Camino De Santiago? What is it? Why are we doing it?

    The Camino de Santiago is the name of many pilgrim routes that end up in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.  The route that we are going to be taking is known as the Camino Frances, since the typical starting off point is in France.  We are going to start our trek in Pamplona, Spain, 441 miles east of Santiago!  That is a long way, and I'm sure we will have many adventures to report along the way!
     Why???  Good question!  One day last fall, we watched the movie "The Way" about a father (played by Martin Sheen) walking the Camino Frances after his son passes away.  I thought "If Martin Sheen can do that, so can I."  I started looking it up on the web, hinting to Wig that it was something that we could really do....and we weren't getting any younger. Pretty soon Wig was on board!  Next thing I knew, Wig had plane tickets and we were on our way to the "Way".  And that part about not getting any younger...well my mother also thought it sounded like a great thing to do and she will join us for the last 10 days of the trek, I hope that I will be strong enough to keep up with her when she joins us!
     So why are we doing a very long walking trip that follows a religious pilgrimage route?  First of all people do the walk for all kinds of reasons, including the religious ones.  I have been interested in doing long hikes for a while, and Wig says that he agreed to doing this with me so that we won't have to hike the Pacific Crest Trail!  We like the idea that we won't have to carry camping gear since we will stay in hostels of various types every night.  The trail is popular, so it shouldn't involve complicated route finding skills, and there are places that cater to the sleeping and eating needs of the hikers along the way.  Piece of cake!  (we are realistic though, and averaging 15 miles a day is still going to be a challenge!)
     That being said, we aren't totally non-spiritual.  We tend to find peace and inspiration outside in the great natural cathedrals of our beautiful world, the Sierra Nevada mountains (all mountains), the Grand Canyon, all rivers, the Amazon jungle, the high desert plateau of my childhood in Arizona, Black Rock Desert, and our own backyard!  Walking and hiking give us the time and freedom to slow down and think, or not think and meditate, as the mood dictates.  We also enjoy the history of various religions and are looking forward to exploring that aspect of our travels. 
     Growing up on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona, I think that a little of the Navajo way rubbed off on me.  As I was reading the book "Code Talker" by Chester Nez, I was reminded of my childhood days when I read his version of the Navajo prayer  
  The Beauty Way:   
  In beauty I walk.
  With beauty before me I walk.
  With beauty behind me I walk.
  With beauty around me I walk.
  With beauty above me I walk.
  With beauty below me I walk.
  In beauty all is made whole.
  In beauty all is restored.
  In my youth I am aware of it, and
  In my old age I shall walk quietly the beautiful trail.
  In beauty it is begun.
  In beauty it is ended.

That's why!!