On the way!
till I arrive back at home.
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Following Jesus...
When I was sixteen, I got to know Jesus by reading his biography, the first four books of the New Testament. I often wondered how it would have been to have actually walked with Jesus, heard his words and been part of his encounters with people. It would have certainly been life changing. A bit of that I was able to experience in 2023 on Snail-Trail 1 as I walked from my home in Germany to the west coast of Spain, and in 2024 on Snail-Trail 2 as I walked again from Germany and then through the Balkans to the city of Corinth in Greece. Both were amazing experiences. Even though I could not see Jesus, I sensed his presence, leading and enabling. I got to be a part of his encounters with people through conversations and prayers that I had with them.
Snail-Trail 3.0...
Following Jesus does not end by reaching a certain destination, completing a certain task or reaching a certain age. The call continues. The path leads on. This year I will head north, starting in Tallinn, Estonia and then walking back to my home in southern Germany. My steps on Snail-Trail 3 will take me through the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and then through Poland and the Czech Republic before crossing over the Bohemian and Bavarian Forests into Germany. I plan to arrive back home by the last week of September. I invite you to join me on this walk-talk-pray journey by way of the photos, thoughts and film clips on the blog.
Baltics…
At one point I will be walking through a narrow land corridor leading from Lithuania to Poland between the Russian exclave Kaliningrad to the west and Belarus to the east. This land strip is a reminder of the volatile history of the three Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – marked by periods of independence, foreign domination, and the struggle for self-determination. The Baltic States gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1990–1991 and became a part of the EU and NATO in 2004. Current political developments threaten the fragile stability of the region. The past influence of communistic-atheistic thought has eroded the seedbed for faith. Estonia for instance has been called the least religious country in the world. A similar spiritual challenge can be found in Poland and the Czech Republic, two former Warsaw Pact countries that I will be walking through. Our prayer is that God’s grace and goodness will be at work in this region of Europe. Please join me in this prayer journey.
Together...
Prayer: I would greatly appreciate your prayers as well…
- Pray that God will be in the daily details, for God appointments along the way, for hearts to be touched by God’s heart.
- Pray for church planting efforts in the Baltics, Poland and Czech Republic.
- Pray for protection from wild animals and drivers and extreme weather conditions.
- Pray that my 68 year old bones and muscles will make it through another Snail-Trail!
Project: If you would like to be a part of what the Assemblies of God is doing in this region of Europe (church planting, children/youth/student outreaches…), please click on this link to make an online donation: https://giving.ag.org/donate/600001-226052?class=88
You can make a one-time contribution or wait to see how far I go for a per kilometer pledge. Please click on the option “88 Snail Trail”. Many thanks!
Blog
10.
Aug
Photo 1 / Video: There is a Lutheran Church in Brodnica. Unfortunately I looked too late to see if and when they might have a service. It was at 9.00 am. So I went to the Catholic Church that was just three minutes away from where I was staying. About the only words I understood were God, Jesus Christ, thanks, I know, and amen. Regardless of what opion one might have of the established churches, Jesus in his day still went to the Temple and called it "my Father's House". So I went to "my Father's House" and prayed during the service for my Father's will to be done in Poland, in that church, and in the lives of the people who gather there week for week.
Photo 2: After the service I asked the alter server if the chuch might have a stamp for my pilgrim passport. They did not have one, but he took me to the other Catholic Church that was about 500 meters away...
Photo 3: Apparently there are more than one priest at this church. One was about to start the 11.00 am service. Another had the name that would be the English equivalent of "Jerry". He had this Sunday off, as can be verified by this photo. Still he opened the church office and stamped my passport. I told him I was a pastor and offered to pray for him and the ministry at the church, which he gladly accepted.
Photo 4: A view of the city center with the steeple of the other chuch in the background to the right.
Photo 5: I just received this picture from the church service in Kaunas on July 17th and post it now here...
Photo 2: After the service I asked the alter server if the chuch might have a stamp for my pilgrim passport. They did not have one, but he took me to the other Catholic Church that was about 500 meters away...
Photo 3: Apparently there are more than one priest at this church. One was about to start the 11.00 am service. Another had the name that would be the English equivalent of "Jerry". He had this Sunday off, as can be verified by this photo. Still he opened the church office and stamped my passport. I told him I was a pastor and offered to pray for him and the ministry at the church, which he gladly accepted.
Photo 4: A view of the city center with the steeple of the other chuch in the background to the right.
Photo 5: I just received this picture from the church service in Kaunas on July 17th and post it now here...
09.
Aug
Grzmięca - Brodnica
Photo 1: The city of Brodnica, my destination for today and the place where I will have my day of rest on Sunday. Today was my shortest hike on Snail-Trail 3.0. I knew I would be needing the breather after these first two weeks in Poland with the long distances and then combined with the rainy weather. Next week promises to be more like summer.
Photo 2: Canoes on a small river, reminded me of my Royal Ranger days...
Photo 3: The first half of the hike today went through the forest and along several lakes.
Photo 4: Wheat fields on a hill
Photo 5: The Drwęca that goes through Brodnica. The room where I am staying the weekend is just around the corner from this bridge. I was so glad to get there... and eat a normal meal at a restaurant.
Photo 2: Canoes on a small river, reminded me of my Royal Ranger days...
Photo 3: The first half of the hike today went through the forest and along several lakes.
Photo 4: Wheat fields on a hill
Photo 5: The Drwęca that goes through Brodnica. The room where I am staying the weekend is just around the corner from this bridge. I was so glad to get there... and eat a normal meal at a restaurant.
07.
Aug
Ostroda - Iława
Photo 1: I have been walking through a region with a lot of lakes, but not always are the lakes visible because of the dense forest growth between the path and the lake. This was a nice path along a lake this morning.
Last night I stayed at a guest house operated by a Franciscan Monastery. After I had my shower and put on other clothes, I was walking through the hallway when a young woman arrived. She asked me something in Polish and I responded that I speak English. She thought I worked there and wanted to know in which direction her room might be. I told that I was from American, live in Germany, am walking from Estonia to my home in Germany... and that her room was two doors down from mine on the right. That broke the ice.
The next morning I was the first person to go down to the dinning area for breakfast. I wanted to get an early start. Anja was the second person to come down. She needed to get to a training session to learn how to operate a drone camera for her work in environment preservation. There were three long tables in the room, but because of the short encounter yesterday evening, she felt comfortable enough to sit at the same table where I was. We began to talk about the recent rains and how the forest really needed it after the last years that were so dry. At some point the conversation turned towards the God connection. I think it was when I told her the one Polish sentence that I know: "Jesus is my Lord!" She said that she believes in Jesus, sometimes goes into a church alone to pray, but she cannot relate to the institution "church". I told her that Jesus did not go to the cross to start a religious institution, but connect our hearts with God. I also said that there are other churches out there where she might better find the God connection that she was looking for. I told her that I was a pastor and would hope that the church where I was a pastor for so many years would be such a church. I then showed her the one minute video clip from the church service in Kaunas that I posted in the blog from July 17 where the worship team is singing the song "I speak Jesus!" It was as if scales were removed from her eyes. She exclaimed: "This is church? Where can I find a church like this?"
What a question. It still moves my heart. I wish I could have given her an answer. She lives in a small town, and there is no church like this there. I walked through the nearest larger city to where she lives and was not aware of a "church like this" there. Our intercultral workers from the Assemblies of God have partnered with the Polish Assemblies of God and targeted 700 communities in Poland that have 7000 or more people that do not have a "church like this". Maybe one of those communities is the one where Anja lives. I could not give her an answer. I prayed for her. I sensed Jesus speaking through me when I told her his promise that if we seek, we will find. There are many people in Poland like Anja who are looking for that God connection and a "church like this."
Photo 2: An old railtrack that is now a walking and bike path.
Photo 3: Lunch break in a clearing in the forest. I eat a lot of fresh fruit, vegetables and can or smoked fish on the trail. Sometimes I can buy a meal at a grocery store and take it with me.
Photo 4: The harbor city Iława on Lake Jaziorak where I spent the night.
Photo 5: At the campground in Iława I thought I had found a secluded spot on a level area on a hill not so far from the facilities. Behind me were two buildings like motels, but I saw absolutely no one around. After I pitched my tent and had my food stuff spread out on a nearby picknick table under a shelter, all of a sudden a horde of young people were walking my way. Those buildings that looked like motels were their dormitories for their summer camp. The walkway went right by me. I started greeting them in Polish then in English. One group of teens stopped to try out their English with me. Adam, to the right in the photo, spoke the best. He asked me if I spoke any Polish. I said my one sentence: "Jesus is my Lord!" Adam is 14, and I said that I was 16 when I said "Yes" to Jesus, then added: "I know he is real." The girl in the photo asked how I know he is real. What a great question! I told her that I talk with him every day, his Spirit is living in me and gives me the strength to walk from Estonia to Germany with this big backpack. We had a good time talking. They needed to go and I needed to eat, but I prayed for them before they left. So many young people in Europe ask this question: "How do you know he is real?"
Last night I stayed at a guest house operated by a Franciscan Monastery. After I had my shower and put on other clothes, I was walking through the hallway when a young woman arrived. She asked me something in Polish and I responded that I speak English. She thought I worked there and wanted to know in which direction her room might be. I told that I was from American, live in Germany, am walking from Estonia to my home in Germany... and that her room was two doors down from mine on the right. That broke the ice.
The next morning I was the first person to go down to the dinning area for breakfast. I wanted to get an early start. Anja was the second person to come down. She needed to get to a training session to learn how to operate a drone camera for her work in environment preservation. There were three long tables in the room, but because of the short encounter yesterday evening, she felt comfortable enough to sit at the same table where I was. We began to talk about the recent rains and how the forest really needed it after the last years that were so dry. At some point the conversation turned towards the God connection. I think it was when I told her the one Polish sentence that I know: "Jesus is my Lord!" She said that she believes in Jesus, sometimes goes into a church alone to pray, but she cannot relate to the institution "church". I told her that Jesus did not go to the cross to start a religious institution, but connect our hearts with God. I also said that there are other churches out there where she might better find the God connection that she was looking for. I told her that I was a pastor and would hope that the church where I was a pastor for so many years would be such a church. I then showed her the one minute video clip from the church service in Kaunas that I posted in the blog from July 17 where the worship team is singing the song "I speak Jesus!" It was as if scales were removed from her eyes. She exclaimed: "This is church? Where can I find a church like this?"
What a question. It still moves my heart. I wish I could have given her an answer. She lives in a small town, and there is no church like this there. I walked through the nearest larger city to where she lives and was not aware of a "church like this" there. Our intercultral workers from the Assemblies of God have partnered with the Polish Assemblies of God and targeted 700 communities in Poland that have 7000 or more people that do not have a "church like this". Maybe one of those communities is the one where Anja lives. I could not give her an answer. I prayed for her. I sensed Jesus speaking through me when I told her his promise that if we seek, we will find. There are many people in Poland like Anja who are looking for that God connection and a "church like this."
Photo 2: An old railtrack that is now a walking and bike path.
Photo 3: Lunch break in a clearing in the forest. I eat a lot of fresh fruit, vegetables and can or smoked fish on the trail. Sometimes I can buy a meal at a grocery store and take it with me.
Photo 4: The harbor city Iława on Lake Jaziorak where I spent the night.
Photo 5: At the campground in Iława I thought I had found a secluded spot on a level area on a hill not so far from the facilities. Behind me were two buildings like motels, but I saw absolutely no one around. After I pitched my tent and had my food stuff spread out on a nearby picknick table under a shelter, all of a sudden a horde of young people were walking my way. Those buildings that looked like motels were their dormitories for their summer camp. The walkway went right by me. I started greeting them in Polish then in English. One group of teens stopped to try out their English with me. Adam, to the right in the photo, spoke the best. He asked me if I spoke any Polish. I said my one sentence: "Jesus is my Lord!" Adam is 14, and I said that I was 16 when I said "Yes" to Jesus, then added: "I know he is real." The girl in the photo asked how I know he is real. What a great question! I told her that I talk with him every day, his Spirit is living in me and gives me the strength to walk from Estonia to Germany with this big backpack. We had a good time talking. They needed to go and I needed to eat, but I prayed for them before they left. So many young people in Europe ask this question: "How do you know he is real?"
06.
Aug
Gietrzwald - Ostroda
Photo 1: Early in the morning...
The village where I stayed the night is called Woryty. I almost left the Guest House this morning without my thermos and water bottle. That would not have been a good thing. There would be no food or water resources along the way until almost the end of the hike. I thought my backpack felt a little lighter as I started off. Then it dawned on me that I had left the two bottles in the refrigerator. When they are both full, they add close to 2 kilos (4.5 pounds) to my pack weight.
When I left the house, the host saw me. He knew I had a very long stretch yesterday and was surprised to see that I was up and going already so early in the morning. To be quite honest, it surprises me again and again myself. I am writing this blog post on Sunday. This morning I read these verses from Paul in 2. Corinthians 4 that took on new meaning for me:
Verse 1: "Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart." (The German translation reads: "...we do not tire")
Verse 7: "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."
Verse 16: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." (Again the German translation reads: "...we do not tire")
I told the man that I walk with God and he gives me the strength I need to walk this distance with such a backpack. He answered: "You are a strong man!" I said: "He is a strong God!"
Photo 2: Stone road... they last forever, but are not always easy to walk on.
Photo 3: One of 130 bunkers spread in a half circle line through the region of Olsztyn. They were built before World War II by the Germans to protect Prussia from a possible attack from Poland. The attack never came.
Photo 4: The road leading to Ostroda
Photo 5: The Polish flag: The white represents purity and honesty, while the red symbolizes courage, bravery, and blood shed for the fatherland. These colors are derived from the Polish coat of arms, which features a white eagle on a red background.
The symbolism of the colors dates back to the Middle Ages, particularly associated with the Piast dynasty and the legend of Lech, who chose the white eagle as a symbol after seeing it against a red sunset. The colors were officially adopted in 1831 and have been used to represent Poland ever since.
Notice: I am now back on schedule with the maps, destinations and distances posted on the blog. I needed to change things two weeks ago to accommodate for the rainy weather so that I would have a dry room to sleep in and not a tent.
The village where I stayed the night is called Woryty. I almost left the Guest House this morning without my thermos and water bottle. That would not have been a good thing. There would be no food or water resources along the way until almost the end of the hike. I thought my backpack felt a little lighter as I started off. Then it dawned on me that I had left the two bottles in the refrigerator. When they are both full, they add close to 2 kilos (4.5 pounds) to my pack weight.
When I left the house, the host saw me. He knew I had a very long stretch yesterday and was surprised to see that I was up and going already so early in the morning. To be quite honest, it surprises me again and again myself. I am writing this blog post on Sunday. This morning I read these verses from Paul in 2. Corinthians 4 that took on new meaning for me:
Verse 1: "Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart." (The German translation reads: "...we do not tire")
Verse 7: "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."
Verse 16: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." (Again the German translation reads: "...we do not tire")
I told the man that I walk with God and he gives me the strength I need to walk this distance with such a backpack. He answered: "You are a strong man!" I said: "He is a strong God!"
Photo 2: Stone road... they last forever, but are not always easy to walk on.
Photo 3: One of 130 bunkers spread in a half circle line through the region of Olsztyn. They were built before World War II by the Germans to protect Prussia from a possible attack from Poland. The attack never came.
Photo 4: The road leading to Ostroda
Photo 5: The Polish flag: The white represents purity and honesty, while the red symbolizes courage, bravery, and blood shed for the fatherland. These colors are derived from the Polish coat of arms, which features a white eagle on a red background.
The symbolism of the colors dates back to the Middle Ages, particularly associated with the Piast dynasty and the legend of Lech, who chose the white eagle as a symbol after seeing it against a red sunset. The colors were officially adopted in 1831 and have been used to represent Poland ever since.
Notice: I am now back on schedule with the maps, destinations and distances posted on the blog. I needed to change things two weeks ago to accommodate for the rainy weather so that I would have a dry room to sleep in and not a tent.
05.
Aug
Zalbki - Giertwald
Photo 1: Lego-Pilgrim that I met on the path today...
I am surprised that I have met no other pilgrims here in Poland other than Kati and her friend that I met a week ago. They ended their 8 day camino on Sunday and were a couple stages behind me. All the pilgrims from Lithuania that I had met ended their camino in Sejny if not earlier. Gilbert from France sent me a WhatsApp that he had to return to home because of a broken pipe at his house. I am sure there might other pilgrims on the path somewhere in Poland. I just have not seen any.
Photo 2: The three flags in front of the City Hall in Olsztyn: Camino, Poland and European Union
Photo 3 +4: I enjoyed walking through the Old Town of Olsztyn. It reminded me a little bit of the city Landshut near to where I live in Germany.
Photo 5: Path through the woods and along the lake...
Today was my longest hike on Snail-Trail 3.0, almost 43 kilometers. It rained the last two hours. I arrived in the small town of Gietrzwald in the early evening. It is the only place in Poland were the Catholic Church has validated multiple apparitions of Mary in 1877 to two young girls ages 12 and 13. It is said that Mary spoke Polish to the girls which was forbidden in school at that time by the Prussian authorities. Apparently the apparitions helped prevent an armed uprising, as the girls were told that the people needed to instead pray and repent of the sin in their own heart. Eventually this region became part of what is today Poland.
When I arrived at the church, it was full and a service was already in session, so I did not go in with my wet poncho and backpack. I said a brief prayer at the entry for God's kingdom purposes to be revealed at this place, for the Holy Spirit fire from heaven to bring genuine spiritual renewal.
There was a pilgrim house near the church, but it was not so much for Way of St. James as it was for people coming to the Mary shrine. Now I know why I could not make a reservation there a week ago... it was completely booked. I continued on another two kilometers in the rain to a Guest House in a nearby village. I just wanted to take a warm shower, eat, and go to bed.
I am surprised that I have met no other pilgrims here in Poland other than Kati and her friend that I met a week ago. They ended their 8 day camino on Sunday and were a couple stages behind me. All the pilgrims from Lithuania that I had met ended their camino in Sejny if not earlier. Gilbert from France sent me a WhatsApp that he had to return to home because of a broken pipe at his house. I am sure there might other pilgrims on the path somewhere in Poland. I just have not seen any.
Photo 2: The three flags in front of the City Hall in Olsztyn: Camino, Poland and European Union
Photo 3 +4: I enjoyed walking through the Old Town of Olsztyn. It reminded me a little bit of the city Landshut near to where I live in Germany.
Photo 5: Path through the woods and along the lake...
Today was my longest hike on Snail-Trail 3.0, almost 43 kilometers. It rained the last two hours. I arrived in the small town of Gietrzwald in the early evening. It is the only place in Poland were the Catholic Church has validated multiple apparitions of Mary in 1877 to two young girls ages 12 and 13. It is said that Mary spoke Polish to the girls which was forbidden in school at that time by the Prussian authorities. Apparently the apparitions helped prevent an armed uprising, as the girls were told that the people needed to instead pray and repent of the sin in their own heart. Eventually this region became part of what is today Poland.
When I arrived at the church, it was full and a service was already in session, so I did not go in with my wet poncho and backpack. I said a brief prayer at the entry for God's kingdom purposes to be revealed at this place, for the Holy Spirit fire from heaven to bring genuine spiritual renewal.
There was a pilgrim house near the church, but it was not so much for Way of St. James as it was for people coming to the Mary shrine. Now I know why I could not make a reservation there a week ago... it was completely booked. I continued on another two kilometers in the rain to a Guest House in a nearby village. I just wanted to take a warm shower, eat, and go to bed.
04.
Aug
Kikity - Zalbki
Photo 1: I made it to the city hall in Barczewo just ten minutes before they closed. I asked whether they might have a stamp for the pilgrim passport. The man at the desk said they had a very special stamp and called for someone upstairs to bring it down. The stamp is a picture of Feliks Nowowiejski, (1877 - 1946) a very famous composer and conductor from their city. They then wanted to take a photo of me holding my pilgrim passport with their stamp on it in front of their tourist advertisement poster. On the left of the poster is a depiction of Nowowiejski riding on a bicycle with a conductor's stick in his hand. The man I spoke to at the desk understood English a bit, so I explained that I was a pilgrim and a pastor and asked if I could pray for him. Afterwards he thanked me and said that he was "born" yesterday. He wanted to say that it was his birthday. He had turned 50. I told him that today was my 50th day on my walk from Estonia to Germany. So we both were celebrating a 50th!
Photo 2: The first part of the walk today...
My biorhythm got me up and going early this morning (4:40 am). If it were not for that, I would have missed the encounter at the city hall in Barczewo. Tomorrow will be the first of two 40 km hikes this week. I will need an early start again.
Photo 3: Two bridges in Barczewo...
Photo 4: The Church of St. Anne and St. Stephen in Barczewo
Photo 5: Reaching the halfway point is always a special milestone. It motivates and gives confidence for the continued journey. Every kilometer that I walk now is one less than what I have already done. The Good Shephed has brought me to this point, and he will lead me on.
Photo 2: The first part of the walk today...
My biorhythm got me up and going early this morning (4:40 am). If it were not for that, I would have missed the encounter at the city hall in Barczewo. Tomorrow will be the first of two 40 km hikes this week. I will need an early start again.
Photo 3: Two bridges in Barczewo...
Photo 4: The Church of St. Anne and St. Stephen in Barczewo
Photo 5: Reaching the halfway point is always a special milestone. It motivates and gives confidence for the continued journey. Every kilometer that I walk now is one less than what I have already done. The Good Shephed has brought me to this point, and he will lead me on.
03.
Aug
Photo 1: I really need and look forward to the day of rest. This afternoon I spent most of my time sitting here and working on the Snail-Trail Blog.
Photo 2: This morning I was able to join the church service in Moosburg by way of Zoom. It was a joint service with the Free Evangelical Church from Moosburg and very blessed. This was the first church service where I understood everything that was said or sung since I left Germany 50 days ago.
Photo 3: The lake where I am staying.
Photo 4: The promised rain came at about 5.00 pm. I am so glad I have a room and am not in the tent.
Photo 5: This was a scene from Thursday that I really like, but had no slot left on Thursday's blog to post it.
Photo 2: This morning I was able to join the church service in Moosburg by way of Zoom. It was a joint service with the Free Evangelical Church from Moosburg and very blessed. This was the first church service where I understood everything that was said or sung since I left Germany 50 days ago.
Photo 3: The lake where I am staying.
Photo 4: The promised rain came at about 5.00 pm. I am so glad I have a room and am not in the tent.
Photo 5: This was a scene from Thursday that I really like, but had no slot left on Thursday's blog to post it.
02.
Aug
Reszel - Kikity
Photo 1: This map shows the stages and progress I made this week from Wigry to Lutry, my end destination for this week, a total of 204 kolometers.
Photo 2: The day started off with a nice path along a waterway in the town of Reszel.
Photo 3: A number of hours though the hike went along roads, fortunately the traffic was not so heavy.
Photo 4: The harvest waiting to be brought in...
Today was mostly a sunny day, but as seen in this picture, rain will be coming again soon. Scenes like this make me think of what Jesus said to his diciples after his encounter with the woman at the well: "The harvest is ripe, but the workers are few." I have found many searching hearts in the Baltics and in Poland. Who will come? Who will place their hand on the plow? Who will be salt and light in this region of the World?
Photo 5: Clover on the path...
I was glad the walk was not so long today. Bogdan arranged for me to stay the weekend at a private house on the lake in Lutry. Originally I wanted to go further to a campground, but I could not find any information about it, whether there might be facilities or food sorces there. Besides that, rain is expected on Sunday going into Monday. I am looking forward to a day of rest after a very strenuous week.
Photo 2: The day started off with a nice path along a waterway in the town of Reszel.
Photo 3: A number of hours though the hike went along roads, fortunately the traffic was not so heavy.
Photo 4: The harvest waiting to be brought in...
Today was mostly a sunny day, but as seen in this picture, rain will be coming again soon. Scenes like this make me think of what Jesus said to his diciples after his encounter with the woman at the well: "The harvest is ripe, but the workers are few." I have found many searching hearts in the Baltics and in Poland. Who will come? Who will place their hand on the plow? Who will be salt and light in this region of the World?
Photo 5: Clover on the path...
I was glad the walk was not so long today. Bogdan arranged for me to stay the weekend at a private house on the lake in Lutry. Originally I wanted to go further to a campground, but I could not find any information about it, whether there might be facilities or food sorces there. Besides that, rain is expected on Sunday going into Monday. I am looking forward to a day of rest after a very strenuous week.
01.
Aug
Gierłoz - Reszel
Photo 1: My tent pitch on the grounds of the Wolf's Lair. To right in the background is what is left of the officiers quarter. To the right is a concrete boulder. It gives you an idea of how thick the walls of the bunkers were built. When the Nazis knew the war was over, they destroyed the Wolf's Lair themselves... no easy undertaking.
It rained all night up to the point that I needed to get my backpack out of the tent. I was able to get the tent mostly dry before leaving for the day.
Photo 2: Not far away from the Wolf's Lair was an airstrip that is now a museum.
Photo 3: I went into this church in Kętrzyn to see if I might find the stamp for the pilgrim passport. I did. It was behind a counter in the entry. As I was stamping my passport, a man came in and offered to give me 50 złoties if I would give him 40 back. I was not sure if this was a trap or a kind gesture to a pilgrim. I took his 50 and gave him 2x20 back. He was happy and walked into the church. I was happy, grabbed my backpack and also walked into the church. We were the only two people there. I then walked to the front of the church, sang my pilgrim song and prayed for Poland. As I walked back out, I went passed the man. He looked at me, now with red eyes from crying. I touched his shoulder and said in my Slavic sentence that is almost universally understood in the Slavic countries: "God be with you my brother." I have no idea what he was experiencing, but it was a special moment. And I used the 50 złoty bill to pay for my room this night, so I guess it was real money.
Photo 4: The Reszel Castle in the town where I stayed the night.
Photo 5: I had a room in a boarding school all to myself. I was glad to have the space to spread my things out to get them dry after the rainy night and morning.
It rained all night up to the point that I needed to get my backpack out of the tent. I was able to get the tent mostly dry before leaving for the day.
Photo 2: Not far away from the Wolf's Lair was an airstrip that is now a museum.
Photo 3: I went into this church in Kętrzyn to see if I might find the stamp for the pilgrim passport. I did. It was behind a counter in the entry. As I was stamping my passport, a man came in and offered to give me 50 złoties if I would give him 40 back. I was not sure if this was a trap or a kind gesture to a pilgrim. I took his 50 and gave him 2x20 back. He was happy and walked into the church. I was happy, grabbed my backpack and also walked into the church. We were the only two people there. I then walked to the front of the church, sang my pilgrim song and prayed for Poland. As I walked back out, I went passed the man. He looked at me, now with red eyes from crying. I touched his shoulder and said in my Slavic sentence that is almost universally understood in the Slavic countries: "God be with you my brother." I have no idea what he was experiencing, but it was a special moment. And I used the 50 złoty bill to pay for my room this night, so I guess it was real money.
Photo 4: The Reszel Castle in the town where I stayed the night.
Photo 5: I had a room in a boarding school all to myself. I was glad to have the space to spread my things out to get them dry after the rainy night and morning.