"It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you don’t stop” (Confucius)
Sitting in my tent in Okehampton camp, feeling suitably inspired by Leweston’s 45-mile Ten Tors team who were, at that very moment, yomping across Dartmoor, I hit the ‘buy now’ button on my phone to complete the purchase of tickets to Santiago de Compostela airport. I had toyed with the idea of doing a Camino de Santiago for a while; but now, thanks also to Mrs Bruller for the motivational nudge, I was actually going!
The Camino is a pilgrimage dating back to the 9th century, starting in various locations across Europe and finishing in Santiago, Spain, where the relics of St James are still kept. I planned to walk 120km through beautiful Galician countryside over four days in August with nothing but a small rucksack, some basic supplies and a sturdy pair of walking boots to accompany me. This was an opportunity to literally follow in the footsteps of the countless pilgrims who had travelled the Way of St James before me, a chance to experience a new culture and its people, and to spend some time in spiritual reflection as I walked the distance between towns and villages towards my destination.
You’re never truly alone on any Camino. In addition to the generous, friendly locals who offer to fill up your water bottle or give you food, and who wish you a “Buen Camino!”* at every turn, you are joined by fellow pilgrims from around the world as you pass the clamshell-decorated distance markers and count down the kilometres. You swap stories of where you have stayed, what you have eaten, when you set off, who you have walked with, where you are heading that day, and why you are on the ‘Way’ at all. You get to share snapshots of each other’s lives and form surprisingly intense bonds very quickly before parting ways again at the next café, hostel or crossroads. But of course, there are periods where you do find yourself walking solo and the mind is stilled by the noise of the wind through the forest trees, the unfamiliar calls of birds and the water flowing over the rocks in the river. It is a deeply peaceful and calming experience and I achieved a profound sense of wellbeing along this journey.
Inevitably, there were times when my body was unhappy with me for making it walk the equivalent distance of Leweston in Dorset to Chepstow in Wales! In particular, my Achilles tendons, calf muscles, hips and shoulders all grumbled and griped on different days. Then there were navigation issues where the markers were confusing or absent, and the way on was not clear. Add to this, the gamble of ‘first-come-first-served' municipal hostels with limited beds in shared dorms, and there was the potential for some challenging moments en-route. But, as Confucius says (thanks to Mrs Goy for giving me this nugget of wisdom on a postcard before I departed), it doesn’t matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop. This mantra stayed with me as my legs clocked up kilometre after kilometre and I finally saw the end in sight on day 4 of my Galician odyssey. Reaching the 0.000km marker and completing the Camino was a moment of euphoric joy. Others joined me at the finish, taking photos, laughing, crying, hugging and cheering. There was a palpable feeling that we had all achieved something significant, individually and collectively. Strangers who had become companions were now close friends, and the feeling of shared success was priceless.
On my journey back to the UK, I spent time on the plane reflecting on the experiences I had just had. It already seemed like a dream in which time had worked differently and the rules of everyday life had been suspended. During this extraordinary journey, I had gained a new perspective and appreciation for the world and the people around me. It had been a privilege to be part of something so wonderful and to be welcomed by the people of North-Western Spain to contribute to the ongoing legacy of their rich cultural heritage. The advice I would be giving to the Sixth Form upon starting the academic year was clear: seize new opportunities, embrace new experiences and try new things. And if we make mistakes or we start to find it difficult, when we slip or lose our way, don’t give up, because there is always a way forward, always a solution, and always someone to help us regain our footing and get us back on the right path.
“Buen Camino!”
*Footnote: ‘Buen camino!’ translates as ‘good path!’, said to and by pilgrims along the Way of St James. It refers to both the physical and spiritual journeys being travelled, literally, to Santiago de Compostela and, metaphorically, throughout life.