04. Aug 2025

Durrington - Stockbridge

Photo 1: Today the path went around another military training facility.

Photo 2: One of the by-ways...

Photo 3: Quite often the by-ways offer some shade which is greatly welcomed on warm sunny days.

Photo 4: Wheat harvest complete...

Photo 5: Village house

Two young people tended the village shop where I bought food supplies for the evening and next morning. My menu for dinner: canned vegetable soup and canned tuna, warmed at backpack temperature. As I paid for my things I mentioned that I was hiking from Scotland to my home in Germany. They were impressed. I then said that I would be turning 70 this December. Now they were really impressed. I continued: "Yes, I was 16 when I said yes to Jesus. He has been my Personal Trainer ever since and has kept me from many things that make a lot of people get old real quick!" I just love doing that... particularly with young people. It gives them something to think about... at least for the moment.

The ground was so dry and hard at the campground that I could not get the tent stakes in the ground. I saw a utility vehicle nearby. A young man, Ethan, was at the back where the tools were. I asked him if he might have a hammer that I could use. When I brought the hammer back, a God-talk took place. He had gone to a Christian school as a kid, but had drifted away with work and adult life. He had a desire to reconnect with God. His girl friend encouraged him to try going to a church, but he is often on the road and has no time for that. I said, "Ethan, the ten minutes that you have talked with me, you can also take to talk with God wherever you are." I suggested that he get a pocket New Testament and get to know Jesus by reading his biography in the four gospels. He can carry the book with him wherever he goes and take just a few minutes a day to get started. He was really grateful for the talk and prayer... a d I was glad to have the tent stakes in the ground.