Camino del Norte: Leaving on Good Friday
Introduction
This account is a collection of moments from a 512-mile pilgrimage journey I took by foot across Northern Spain on the Camino del Norte, which is part of the Camino de Santiago. I left from Tennessee on Good Friday (April 18, 2025), started the Camino on Easter Sunday from Irún, walked across the northern coast of Spain for forty days, and arrived in Santiago de Compostela on Ascension Day (May 29, 2025). I took Sabbath rest days every Saturday, and I also spent a few extra days exploring some of the bigger cities along the route. I did not go with anyone; the trip was entirely solo. This was also my first time traveling abroad on my own.
I am a Christian, and I wanted to hike the Camino to deepen my relationship with God and hear His voice. Along the way, I met some amazing fellow pilgrims whom I hope to keep in touch with for the rest of my life. Forty days in the Bible is a time of fasting and spiritual challenge, so I challenged myself to abstain from using social media for the duration of the trip. I experienced so much freedom and clarity that I ended up deleting my personal Instagram account before I got back to the states.
The Camino del Norte was an amazing experience that I will never forget. However, don’t let the glittering vistas and glowing descriptions fool you: there is also lot of mud, blisters, tears, and even monotony on the Camino. For the sake of brevity, I have left out some of the less important details. However, I have endeavored to “keep it real” and include the unglamorous parts of the Camino as well as the golden ones.
I hope this account encourages you in your walk with the Lord. I hope it delights you the way it delighted me. And I hope it inspires you to consider doing a pilgrimage of your own one day. I learned and grew so much from this trip, and I am grateful beyond measure to have had this opportunity.
If you have any questions about my experience on the Camino, please leave a comment or send me an email. I am not a Camino expert, but I am happy to share what I know.
Blessings,
Sophie
