Forty days and forty nights, that’s how long it takes to walk from St Jean Pied de Port, France, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. If you wander around a bit on side trips, see the towns and museums along the way, then it accumulates over 800 km, or 500 miles for the metrically challenged. It’s definitely not a walk in the park, but with a reasonable pace of 20 km (12 miles) per day, and the nightly rooms and meals, a nice walker’s rhythm develops.
Attempting a difficult challenge together, like navigating across an ocean or walking across a country, reminds me how fortunate I am to be Kathleen’s partner. She is perseverant, patient, and seemingly impervious to pain. I love her.
The Camino was her creative idea for us after Steven finished it in 2014. And while we may have underestimated its difficulty, we started and finished together smiling. As the philosopher said, “Solvitur ambulando”.
Now we rest in Santiago a couple days before traveling the region another week via faster means. It has been a meaningful experience for us and we have enjoyed writing our thoughts. Thanks for listening. Hope to see you soon.
John
Congratulations John and Kathleen! We’ve enjoyed so much reading your posts and following you on your path to Santiago!
Hi Gordon,
Thanks for following. Spain is wonderful. See you soon.
John
Congratulations! Quite the accomplishment!
Thanks Penny,
We have a 40E Pension room with a balcony overlooking an old town square. Maybe we can just stay here.
John
Congrats! Thanks for taking us along on your wonderful journey.
Thanks Heidi,
Looking forward to walking shorter distances on Oahu.
John
Congratulations – next stop?
Hi Sybil,
Spain Spain and more Spain!
John
Well Done!
🙂
What an awesome trek! Thanks for all the pictures and descriptions along the way.
Glad to have you following along.
John
Congratulations. It has been great reading the daily blogs. Very impressed that you did that with great photos. Now vacation time. Safe travels. Love you, Sandie
Thanks Sandie.
Love
John
Don & I have been with you in spirit daily. Thoroughly enjoyed your great photos & interesting historical descriptions, as well as your daily blog. Buen Camino! Dodie & Don Harvey
Hi Dodie,
Thanks for following. We love Spain.
John
Hi John and Kathleen, Fantastic adventure. I enjoyed it vicariously. Keep on trucking.
Aloha, James R Langworthy
Thanks James. Maybe see you again soon in Honolulu.
John
Congratulations. We shall miss our daily dose of journey via journal.
Thanks Laura.
Of course, now I don’t want to leave Spain.
See you soon.
John
Congrats on the completion. It was an a great journey and your blog was fantastic. It was terrific to spend a small part of the Camino with you. Love Steven
Congratulations. Becky and I have enjoyed quietly following you adventure and are sad to see it come to an end. Thanks for the inspiration as we hope to one day follow your footsteps.
Lane
Thanks Lane
I offer my support if you decide to do the Camino. It’s been surreal to walk this town and see so many faces we recognize. It makes me drink a beer at lunch and take a siesta, like a Spaniard. Stay in touch my friend.
John
Congratulations, Ph