19. Aug 2025

Kortrijk - Russeignies

Photo 1: "The Cross and the Bicycles"

It is always intetesting what you might see when you pass through a town. I am not sure what this structure represents, but it reminded me of my bike ride through Europe 49 years ago which eventually led to my call to proclaim the message of the cross of Jesus in Germany and in Europe.

Photo 2: One of the foot paths that I walked today...

Photo 3: It rained quite a bit later this afternoon. I was glad that I had the poncho and the rain cover for the backpack.

At the store on my way to the campground this evening an older lady asked me if I was walking the Way of Saint James. With my limited French I shared with her my story and that I was walking with Jesus from Scotland to Germany. At the checkout I had a similar conversation with two workers that were there. One was ftom Egypt and spoke a bit of English.

Photo 4: It stopped raining by the time I got to the campground, but evetything was completely wet. It was a small campground in a family's private garden. I asked the owner if there might be a roof somewhere where I could put my tent up where it might be dry. He was impressed to know that I had walked from Scotland to his place. For hikers and cyclists they had developed this campling place to help them along the way. He offered me that I could sleep on the floor of the glamping tent that he had not yet cleaned and was not being used this evening or the next day. What a blessing for me. Everything was dry inside!

Photo 5: My evening meal under the protection of the glamping tarp...