But Why?

This is the astonished response I hear most often when people hear about my ambition to walk the Camino, followed by remarks such as "you can borrow my car" or "what's wrong with your car?" I never know what to answer them, because I love walking so much that I can't imagine anyone NOT wanting to walk a thousand kilmetres, so my standard very cliched answer is "But why not?" or "Because I can". Not very inspirational I'm afraid;-)

Seriously though, why do people do a pilgrimage? What is it that causes you to forsake family, friends and your own comfortable environment to walk such a long distance, enduring all manner of weather conditions, bed bugs, lack of privacy, possibly pain and untold other hardships to get from point A to point X in the most difficult way.

We humans have probably undertaken pilgrimages in one form or the other since the day we became conscious of ourselves as "spiritual" beings. And despite the advances in transportation technology, we still think that walking constitutes the only "real" pilgrimage.

My own reason for walking the Camino is that I love walking and want to walk a thousand kilometres at a stretch whilst I still have the strength to do it. Having "retired" a few years ago, I also feel ready for a period of contemplation where I have only myself to worry about. Finally in some way it feels "right" to follow in the footsteps of so many who have walked this route before me - confirming my spiritual bond with them and those who will come after me.

In any case - buen camino, whether you're walking "The Camino" or walking your life path.