When You're Walking 500 miles, the Little Things Add Up

Pilgrimages are ancient concepts.?

A pilgrim would journey toward a specific destination sanctified by a divine being. They made the trip to show their devotion, and in return, they’d be absolved of their sins.?

People still follow the religious roots of a pilgrimage today. But far more are turning to these timeworn routes for an epic hiking experience. One of the most famous pilgrimages turned bucket list adventure is the Camino de Santiago .?

"For the people who are true pilgrims, it's a monumental event in their lives. It's difficult. There's a lot of pain for a lot of people. So, there's a self-esteem element. It's a great thing to do," explains Tom Conklin. "I've done the Camino several times and still enjoy it. I enjoy helping people, giving them my brace, buying dinner, hearing their stories, letting people talk.”

The Camino, or the Way of St. James, is a network of routes stretching across Europe. Pilgrims would journey to Santiago de Compostela to visit the tomb of St. James the Apostle , hoping to reduce their time in purgatory.?

"I've done the Camino four times. The first one I did was the French Way. You go through the Pyrenees and right across Spain," says Tom. "That's the amazing thing about it. You walk through Spain! You get to see it at a walking pace. It's gorgeous.”?

The French Way is the most popular. Over 60% of the pilgrims choose the Camino Frances. You'll hardly go an hour without meeting someone from a different corner of the world. And it’s this proximity to different cultures and belief systems that makes the French Way so popular.??

"The Camino is how you want the world to be. Everybody is helping everybody. No matter who you talk to, they'll have time for you. They'll be pleasant about it if they don't want to talk. Everybody will help you. You will help everybody," says Tom. "Somebody will have tape. Somebody will have an extra brace. People go to the Camino expecting some sort of miracle. They go for life-changing reasons. And for the most part, they find what they're looking for."?

Tom's second trip to Santiago de Compostela took him through Portugal. The Camino Portugués is the second most popular route, and for good reason. Depending on where you start (some pilgrims begin in Lisbon, others in Porto), you traverse a large section of Portugal's coast. The Camino Portugués is a rural alternative to the French Way, making the Portugal route ideal for those seeking a peaceful experience.?

Tom returned to the tomb of St. James a third time, opting for a more challenging route: The Via de la Plata . The longest of the Camino routes, pilgrims begin in Seville. The path runs northwards, tracing an ancient Roman trading route. By the time you reach St. James, you'll have crossed the entire length of Spain.?

"The Via de la Plata is much less popular," says Tom. "In six weeks, I probably saw 50 to 75 different people. But you see the same group, so you get to know each other. Because it's so sparse, the distances are set for you. You have to walk a long way before you stop. So, the little things, like leaving chocolate behind, offering your brace, paying for dinner, become more important than grand gestures.”?

There's a spiritual element to the El Camino, regardless of faith. Instead of communing with God, although some pilgrims still use the Camino for that reason, many are turning to pilgrimages because walking can be profound. It's simple, requiring minimal thought. This frees your mind to wander wherever it pleases.?

Once your mind finishes meandering, it returns to the present moment. You become aware of the smallest details, like the warmth of acknowledgment when someone offers a simple hello. Or the smile on someone's face after they've told you their life story.

These brief moments of connection are not glamorous, but they happen daily. The noise of the everyday drowns them out, though. You become so immersed in your problems and routine that you forget about others. You fail to listen to someone's response when you ask, "How are you?"?

The beauty of the El Camino isn't the towering cathedrals. It's not the serene countryside or the rolling mountains. It's the small moments of kindness between strangers. "That's God to me," says Tom, "People being generous, people being kind."?