15. Aug 2025

Dunkirk - Lo Reninge

Photo 1: "Border crossing from France to Belgium"

I was was just one day in France before crossing the border over to Belgium today.

Photo 2: Today was the Assumption of Mary which meant that most stores and restaurants and would be closed. My food reserves were low and I needed water after a night of wild camping with no water source. Fortunately after about two hours of walking I saw a man doing something in his front yard. He was willing to fill up my water bottles. In the same town there was a small store that had opened in the morning. So I was able to buy what I needed for lunch. This would be the only store I saw opened all day... was really glad for that.

Photo 3: "Windmill"

I would much rather see an old windmill like this than the large wind turbines that sometime dot the landscape.

Photo 4: Much of the second half of the stretch today went along the Yser River. The more flat walking conditions were good for my right leg. I hardly notice the shin splint anymore, for which I am truly thankful.

Photo 5: The small village where I will be staying for the weekend. I booked a room at a B&B that had been rebuilt out of the ruins from World War I and had once been a parsonage. Neither a store nor a restaurant was open in the village, but I had those two packages of vegetable soup that were given to me that just needed to be mixed in hot water. I added some cheese pieces and a few small salamis that I had. The B&B owner was kind enough to make me a large salade with two hard boiled eggs. I made it through the week and the Assumption of Mary, ready now for a day of rest tomorrow.