When I was 13 I was given the book Mount Joy by Daisy Newman for Christmas. Published in 1968 Mount Joy was not typical young-adult novel of the time (think Judy Blume). It's the story of Maris, an American college student who decides to use her scholarship money to travel from Paris to Santiago, as a pilgrim on the Way of St James. The Kirkus review described it as "freshman tremors in sophomoric prose". Maris may have been earnest, and obsessed with medieval history but her Camino inspired my interest in the Way, and now almost 50 years later I'm finally going to follow in her footsteps.
In the 1980s and 1990s the ancient Camino route was mapped and signposted, the first modern guidebooks were published and walking (or cycling) the Camino surged in popularity. In 1986 2,491 pilgrims received a certificate for completing the way, in 2019 347,578 people completed the journey. In 2000 Shirley MacLaine wrote The Camino: A Journey of the Spirit; this bestseller brought the pilgrimage into popular culture. More books and movies followed, and I began to hear the Camino described as a bucket-list item.
My adolescent fantasy of walking this ancient route, was tarnished with the widespread interest in the Camino. I questioned whether I wanted to do it, fearful the experience would not live up to my expectations built up over the years. But then I continued to be inspired by others and my dream to do the Camino remained. I went to the Victoria conference of the Canadian Company of Pilgrims, wept during film The Way with Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez and was inspired by Oliver Schroer the musician from Smithers who recorded in 25 churches along the Way and released the album Camino Overture.
On September 4, Larry and I will start our journey to Santiago. We've decided to cycle from Paris to Santiago, following the ancient French route through Tours, Orleans and Bordeaux, over the Pyrenees at St Jean Pied-de Port and on to Pamplona, Burgos and Leon. We will be on the road for 7 weeks, following the EuroVelo 3. I will use this site to share some photos and updates.
In the 1980s and 1990s the ancient Camino route was mapped and signposted, the first modern guidebooks were published and walking (or cycling) the Camino surged in popularity. In 1986 2,491 pilgrims received a certificate for completing the way, in 2019 347,578 people completed the journey. In 2000 Shirley MacLaine wrote The Camino: A Journey of the Spirit; this bestseller brought the pilgrimage into popular culture. More books and movies followed, and I began to hear the Camino described as a bucket-list item.
My adolescent fantasy of walking this ancient route, was tarnished with the widespread interest in the Camino. I questioned whether I wanted to do it, fearful the experience would not live up to my expectations built up over the years. But then I continued to be inspired by others and my dream to do the Camino remained. I went to the Victoria conference of the Canadian Company of Pilgrims, wept during film The Way with Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez and was inspired by Oliver Schroer the musician from Smithers who recorded in 25 churches along the Way and released the album Camino Overture.
On September 4, Larry and I will start our journey to Santiago. We've decided to cycle from Paris to Santiago, following the ancient French route through Tours, Orleans and Bordeaux, over the Pyrenees at St Jean Pied-de Port and on to Pamplona, Burgos and Leon. We will be on the road for 7 weeks, following the EuroVelo 3. I will use this site to share some photos and updates.