Simplicity

Walking the Camino de Santiago is very simple, there are 3 daily activities. First, walking, talking and eating on the Camino consumes about 8 hours per day. Another 6 hours each day after walking is spent reading, journaling, sightseeing, dinner, and preparing for the next day (buying water and fruit, albergue reservations). Finally, sleep 7-8 hours per night and lie down another 2-3 hours after walking to rest my legs, so about 10 hours is spent in bed. This pattern is repeated for 30 days over 800+ km. It’s fairly simple, very humble, consistent, uncomplicated, and joyful.

Camino happiness requires a good routine and surrounding yourself with positive thinkers. Some on the Camino complain as their body hurts, forcing too many miles, or not sleeping well at albergues given the dormitory snoring. Too many pilgrims have a concept of “walking Camino a certain way.” For example, no advanced room reservations. That’s a bad idea if the Camino is busy and albergues fill up. I sustain joy by not allowing anything to disturb my interior peace, knowing what makes me happy each day, they include –

6 am start as I enjoy silent, peaceful mornings and sunrises.
Walk 6-7 hours, a comfortable 18-21 miles daily. I don’t like walking 5 hours or less, too short for me.
Finish walking about 1:30 to check into an albergue or hostel, shower, grab a sandwich for lunch and shop for water + fruit for the next day.
Don’t walk past 1:30 as the heat is more difficult, and I become discouraged.
Say “hola or Buen Camino” to everyone I passed – my way of remaining positive with the world. When I am happy and charitable, I share God with others, and this is good for me.
Stop in a church to pray daily before a good dinner with friends.

This is my joy-filled routine which allows me to be consistently happy. Other pilgrims attempt to convince me to take days off, walk shorter or longer routes, or to go drinking after dinner. These weren’t part of my happy routine so I avoided these activities. Everyone has a different Camino, understanding your happy Camino is a major part of success. Finally, I ask God to guide me each day in being charitable to others and to accept every moment as a blessing, as my Camino.