WALKING IT ALL OFF
ERNS GRUNDLING FOLLOWS THE PILGRIMS ALONG SPAIN ’ S CAMINO DE SANTIAGO
The Camino pilgrimage in Spain has been described as “ a 500-mile journey to yourself ”.
In May 2015 , in the midst of my third or fourth mid-life crisis ( by no means a prerequisite for this pilgrimage ) I travelled to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to walk the Camino Frances , or the French Way .
I was unfit , overweight , injured ( tendinopathy in my right knee ), heartbroken and all alone . And the mighty Pyrénées mountain range was between me and Spain and the remaining 800-plus kilometres to the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela , where many believe the remains of the apostle St James are buried .
Just before I began to cross the Pyrénées on my first day I read a quote by the Buddha on the wall of my albergue ( hostel ): “ There is no way to happiness . Happiness is the way .” This proved to be a very meaningful mantra for the many kilometres that were to follow and it helped me to let go of expectations .
Over the next 40 days I walked through the northern parts of Spain , carrying only a 35-litre backpack . One thing the Camino taught me early was to embrace a life of simplicity . Travel light . Get up early . Leave the albergue before sunrise . Walk at your own pace – by yourself or with friends you make along the way . Treasure each interaction with a fellow pilgrim . Enjoy many breaks . Order coffee and fresh orange juice . Eat a tortilla de patatas ( Spanish omelette ). Walk as far as you want . Find a bed at a hostel . Shower . Hand-wash your clothes . Have a siesta . Order a three-course pilgrim ’ s dinner for less than ten euro . Go to sleep early . Do this day after day for a few weeks and you will change your life .
I walked many kilometres alone , in some kind of meditative state , through small pastoral towns and bigger cities like Pamplona and León , and among green wheat fields ( it was spring in Europe ) blowing in the wind like massive ocean waves .
I also met amazing people along the
60 // MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE