After planning for 18 months - more accurately, ten years or more, our journey began with an overnight flight trip to Europe - landing in Porto, Portugal and then a short three hour drive over the border into Spain.

For hundreds of years the scallop shell has been a symbol of courage, strength and hope for the pilgrims who walk the Camino. This shell is found on the coast of Galacia. We found a shell on the beach in Porto, before we started walking and then bought a shell on our first day of walking the path to fasten to our backpacks.

My backpack weighted about 14 pounds. At times as I walked the pack felt as light as a feather and at other times, it felt like I was carrying the weight of the whole world. I thought long and hard about what I would carry and really - I don’t think I overpacked. Three pairs of shorts - two long sleeved shirts to wear for sun protection - 2 short sleeves for evenings - 1 sleeveless for the last day - a towel and sheet - 3 pairs of socks - 3 pairs of underwear - my hat - shoes/sandals and water bladder. That’s it. Oh, a few products for the face and skin! For ten days!

It made me think about carrying extra baggage that we sometimes lug around and become encumbered with! Extra things that weigh us down! Things we don’t need! Envy! Strife! Unforgivenss! Hardness of Heart! Pride! Revenge! Selfishness! Jealousy! I’ve named a few things I’ve carried at times! What joy - what bliss - though - when that backpack came off at the rest stops - at lunch - at the end of the day! What joy to forever empty our lives when we stop carrying those things that weigh us down. It was Corrie ten Boom who said “You will find it is necessary to let things go, simply for the reason that they are too heavy.”

The beauty of northern Spain was incredible - farms - orchards - forests - rivers and creeks - ancient towns - fields - sunrises and sunsets. Because we were walking, we saw it all. We heard the sounds of sheep baaing, horses snorting, birds chirping, pilgrims singing, dogs barking and the ever clomping of our feet hitting the path. Sometimes we chatted, we shared lots of laughs, at times we told each other stories - other times we were quiet, our minds working out our own thoughts. And always as we passed another solo pilgrim or group - it was “Buen Camino”!

Five days! 120 kms! 175,242 steps!

Some of those kms and steps were filled with joy and wonder and laughter and chatter - but on day 3 - there were tears - (by Momma)! It was super hard. My right knee was kicking up a fuss. My hips hurt. My blisters were bugging me! I knew I wouldn’t quit but it was slow going. It was a 30 km day from the early morning (6:30 am) until 3:00 in the afternoon. Up and down hills! On paths of pavement and stones and dirt! My boys encouraged me. They offered to carry my pack ( I didn’t let them)! They made me laugh. I put my head down and finished that leg of the journey. It wasn’t terribly pretty but I got ‘er done.

When we arrived at our accommodations that day - the manager told us that of the 51 people staying there that night - we were the only ones who carried our packs. The rest had had them shipped. The boys teased me lots because I definitely judged those who walked without carrying their packs! They reminded me that everyone walks their own Camino! :)

Isn’t this just like real life. Some days - it’s all sunshine and roses. It’s a Mary Poppins type of day. Laughter and joy and peace and happiness. Other days - it’s gray - it’s windy - it’s cold - it’s heavy - a day you just have to get through. What I learned about myself on Day 3 was that I could withstand the difficulty and finish. It’s not in my nature to quit and I didn’t. Don’t you either.

I often think of Christian in the book - Pilgrim’s Progress - when he came upon the Hill Difficulty! This is what he said -

"This hill, though high, I covet to ascend;
The difficulty will not me offend,
For I perceive the way to life lies here:
Come, pluck up, heart, let's neither faint nor fear!
Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe."

Our final destination was Santiago de Compostela - a wonderful, ancient city, with the exquisite Baroque cathedral towering over the esplanade. It was a moment for smiles and hugs! We made it.

The words of Psalm 23 came to my mind! The Lord is my Shepherd. I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths - bringing honour to His Name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley - I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the Presence of my enemies. You honour me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely Your goodness and mercy and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”

We ended this fantastic dream of mine with a couple of days of rest and relaxation in Barcelona - taking in two wonderful, meaningful sights there - FAMILIA SAGRADA AND MONTSERRAT MONASTERY.

Oh, and after walking all those steps - we sat on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea for a bit and rested.

It was a journey of a lifetime.