HELP ME TO WALK THE CAMINO!!

When I was 24 years old in 1985, I lived in Madrid and taught English as a second language. While I was there, I heard in passing about something called “The Camino” and thought nothing of it. Forward to the year 2021 when the world was in a Covid19 lockdown. The rector at my church suggested we watch “The Way” with Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez as it depicted a spiritual pilgrimage beginning in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France and ending at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela in Spain. After watching the film, my love for Spain was renewed and I decided to walk “The Camino” but not the Francés route as it takes over a month to walk 480 miles (I am not a hiker so the idea of walking the Pyrenees mountains on Day 1 held no interest to me!).

A Bit of History

Pilgrims (the title given to those individuals who walk the Camino) originally started coming to this location from all across Europe to witness the reported tomb of the apostle Saint James, son of Zebedee, known as “Santiago” by Spanish Catholics. The alleged remains of Saint James were interred in this location sometime after his recorded death in 44 A.D. Centuries later, a monastery, and ultimately a cathedral, were built on the declared burial site of the apostle James.

The history of the Camino de Santiago, therefore, begins nearly two millennia ago. Since that time, the feet of millions’ have tread the holy path winding its way through small Spanish villages and towns towards the Iberian Peninsula coast. While much has changed along the Way since the first pilgrims walked the path, the experience itself is akin to a trip back through time.

So how do I walk “The Camino”? Come to find out there is a route to Santiago from Porto, Portugal and it is only 141 miles to Santiago! I thought, “This is doable” and the route of the Camino Portuguese runs parallel to the ocean so I will be walking along the beach (I love the beach!). I immediately started listening to the “You on the Camino de Santiago” podcast, read books by pilgrims, and envisioned myself walking along the beach, listening to the crashing of the waves, and soaking up the beauty of Portugal and Spain while getting to know myself better and focusing on my spiritual life.

I originally planned to walk in 2024 but changed my mind and thought I should walk in 2025 to celebrate my 40th anniversary of living in Madrid. Then I decided to celebrate my birthday on the Camino so May 2025 would be my start date.

In 2022, I mentioned my trip to a co-worker and she said she wanted to go too! I had every intention of walking solo but thought this would be a wonderful experience for both of us.

JUMPING AHEAD TO MARCH 2025

For the past three years, Meghan (my co-walker) and I have texted back and forth about the Camino and finally met at REI to go supply shopping in March 2025. I have been buying all things Camino since 2023 so I was set but enjoyed watching the excitement on Meghan’s face as she gathered her Camino necessities. After we finished shopping, we purchased our airline tickets-New York City to Porto, Portugal!

WHY I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP

On the day we met at REI, the exhaust system in my 2006 Toyota Tundra truck decided to quit on me. I thought, no big deal, I just need to replace the muffler. The next day, my dealership quoted me $6,000 to replace my exhaust system! So, I called another repair shop and they quoted me $3,000. My heart just sank. We just bought our tickets the day before and were fired up to walk the Camino and now I need to repair my truck!

I made the decision not to proceed with the repairs (why spend a minimum of $3,000 on a 19-year-old truck with 161,000 miles on it?) and would try to find a used car. The day after receiving the repair quote, I found a 2016 Nissan Rogue with less than 87,000 so I bought it. I am never this spontaneous but I desperately needed a car and here is the reason why – I work three jobs so I would have the necessary funds to walk the Camino. Now I will have to pay a $400 car payment every month! I just can’t catch a break….

While this journey to the Camino de Santiago is one I’ve dreamed of for years, it’s also one filled with unexpected twists, such as the unexpected need to purchase a car. Life has a way of testing our resilience, but it’s also filled with moments of grace and new opportunities. I’ve always believed that when we are called to do something meaningful, the universe finds ways to support us—sometimes through friends, sometimes through challenges, and often through the kindness of others.

As I take this next step towards the Camino, I would be deeply grateful for any support—whether through words of encouragement, advice, or even contributions that might help ease the financial weight of this journey. If you feel called to help me in any way, I would be so thankful. Every bit of support is a step closer to the moment when I set foot on that sacred path. I truly cannot do this spiritual pilgrimage without you.

Thank you for being a part of this adventure - whether by walking beside me in spirit or helping me along the way. I look forward to sharing this pilgrimage with you all and carrying your love and support with me every step of the way.