Solo to Santiago | #118 | October 2024
I walked the Camino from Sarria to Santiago alone and discovered
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Edition #118 is coming from Spain » check my bio below. I post cool stuff on Linkedin and a regular free Newsletter: “Remote Work Digest”.
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This edition is indulgent and simple, I recently returned from walking one stretch of the Camino de Santiago, from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela. It took 5 days to walk, it was 116km in length, I did it alone. I took photos. I saw some wonderful things as I did the “pilgrimage” to Santiago a became a “pilgrim”.
I wanted to make it a memorable and conscious effort, so let’s start with my intention and how I approached it.
»Comments are open on this post, if you would like to share or ask questions.
💅 Making the walk mine
Walking solo, was intentional, as I wanted to experience the pilgrimage myself, on my own terms, in my own time and with my own schedule. I decided to carry all my own stuff on my back in a bag for the 5 days and choose where I might stop, breaking the days and distances up.
So it was all about my needs, wants and plans. A bit different for someone who is a mother, partner, older sibling and often answering and responsible to many other people, in my regular day-to-day life!
For me, this time felt especially indulgent, a luxury and made me want to keep everything really simple. I thought beforehand what a day entail: I would get up, pop the bag on my back, walk, enjoy the route, being in nature, stop when I liked, eat when I choose to and decide my own schedule, my plans all by myself. In general, this is what happened and how each day felt and it was bliss.
I did not work, I did not listen to podcasts, I did not over plan, I (tried!) not to overthink too. It gave me an insight into how a simple, scaled back life can be. When each day is about simply getting from A to B.
Which on reflection is interesting, when many people asked me what revelations or spiritual insights I may have gotten after reaching Santiago de Compostela. This made me ponder and notice that the simple acts of being alone on the route, endeavouring to be present, answering only to myself, setting the simple intention of it being “the camino, my way” was so powerful for me.
So no, dear reader, I did not have any major spiritual interventions or epiphanies. I did not come back knowing the meaning of life, or have a major revelation or startling reflections. I just enjoyed the journey, cheesy but true.
A note on budget: I endeavoured to keep my costs as a solo pilgrim low, for my Camino. Although, I did not go the full budget route in hostel dormitories, I did choose carefully using my booking (dot) com genius level account (»» check out the article here and below for more info), with a target budget level in mind of no more than 60 euro’s per night for a room with bathroom - hey I am 52 years of age, I like my basic comforts!
🍄 Noticing nature and taking pictures
Taking my own rhythm and time to do the walk meant I could also stop when I liked to take some photos. Sharing a few below for your viewing pleasure.
Day 1: Sarria to Portomarín
Day 2: Portomarín to Palais De Rei
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Day 3: Palais De Rei to Arzúa
Day 4: Arzúa to O’Pedrouzo
Day 5: O’Pedrouzo to Santiago De Compostela
Hopefully these photos share some of the joy, peace and colours I experienced during my long walk alone. A clear lesson in the keeping life simple and enjoying the journey whilst you travel. A pertinent reminder to me to just keep putting one foot in front of the other, no more, no less.
May the road rise to meet you on your own Camino. xx
»Comments are open on this post, if you would like to share or ask questions.
🫱🏽🫲🏾 In case you don’t know me already, I am Ro, I am based in Zaragoza, Spain with my Location Independent, somewhat Nomadic (4-6 months a years of nomading) family. For work, I am a Remote Work and Digital Nomad Expert, Advisor and Writer, oh and a Linkedin Top Voice.
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love n light,
💚 Ro