My Camino Journey

“Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter”

Izaak Walton

I hope to use this blog to capture and share some of my thoughts and images as I make my “big walk” – the Camino Frances from St Jean Pied de Port (SJPdP) in France to Santiago de Compostela (SdC) in northwest Spain.

The full walk is approximately 800km (500miles) in length and should take 35 days to complete. For those who are interested in the exact route I have included a map of the route on the site. For those of a more sadistic nature, I have included a profile of the route (look at the first day – talk about a baptism of fire!)

Daphne and I start walking on Monday 15th April from SJPdP and walk together, arriving in Pamplona on the 17th. Daphne then returns home (ever the sensible one) and I continue walking across northern Spain, via Logrono, Burgos, Leon (there are lots of other towns and if you’re interested, the profile map shows them) reaching SdC on my birthday in the latter part of May. Daphne rejoins me two days before the end and we will walk those last kilometres together.

Why am I doing this you may ask, and it’s a very good question. (A) Ever since I became aware of the Camino it is something I’ve always wanted to accomplish. The opportunity to walk in the footsteps of pilgrims who have trod this path over the last 1000 years has proved very alluring and I have the time and physical ability (no sniggers please) to do it now. (B) It is also therapeutic. I lost my mother at the end of 2018 and that has led me to question where I am in my life and where I’m going for the remainder. Whilst the journey itself may not give me the answer directly, the opportunity for contemplation and thought and the meditative impact of long periods of repetitive walking without the intrusions of everyday life should be helpful to lead to some conclusions. (C) It is restorative. It is said there are three parts to each person’s Camino (1) the physical journey; (2) the emotional journey; and (3) the spiritual journey. For those who want to better understand this, the following blog post explains it far better than I could: Three Stages of Personal Growth on Followthecamino.com. 

Everything I’ve read about the Camino and those who I’ve spoken with who have completed their journey all state that the Camino has changed them in some way – sometimes obviously and profoundly, but for others in more subtle and thoughtful ways. That change is also interesting to me. I’m not a religious person, but I believe that there is “something out there” so I hope that this journey will affirm that spiritual belief.

My intention is to post every few days with images and experiences I hope will be of interest to you.

Thank you for your company.