Reaching Namur
I arrived at the beautiful station of Namur, right in the heart of the city. Total now reads 106.2 km and a good reminder of how far this pilgrimage has already carried me. What a day. The morning started in Gembloux, slipping first through pockets of nature before being pushed onto a long, loud stretch of highway. Not the most romantic part of the journey, but that contrast makes the quiet moments hit harder. And one of those moments came with a warm lunch, and an unexpected but inspiring conversation about coffee and opportunities with Yonas. Encounters like that feel like part of the pilgrimage itself. From there, just five more kilometers into Namur and enough to feel the weight of the backpack again. Two days of intense walking have made it clear: something needs to go. Today was a lesson in what I can drop, what I truly need, and how every gram matters when you’re carrying your story on your back. Near Gembloux there’s a biodiversity restoration project, a reminder that nature is quietly healing itself while we walk past. I tried to take a detour toward a castle on the hill, but it turned out to be private. So back to the straight line, the old way toward Namur, which honestly felt much better. And then: Namur. A well‑deserved pause. So I treated myself to a Blanche de Namur (only 3.4%) and a panna cotta of asparagus. The coffee here didn’t disappoint either: a chocolatey Ethiopian with citrus and almond notes, which paired beautifully with the panna cotta. Before reaching Namur, I also walked through a forest, or tried to. The path seemed closed, so I had to improvise again. That’s part of the pilgrimage: the road decides as much as you do.
