04. Aug 2025

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.