The Whistle is about to Blow

A shell from my beach at home, a shell from Saint Jean Pied de Port, two passports that signify different challenges and of course my Meixcan eye given to me by mis primas , so mi hermanita, primas and familia Mexican is always with me, watching over me and can share this next chapter of my life.

Setting Out on the Camino: The Beginning of My Pilgrimage

Reflections, Anticipations, and the Adventure Ahead

There are moments in life when the pull of personal challenge calls again. My first challenge was committing to full-time uni, full time work and two kids as single parent. I don’t write this to elicit empathy but to put into perpective the committements I make in my life to push myself, to grow to learn and to continuously try to be better. My kids and my uni will always be the best achievements. I didn’t always do it well but I did both with passion and love.

The urge to walk the Camino was a slow burn for me, a colleague at work walked it with her mum and got me interested, and as I write this she is again walking another section along the coast with her mum! Buen Camino Kate M!

Then came watching the ‘The Camino My Way’ with Neale, watching this grumpy old man rediscover who he was and who he wanted to be and how the Camino changed him. If he could do maybe I could to …how hard could it be……?

Then of course came the pinnacle of all Camino movies ‘The Way’ featuring Martin Sheen (before he became president), I think we all wish he still was….but I digress.

Serendipitously Smithy walks past me at Jazz night and says ‘I am walking the Camino de Compestala’ I say ‘I want in’ and here we are, that moment has arrived as I prepare to set off on the Camino de Santiago.   While I've heard countless stories about blisters, breathtaking views, and friendships forged over shared meals in small Spanish villages, the reality that I am finally about to begin my own journey is both exhilarating and a little daunting. Will I make it? how will it change me? What if doesn’t change me? Did I pack the right clothes (I know I have the right undies - Step One’s they will change your life if you don’t have a pair go get some!)

Why the Camino?

The Camino, or The Way of St James, is more than just a long walk. For centuries, pilgrims from all over the world have trekked these ancient paths to Santiago de Compostela, each carrying their own hopes, burdens, questions, and dreams. Mine is a blend of curiosity, a longing for clarity, and a desire to reconnect with both myself and the wider world. After a few hectic years, the call to slow down and move at a walking pace—literally and figuratively—became too strong to ignore.

I was in a place with my work where I was question the value of my contribution not with my work or for lack of competences but why was I doing it? Did I enjoy it where is my passion. At the half time point in my life I am fortunate enough to have the time and opportunity to explore this through the camino - I have the luxury of choice, which I haven’t always had.

The Preparations

Packing for the Camino has been an exercise in letting go. Every item in my backpack has been carefully considered, weighed, and sometimes reluctantly left behind. The advice from seasoned pilgrims rings in my ears: "Pack light, walk far." My trusty SpeedGoats and work I have done with my trainer Sean Hiller at Vision (shout out to you all and my Saturday run club buddies) I’m as ready as I’ll ever be, I know there’s no real way to be fully prepared for what lies ahead.

Fears and Excitement

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. The thought of getting lost, not making it to the next accommodation before nightfall, or struggling through a tough stretch on a sweltering afternoon is intimidating. Will Smithy survive my singing, incessant questions - will we be friends at the end of the walk! But in equal measure, I’m excited by the unknown. Who will I meet? What stories will I hear—or tell? What lessons does the Camino have in store for me? With every uncertainty comes the promise of growth.

The Journey Begins

As I write this, my mind is racing with last-minute details, but also with gratitude. I am grateful for the opportunity, the health, and the support that makes this journey possible. Tomorrow, I’ll lace up my boots, shoulder my pack, and take the first step—one of thousands to come—towards Santiago. I don’t yet know how the road will change me, but I’m ready to find out.

See You on the Way

I plan to share updates, photos, and reflections as I go, hoping to bring a bit of the Camino’s magic to you my friends, family, and anyone curious about the experience. I can’t promise I will always write well but I will write true.

Whether you’re considering your own walk one day or simply enjoy following along, thanks for joining me at the start of this adventure. Buen Camino!