpack in the bavaria area. Don't wanna piss off hubby either...I mean especially because he wants to surprise me with this Germany vacation.

You think it would be asking too much if I would ask him to watch the kids in a country where he doesn't speak the language and I leave for 3 days?? Outch!!!
last edited: 12/02/04 7:02:21 AM”

“All these years and you haven't taught him German?”

“Gem,
Where are you from in Germany?

I spent 2 years in Ansbach. Loved it! New Years, yep, usually on the verge of a riot. Do you go in costume?

I'm so envious, have a great time and visit the Kriskindlesmarkt for me! Ahhhhhh, lebkuchen, stollen, gluhwein :-)”

“Gemini, I'm so glad for you! Maybe you should take me to watch the kids for you? ;)”

“Ansback is really, really pretty. It's the Bavarian area. I am from the Stuttgart area, not very pretty, but very industrial. Well...I am from a little town that's actually pretty nice:



I bet if I look real close I'll find someone on that pic that I know. LOL

Bison: nope, didnt' teach him. No need to understand what I am talking about with my german friends. LOL

Sass: I would take you, but we are flying MAC. :(
last edited: 12/02/04 7:57:57 AM”

“I have a millitary ID! =)”

“whooohoooohoooo.....don't you need your hubby to fly mac? or are you the ex military?
hey...come right along then. :)”

“Sounds like you'll have a great christmas. I would love to do the whole backpacking across Europe thing some day.”

“Gemini act like a damn fool???

Like Em, Yam and Gem???”

“Gemini,

I envy you. I have been to Esslingen many times. I lived in Heidelberg for two years.
I would really like to have some brotchen,
the real stuff from Germany. I really liked
those rolls. I have found none like them in
the U.S.”

“If you insist on acting like a fool,...
have one extra beer for me :-)

Sounds like this trip is a perfect xmas gift for you, enjoy.”

“wow, pretty picture!”

“Have fun Gem! That's awesome you get to see your family and go bpacking too!”

“Have a good time, Gem. Hope all is well with your dad!”

“http://www.thatsmyhome.com/bakery/special/brotchen.htm

Not good at links but I'd been trying to find a brotchen recipe. I agree, you can't find anything like it here. Crusty on the outside tender on the inside.”