This blog first started as a way of keeping in touch with friends and family while I walked the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostelle during May and June of 2007. Starting at Le Puy en Velay in France and finishing at Finisterre in Spain it was roughly 1600 kilometres and took 65 days. I traveled with my little sister who also wrote about the pilgrimage.

I count the pilgrimage as one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life - on the camino it felt like there was meaning in every step, in every encounter. The hospitality of the people who ran the pilgrim’s guest houses along the way will stay with me forever and thinking about them still brings a smile to my face. It was physically and emotionally demanding - some days I longed for it to be over and other days I wished it would go on forever. We slept in ancient monasteries and abbeys and walked along a route that millions of feet had travelled along before us.

We encountered pilgrims from all walks of life who all had their own reasons for making the journey but most of them were looking for something. Some were searching for memories and stories to take back to their friends, others were searching for peace and space to reflect upon their lives. The sense of camaraderie was extraordinary and if anyone had any problems there were quickly a dozen hands ready to help.

I think there is a reason that pilgrimages exist in many of the different cultures and religions of the world. It’s because they work. They leave our lives richer and our experiences deeper. The act of walking day after day and reflecting upon your past, present and future is a profoundly human experience and crosses all cultures, races and religions. When you surround yourself with a community of people who are engaged in similar reflection you are guaranteed to find something precious, even if it isn’t what you thought you were looking for.

I would recommend a pilgrimage to anyone who is considering doing one and I am counting down the days until I can once again start down the long road.