Camino del Norte: Questions and Answers
Here are a few of the most common questions I have been asked since returning from my journey:
In what ways did the Camino change you? I stopped worrying about what other people thought of me, and I learned how to stand up for myself.
Were you comfortable as a solo female traveler? Most of the time, yes. I would feel more comfortable walking around a Spanish town by myself in the middle of the night than I would most American cities in broad daylight.
What was your favorite thing about the Camino? The chance to unplug from the distractions of life go on a long walk surrounded by the beauty of the Creator.
Did you make any lasting connections? Yes! I am still in touch with several of my Camino friends over WhatsApp.
How far did you walk every day? Usually between 15 and 21 miles a day.
Did you ever take a bus? Not a bus, but I did take the train one day to bypass some of the urban nothing after leaving Santander.
Did you take any rest days? Yes. I made a point to take a Sabbath rest every Saturday. I also took a few extra days to explore some of the bigger cities such as Bilbao and Santander.
What did you do for food? Other than protein bars, I really didn’t need to pack much food. The Camino usually went through at least one bigger town with a grocery store or cafeteria each day, and some hostels offered a communal pilgrim dinner for €10 to €15.
How did you plan your route? I used guidebooks, vlogs, and the Wise Pilgrim app to plan my daily stages. I compiled the stages into a Google doc and made my own daily hiking plan.
Did you book your accommodations ahead of time? I reserved about a fourth of the accommodations a month in advance. Hostels in the bigger cities fill up fast, and I wanted to make sure I had a spot. This also meant that I had to stick to my schedule, though.
How much did hostels cost per night? Usually between €10 and €20. Some albergues, called donativos, were donation-based and relied on pilgrims to give what they were able.
How many complete outfits did you take? About four, although most of the articles of clothing that I brought could be mixed and matched with anything else.
Did you take your fiddle? Lol no.
Is there anything you wish you had brought? Yes. A portable charger.
Is there anything you were really glad you brought? Trekking poles. I can’t imagine hiking the Camino without them, especially for the first few weeks through Basque Country. Also a hat.
Is there anything you didn’t need to bring? Extra clothes for town, a phone tripod, and a guidebook (the apps worked well enough for me).
Were you ever scared? Sometimes, but not very often.
What was the weather like? The first week it rained almost every day, but the rest of the time the weather was ideal for hiking. It usually got up to the mid-60s (Fahrenheit) or low 70s in the afternoon.
What was the terrain like? Rolling coastal hills and valleys. It was almost never flat, and there was unfortunately a lot of pavement. But the beautiful views made up for that.
Did you train for the Camino? Yes. I ran, walked, or hiked several times a week during the months leading up to the Camino. Then I hiked with my backpack every day for a month before I left.
Did you meet very many other Americans? Not really. On the Camino del Norte, I only met seven other Americans (until the town of Arzúa, where the Norte joins Camino Francés). I met a lot of Spanish, German, and Dutch pilgrims.
Did you meet other Christians on the Camino? Other than Endre and Nelli, I didn’t meet many other Christians on my walk (that I know of).
Did you see Roman ruins? No, other than passing the Termas Romanas de Campo Valdés (Roman baths) in Gijón. However, the Via de la Plata (Silver Way) Camino route follows an ancient Roman road and is known for its Roman ruins.
Did you walk by yourself or with other people? I usually walked by myself in the morning to be alone with the Lord. But then in the afternoon when energy began to wane, sometimes it was nice to walk with fellow pilgrims for a few minutes or a few hours.
Did you sing? Haha every day!
Are you fluent in Spanish now? Only Camino Spanish ;) In other words, the bare essentials. However, I can understand a lot more Spanish than I used to.
Why did you choose the Camino del Norte? The coastline, the challenge, and a more solitary route.
What surprised you about the Spanish culture? How quiet, present, and observant the people are.
What was your favorite place or part of the trip? That’s tough to answer. There were so many beautiful places and moments and people, it would be impossible to choose just one. But arriving in Santiago with the other pilgrims was definitely a highlight. The joy and celebration reminded me of what it will be like when we all get to Heaven.
What was your reason for planning this pilgrimage? To get closer to the Lord and listen for His voice.
Would you hike the Camino again? In a heartbeat! I’m planning to walk the Camino Portugués in 2027.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in hiking the Camino? Don’t be afraid to take the risk and just do it! This is one of the best experiences you can give yourself, and you’ll figure it out as you go along. It’s so worth it.
Have your long-term plans changed after the Camino? Yes and no. My long-term vision has gotten more specific, but my mission remains the same: to encourage, delight, and inspire others and bring glory to God in all that I do.
