Marville France

Comments by Roger Cyr - It was cold and raining on the 2nd of March 1967 in Marville, France. It was always cold and raining this time of year in France. Maybe the weather in Germany would be better.

I swung my old Volkswagen onto the highway and headed for Lahr, Canada’ new air base in the Black Forest. I was with the advance party taking over from the French Air Force after Charles deGaulle booted NATO out of France. The highway through Verdun, Metz and Nancy was a narrow twisting road with heavy traffic. Once I reached Strasbourg and crossed the Rhine River the Autobahn stretched all the way to Lahr and beyond to the Swiss border. I put the petal to the metal and reached my destination just as the clock in the bell tower struck twelve o’clock.

The local inhabitants of Lahr were hospitable and they made us welcome. We in turn boosted the economy in the local Gasthauses. A bar off the main street that we called The Hole in the Wall was a favorite hang out for the first few weeks. The owner played the piano and his wife delivered food and beer while he taught us German songs. How did a country that has such great music ever lose the war?

A man with whom I had previously worked arrived from Canada and we welcomed him to The Hole in the Wall. He was granted three days off on his arrival to recover from jet lag and to get acquainted with the area. To further enhance his knowledge of this part of Germany I loaned him my VW for a day. Returning later that night to The Hole in the Wall he regaled us with his adventures in a foreign country.

He told us that he had driven the back roads as my VW was old and he was afraid to take it on the Autobahn. He said there was one place that he could not find, although a Highway marker indicated the way. What was the name someone asked? I wrote the name down he said, taking a piece of paper from his pocket and handing it over. The word "UMLEITUNG" was printed out in capital letters. We laughed and banged our beer steins on the table, I said that word means detour in German. The piano player heard our banging, thought we were out of beer and delivered us another round!

I don’t think it’s funny he said, It took me a long time to get back here. You can use the car again tomorrow if you like I said, not bothering to tell him that sometimes they also use "UMWEG" as the detour sign. Let him try to find that place!