Camino - The Northern Way

Hola everyone 

As I write this I’m flying to Spain to walk the camino, the  northern route known as the ‘Camino del Norte.’

There’s lots of roads to where I’m heading- and they all lead to Santiago de Compostella - the real  or mythical (depending on your faith leaning) resting place of St James (Santiago) the apostle. 

The Camino Norte is the green one along the northern coast - I’m start walking at Bayonne just over the border in France.

Legend has it that Santiago’s bones are housed under the main altar of the cathedral. At least that’s a main reason for what has attracted millions of pilgrims for centuries.  They believe/d the Church teaching that making the pilgrimage is/was  a means of repentance and consequent  time-off in purgatory and thereby  a faster track to paradise . It was also a huge money spinner for the Church and businesses on the way. Santiago along with Rome and Jerusalem were the top three places to go (they still are for many)

There’s lots of ways to walk the Camino - in fact you don’t even need to walk. Some people cycle, some drive, in organised groups with luggage transport or as solo pilgrims (peregrinos) like me who carry packs that are just that little bit too heavy😗

There’s  also lots of reasons to walk the Camino. There are those who like the pilgrims of the Middle Ages seek repentance or forgiveness through suffering (blisters, cold, hunger, broken bones stolen luggage…are/were not uncommon- ‘bring it on!’😳) .

On the Camino journeys I’ve done before, I’ve  found some other  reasons - one is the inspiring spirit of community among those who walk with you; another is  the solitary (or as a couple ) meditative life-giving rhythm that comes with the daily pattern of walking eating, and sleeping.. you talk about stuff to yourself (or with a partner or friend) 

We walk the Camino alone - but we can’t do it by ourselves . Everybody  needs somebody sometimes 🎵

So reasons for doing the Camino are not simple. We all have complicated motivations at times -  I like to think of the Camino as ‘taking my life for a walk’. 

Over the next six weeks or so, you can keep tabs on my ‘travels to the edge’ by following this blog . At some stage I plan to end up at

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral 

And then do a further walk over to the northwest coast of Galicia, Spain to 

The rocks of Muxia

And then finish up at the  lighthouse at Cape Finisterre and the beach around the corner 

I am very much looking forward to the experience and to welcoming  your reactions, advice, questions and ideas as I shuffle along the way 

Buen Camino 

Mike