Why walk the Camino de Santiago? Well, let me tell you how it all started for me! Back in late 2011, a friend asked if I’d like to join him on the Camino de Santiago. I’d never even heard of it before, and knew even less about what I was getting myself into. When he said it was a 490-mile trail through northern Spain, my first thought was, “Yikes!” He must’ve seen the look of alarm on my face because he quickly reassured me that we’d only be doing the last 73 miles. That sounded more manageable…sort of. Still, walking that far in five days was no small task, but I figured, “Why not? I’d love an adventure!” The trip would be the maiden voyage for both of us novices.

So with great expectation, we set off the first week of May 2012, not realizing we were smack at the tail end of the Galician rainy season. “No problem,” I thought, “I have my rain gear.” Well, let me tell you, no amount of plastic was going to keep me dry. It rained—scratch that—it poured the entire five days with only a few intermittent breaks. We’d stumble into our hostels each evening drenched. Drying our clothes? Forget about it. The few radiators were already claimed, so every morning we had the delightful experience of sliding our warm, dry feet into cold, wet boots! A silver lining is that I’ve learned when the wetter seasons are and now know how to steer clear of the heavier rains.

If that wasn’t enough, I hadn’t trained properly and thought my old, worn-out hiking boots would be “good enough” for the trek. Spoiler: they weren’t. The back of one boot dug into my Achilles heel, my knees and ankles screamed in protest, and I collected a fine assortment of blisters. Picture me hobbling down the trail, like an injured duck. Yet, despite all this, I still count this pilgrimage as one of my all-time favorite experiences!

“How?” you ask. Well, let me explain.

First off, the rain—my arch-nemesis—taught me something valuable. At first, I was a grumbling mess. “Of all the times I could have walked the Camino, why now?!” I moaned. But then it hit me: maybe this was a chance to deal with my miserable attitude. Complaining wasn’t going to make the rain stop, so I started to accept it. The rain gave me hours of solitude, space to think, and a much-needed reality check. I realized I had some work to do on my inner self, and that realization was a gift. Another perk: have you ever noticed how good a cup of coffee tastes when you’re cold and wet?

Next, the kindness of strangers made the journey unforgettable. Take Morris, a 65+ yr old pilgrim we met along the way. One day, he saw me limping and offered me one of his walking sticks. “I need the other one,” he said, “but you take this one, and give it back when we reach Santiago.” That stick saved my trip, and we did find Morris in Santiago—where we treated him to dinner and, of course, returned his trusty stick. I still remember his kindness and sacrifice to this day. There were several others along the way who would stop and ask if I was okay or needed something.

Lastly, the Camino felt like something more than just a trail. It was alive, flowing like an ocean current, carrying with its stories of pilgrims past and present. It embraced my story, too, guiding, teaching, challenging, and comforting me. By the time I finished, I shed tears of joy because of the whole experience and I knew I had to return and bring others with me.

So, why do the Camino? Sure, it’s beautiful, full of history, and a great way to spend some time off. But more than that, it challenges and changes you, if you’re willing. You won’t be the same person at the end as you were at the start. It’s an adventure well worth taking!