Cars drive on a city highway in Berlin March 10, 2008. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

BERLIN (Reuters) - Police in Germany were shocked to find a man running down a major highway pulling a three-wheeled trailer -- but even more surprised to learn he was a Polish pilgrim on a 3,000 km (1,800 mile) trek.

Motorists near Coburg in Bavaria saw the man towing a load with a rod attached to his back and called police.

“Officers’ initial astonishment quickly turned into admiration,” a police statement said on Tuesday.

After questioning the man, police discovered he was a devout Roman Catholic Pole on his way home from a European pilgrimage that had taken him as far as Portugal.

Inside a converted roof luggage box, which also served as a bivouac, the 35-year-old was carrying all he needed for the journey, police said. After inspecting the vehicle, officers declared it roadworthy and sent him on his way.