Camino del Norte: Leaving on Good Friday
Introduction
This account is a collection of moments from a forty-day, 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, turned twenty-three on April 23rd, 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, as well as a few extra days exploring some of the bigger cities along the route. I did not go with anyone; the trip was entirely solo.
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: the Camino also has mud, blisters, tears, and sometimes monotony. I have endeavored to “keep it real” and include the unglamorous parts of my journey as well as the golden ones.
I hope this account encourages you in your walk with the Lord, delights you the way it delighted me, and 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 reach out to me. I am not a Camino expert, but I am happy to share what I know.
Blessings,
Sophie
