08. Jul 2025

Newcastle - Rostrevor

Photo 1: I got up at 4:45 this morning so I could catch the early bus from Belfast to Newcastle to get back on schedule. The second hour of the hike was a very beautiful stretch along the Shimna River in the Tollymore Woods. Several old rock bridges crossed over the waterway. It did my soul good to be on the path again after sitting in the phone shop all day yesterday.

Photo 2: The path then led through some highlands. My hiking app would register 1422 altimeters for the day.

Photo 3: Ansolutely no one was on this part of the path.

Photo 4: As I was coming down from the highlands, I ran into Steven McDonald at a path crossing over a waterway. For the first time I tried out my water filter... and I did not get sick! Steve will also turn 70 this December and came to faith in Jesus when he was 15, just a year before me. We understood each other real well and prayed for each other.

A bit further down the path I met a young Irishman, Eugene. He shared with me that he was all messed up on drugs and realized that he was losing his life. He cried out to God one night for grace and mercy and woke up the next morning completely clean from drums. He has been that way ever since, now going on two years. I responded: "That's my Jesus! You call on him in the time of need, and he will be there to help you." I prayed for Eugene that God would continue his work of grace in his life.

Photo 5: The Youth with a Mission house in Rostrevor where I would stay the night. After a long hard hike through the mountains, this was a real haven of rest.