This past week was my third of training for the journey I want to take next June. I was talking with my younger son, Ross and described my travel plan. I told him I’d written a blog post and referred to taking a journey with more walking than I’ve ever done. Then I confessed, “I’m not ready to be more specific about where I’m going.– not yet.”

“Why all the secrecy?” he asked.

“I’d rather wait until I feel more certain, when I have proof that I can do it,” I explained. “At that point I’ll put down my deposit and then tell people.”

Like he’s accused me of in the past, he indicated I was overthinking it. “So what if your plan changes? There’s no harm in that.”

There’s nothing like your child pointing out your insecurities! 🙂 He was right, that like everyone else, I could change my mind; things may not work out.

So, my plan is to finally walk the Camino—the ancient pilgrim path that I first learned about in the 2010 movie “The Way” starring Martin Sheen. This is Wikipedia’s description of the Camino:

The Camino de Santiago (Latin: Peregrinatio Compostellana, “Pilgrimage of Compostela”; Galician: O Camiño de Santiago),^[1] or in English the Way of St. James, is a network of pilgrims’ ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle James in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition holds that the remains of the apostle are buried.

I was drawn to that pilgrim path because of its ancient history and because still, today, it’s a well-traveled international journey for seekers of various faiths, ages, and cultures. It appears to be a life-changing experience from those I’ve known who have walked into the cathedral and received their scallop shell, marking completion of their journey.

Last year in Ireland, I hiked the Cliffs of Moher path on the Wild Atlantic Way; I saw how much I loved walking by the ocean. The view of the wide expanse of the Atlantic, the cool, salty breeze, while trekking along the edge of the sea cliffs, was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.

Back in February, when winter was making me restless, I started researching options for walking the Camino. I’d mostly heard accounts of folks who’d walked the more traditional 500-mile path from France into Spain. My friend, Terry completed that route last June. I knew I didn’t want to spend 4-5 weeks or to walk five-hundred miles; but I wanted the experience of being a pilgrim on the Camino.

From an internet search, I found an option that seems just right for me. A company, Prayerful Path, owned by a woman from the Atlanta area, leads groups of ten from various starting points to Santiago. The one that appeals to me is the Portuguese Coastal Camino path. That 18-day trip next June starts in Porto, Portugal and ends at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. I love how the website describes the highlights of that route:

“The best of both worlds, walk along the ocean and through the magical Galician countryside.“

“Experience stunning diverse scenery such as the wild Atlantic Ocean, forests, vineyards and farmland.”

“Walk through small fishing villages.”

https://prayerfulpath.com/portuguese-coastal-camino/

This week I returned twice to the Hunter St. Park in Apex to log more miles. Both days I walked with a weighted backpack for longer periods, trying out my new trail running shoes the first day and hiking poles on the second. The good thing about having that Coastal Camino path as my goal, is that I can imagine that I’m walking on it when I’m clocking the miles around the park trail. I’ve often thought that anticipating a journey is about as much fun as taking it.

On those afternoons at the park, there are others who are also ‘in training.’ From the preschool kids learning to navigate the slides, teenagers perfecting their board skills at the skateboard park, twenty-somethings practicing soccer kicks, middle school teams in the batting cages, mid-life men jogging, an older woman walking with a crutch with a man close by her side– we’re all preparing for that thing that calls us at this phase of life.

At each phase, with each new skill and entry into an unknown land, there is a familiar process; I saw this last when I was new to the world of dancing. At first the language is unfamiliar; learning the skills is awkward but gradually improves; the environment is new and you must force yourself to continue until you make new friendships, until you have a new peer group; you spend mental, physical, and emotional energy learning the new skill, the new subject of your endeavor. I remember looking at Youtube videos of dance moves in-between group lessons, trying to make sense of the instructions, trying to commit the steps to muscle memory.

Last week, I read about the purpose of hiking poles, watched videos, and came to a better appreciation of how they aide in the walk. I hadn’t known how they increased the level of your workout–given that you’re using more muscles and engage your core. Armed with that information, an athlete–hiker in training, I didn’t mind that I was the only one at Hunter St Park walking with hiking poles; that was the equipment I needed for my sport.

To make a choice to pursue one area, means there will be less time for other areas. In order to build up my strength and endurance, I will have to hike for hours and hours over the next months. There will be less time and energy for dancing in order to prepare for June; that is one of the costs of this endeavor. But for a “once in a lifetime experience,” I think it will be worth it.

And if by some chance it doesn’t work out for me, I will have learned a lot and will be in better shape. Maybe one of you who reads my post will be inspired and will make the Camino pilgrimage. And if not the goal of the Camino, perhaps another dream that has been hidden in your heart; you will press forward and make it into a reality; that is my hope for you.

Wishing you all the best–no matter what dreams you harbor.

Connie

Following the map of the Coastal Way, there are many places to learn about, places to dream of from Porto to Santiago.