Arzua to O Pedrouzo

Bonnie and I knew we were in for a grand adventure when we left the French cafe and set off across the border into Spain on the northern coast. Our plans to walk the Norte had their genesis the previous June when we were walking the Primitivo Camino. Having crossed those mountains and reached Santiago in just nine days made us hungry for more — more days, more kilometers, more Caminos.

Now we are just a few hours away from completing that dream. We have walked 39 stages and have one left. We have walked over 800 kilometers and have just 20 remaining to arrive at the Santiago Cathedral. We have walked the first two weeks of the Norte, completed the Camino Lebaniego and the Camino Vadiniense, and tomorrow will complete the last two weeks of the Camino Frances.

It has been an epic journey and another chapter in our book. We plan to return together to finish the Norte Camino someday. The detour that took us off the Norte allowed us to take a path over the Picos de Europa that not many people get to see, let alone hike over, and it left a mark on both of us.

The detour also gave us the opportunity to plant seeds for another Camino journey, this one planned for next year that will cover the last two weeks of the Frances for a group of breast cancer survivors. Having Christie join us was exactly what we needed to start making the Cancer Camino a reality.

Our penultimate stage today was full of expectant pilgrims. We met a couple from Australia who shared that before they left home, a close family member told them that they would never be able to walk 100 kilometers. It planted seeds of doubt that the wife had to deal with, especially on their first day of walking when it was difficult for her. Tomorrow they will finish their pilgrimage and take home a new sense of accomplishment and confidence that no one can ever take away. That may be more important to them than the Compostela document.

As for me, I’m bringing lots of goodness home, and I’m grateful for this time that I’ve had to walk, breathe, contemplate, take in wonder, photograph, write, laugh, listen, simplify, pray, strategize, and plan. I know that you don’t need to go to Spain or walk a Camino pilgrimage to do those things, but then again, it sure doesn’t hurt.

I’ve had a Buen Camino, a very Good Way.

Ultreia et Suseia!Read more