The Band of Gamers will return to the Ardennes in October, 2008. Like last year, this tour is planned as a casual, social event for us wargamers. We will break out the Bulge games at night and drive through the Belgium countryside during the day. If you have ever played a Bulge game, you need to see this countryside. It’s beautiful!
Itinerary “Kelly’s got it all figured out”
Day 1
ARRIVAL DAY: Meet at the airport. Drive to Namur, Follow the Meuse to Dinant and stop at the Dinant bridge. At Dinant we’ll explore the 14th century citadel that overlooks the river. Drive to Foy-Notre-Dame (furthest point of German advance), Rochefort, stop at the 14th century cathedral at St Hubert, La Roche and Parker’s Crossroads. We’ll all have jet lag this day so we’ll get to the cabins in Malmedy around 6 pm and get some rest. top
Day 2
NORTHERN SECTOR: We’ll first drive to Dom Butgenbach where 26/1 regiment stopped the 12th SS. Then we drive to Bullingen, Elsenborn Ridge and Rocherath- Krinkelt. This area has changed little in the last 60 years. Then we’ll drive to Rollbahn A and walk into the forest as far as Jansbach Creek (where MacDonald’s company deployed to meet the 12SS). Then we can take a drive to Monschau for chocolate and coffee and to the Hohes Vehn to see the von der Hydte drop zone. top
Day 3
PEIPER’S TRAIL: We’ll start at Losheim for cappuccino and the delicious light pastries the Europeans are known for. From that point on we’ll be taking the path that the KG took: A back road over to Lanzerath and take a short walk to the fox hole positions of the famous 99th Division’s I&R; platoon. Then on to Buchholz Station, Honsfeld, the single-lane back roads south of Faymonville, stop at the Malmedy Massacre Site Memorial, Ligneuville, Stavelot, Trois Ponts, La Gleize (there is a Tiger tank and a nice museum there), Cheneux, Habiemont (stop and curse the engineers), follow the Liene Creek to the Ambleve Valley, Targon station, Stoumont. We’ll be stopping at just about all those places and describing the battles. This is pretty drive through some of the most rugged Belgium countryside. We’ll eat dinner at the old town of Stavelot. top
Day 4
5th PANZER ARMY: We’ll see the battle sites of the “bloody” 110th regiment and follow the 5th PzA’s advance from the Our River to Bastogne. The tour will start at the Dasburg Bridge. We’ll do Marnach, Hosingen, Clervaux, Longvilly, Bastogne (do the town center and the Bastogne museum), and drive along the 101’st foxhole line from Bizory to Foy. Afterwards we’ll drive to Noville and Houffalize and return to Malmedy. top
Day 5
BREAKTHROUGH AT THE SCHNEE EIFEL: On this day we’ll explore the battle sites around St. Vith, Schonberg, the Schnee Eifel and the Ouren Bridges. Lots of dragons teeth, pillboxes and tiny roads on this day. There is a wonderful museum at Poteu where we will take a ride on a US halftrack. top
Day 6
7th ARMY: Take the Autobahn to the south flank. Follow the Saur River and see Echternach, Wallendorf, Diekirch (a huge museum here), drive up to the Cafe Schumann Crossroads, then to Wiltz. top
Day 7
An open day. We’ll drive back to the airport around 2pm. Probably see a few quick sites along the way like Marche and Humain. top
Lodging
We’ll stay at a beautiful resort outside of Malmédy. Each cabin holds 4 people. The cabins have kitchen facilities so we make our own breakfast in the morning and sack a brown bag lunch for the afternoon. In the evenings we’ll do a restaurant or fast food. The name of the resort is: Le Val d’Arimont. top
Cost
The cost of this tour is $1000.
We will take care of your lodging, car rental, gas, museums, breakfast, lunch, maps, bulge trivia and driving. All you have to take care of is your own air ticket and nightly meals. Ticket prices to Europe range from about $550 to $850 depending where you depart from in the US.
