I think when pilgrims begin their journey they are all pretty much naive as to what’s to come. You can do your homework, read blogs, books and websites, take in as much as you can in an attempt to ready yourself for such a journey. But the reality, my friends… the reality is so vastly different than the best of any words of any pilgrim who has walked the way.

On Day 1 as we began our epic walk on the Camino de Santiago and as we began to ascend the pass over the Pyrenees (and I was barely breathing) a man came up from behind us, greeted us with the international “Buen Camino” and passed by.  But then he turned back and asked where we were from and the conversation went a little something like this.

We originally scheduled a rest day in Logrono but cancelled it so we could change two long days of walking into three shorter days.  It all turned out for the better, but Logrono tugged at us. We instantly loved it and we would have enjoyed a full day of discovery.

Thunder rolled across the forest covered hills, the gray sky smelled like rain and the Spanish coo coo clock birds called to us as we walked the last three miles to Los Arcos.

Today, Day 6, is a day of rest. After 5 days of walking we decided it was time to rest.

What you learn really quickly – I’m talking almost instantly – is that vanity has no place on the Camino de Santiago. Avoiding mirrors is a good idea; especially when you’re someone who gets her hair cut and colored every 4 weeks without fail.

Right, left, right, left, walking the Camino de Santiago one step at a time I dragged my body into the courtyard of the convent of Roncevaux.  I was the last one in our group of walkers to pass through the gate and as I did so a woman was smiling and waving me forward, while a man approached me.

Abi leaned over and whispered in my ear, this driver is haulin ass!  To which I replied, I know, but I’m trying not to think about it.  It was a wild beginning, this bus ride to St Jean Pied de Port, of our Camino de Santiago journey.

There’s a well-known saying among experienced pilgrims.  The Camino will provide.  But, how does one pack for a long trek such as walking the Camino de Santiago? I suppose when anyone takes on an adventure that most consider a bit out-of-the ordinary, the inevitable questions arise, such as how does one even begin to figure out the logistics and what’s in the pack, Jack?

Because it’s there.  Why?  We get asked that a lot.  Why would we want to walk 500 miles across Spain following the Camino de Santiago?  In truth, we really don’t have an answer.  It kinda beats the hell out of us why we’re taking this on.