These Holy Bones: Walking the Camino de Santiago

These Holy Bones: Vol. 2-Episode 18: The Camino Companion Office

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372021/fan_mail/new] At the end of a very long walk, many pilgrims have a need to talk about their pilgrimage, to process the many hours spent on the road to Santiago. In the pilgrims office where a pilgrim gets the final stamp on the credential and receives the Compostela, there is another office, the Camino Companion Office, wherein a pilgrim can go and discuss the journey that they've just completed with volunteers like Sister Mary and Margaret from Scotland. The office offers an opportunity to meet other pilgrims, the opportunity to pray about the walk, and a chance to have a cup of tea with kindred spirits.

These Holy Bones: Vol. 2-Episode 17: Camino 2025 in Review with Father Jerome

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372021/fan_mail/new] At the very end of Camino 2025, Father Jerome and I spent time discussing his pilgrimage from Burgos to Leon, and then from Sarria to Santiago--a total of 200 miles on the Camino Frances. Our discussion took place on the patio of Camino Curry, my new favorite restaurant in Santiago owned by Kamal and his family. Father Jerome's reflections spring from his deep faith in the Catholic tradition and his pastoral perspective as a Dominican priest. I enjoyed walking with him and appreciate his commitment to prayer. I think you'll enjoy this episode.

These Holy Bones: Vol. 2-Episode 16: Camino Massages with Danny

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372021/fan_mail/new] In this episode, I interview Danny, the owner and massage therapist of Camino Massages located in Santiago a few doors down from Camino Curry. Danny walked the Camino Norte in 2014 and knows the challenges that pilgrims face when walking day in and day out for more than thirty days. He gives tips on foot care and foot wear as well as insights on how to approach the pilgrimage to Santiago. I enjoyed speaking with Danny, and I think you'll enjoy listening to him as he shares his depth of knowledge about the Camino de Santiago.

These Holy Bones: Vol. 2-Episode 15: 400,000 Steps Alone

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372021/fan_mail/new] 400,000 steps with almost no conversation is a different kind of loud. From the plaza in front of the Santiago Cathedral, we sit down with Ron from Oregon right after he finishes a solo walk from Porto to Santiago, largely in silence, giving himself hours each day to think, remember, and let life catch up with him. Ron breaks down the practical side of a Portuguese Coastal Route Camino de Santiago pilgrimage: why the coast felt right, what a sustainable pace looks like (around 10 miles a day), and how simple routines like water breaks and staying fed can decide whether the walk stays joyful or turns into a grind. He also talks about looking ahead a few days for lodging, a small planning habit that can make the whole trip calmer. Then the conversation opens into the real reason he came back now. At 70, with a wife still working, a dog waiting at home, and kids approaching big transitions, he sees a closing window of freedom and chooses to take it. We also explore the stories that drew him to the Camino, including The Way and Walk With Sam, and the hope that a long, meaningful walk can help someone find a better direction, even if you can’t measure the impact. Ron shares the spiritual thread running under his steps too: prayer, gratitude, and the awareness that safety can change with one wrong move on cobblestones or roots. If you’ve been searching for a solo Camino de Santiago story, a Porto to Santiago route guide, or honest insight into why people do pilgrimages, this conversation brings it back to what matters: time, attention, and the courage to walk. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review with your own reason for going.

These Holy Bones: Vol. 2-Episode 14: Planning for a Future Camino with Steve Lighty

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372021/fan_mail/new] In this episode, my good friend, Steven Lighty, and I discuss the many different facets of the Camino and what it takes to prepare for the long trek across Spain. Steve and his wife, Maryann, plan on walking the pilgrimage in a few years. Their preparation is essentially underway as they consider what route to travel and what to pack for their journey. It seems the Camino has their number, and it is very difficult not to answer once you've heard the call.