My guest in this episode said yes to walking the Camino before he even knew what that really meant. Is it a leap of faith or simply saying yes to life? Either way, Ron shows us that now is the time to say take on those big dreams and goals.

After losing nearly 80 lbs by eating less and moving more, Ron is ready to take on the physical, mental, and spiritual challenge of walking the Camino.

Wondering about the "marvelous resource" Ron refers to during our conversation? That's the Camino Planning Kit, available at https://thecaminoexperience.com/kit/

It will take you from where you are now - wherever you are in the research and planning process - all the way to taking your first steps on the Camino Francés and beyond.

#youonthecamino

What happens when you sense a loud, clear calling to walk the Camino de Santiago? Well, you do it. You put some dates on the calendar and you plan this thing.

That’s what my guest today, Noel, did. The calling was mysterious yet unmistakable, so who was she to refuse it? And the timing coincides perfectly with a big milestone birthday, so this is the perfect time to take this journey.

Everything I offer to the pilgrim community is announced first on to my email list. You can join that list and also pick up your free copy of my Camino Planning Roadmap here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap/

Looking for some Camino tips, wisdom, and inspiration? It's all here:

https://www.facebook.com/TheCaminoExperience

https://www.instagram.com/thecaminoexperience/

#youonthecamino

I hope you are ready to be inpsired, because today I have the compelling after-the-Camino story of US veteran Paul who walked the Camino last October with the life-changing program offered by Warriors on the Way. (https://warriorsontheway.org/)

Warriors on the Way is a pilgrimage on the Camino De Santiago that is designed to facilitate a combat veteran’s healing from PTSD and Moral Injury.

This program works to reduce PTSD and Moral Injury symptoms, which in turn improves quality of life and helps in the effort to reduce the veteran suicide rate.

The pilgrimage is led by Fr Steven Rindahl (US Army, Retired), who is an experienced pilgrim. Fr Steve has designed this pilgrimage based on his own pilgrimage experiences and supported by his doctorate in responding to combat trauma and through the US Army Chaplaincy course he developed and taught on how to provide a Ministerial Response to Moral Injury.

Do you have a story to tell? Of course you do! Let me know you are interested in being a guest on the podcast here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/podcast-guest-request-form/

During the month of May I will be posting tips and tricks right from the trail. Follow me here:

https://www.facebook.com/TheCaminoExperience

https://www.instagram.com/thecaminoexperience/

Or better yet, meet me out there somewhere!

#youonthecamino

Diana will be walking the Camino Portuguese with her daughter, and in this episode she reminds us that it is as important to plan the journey home from the Camino as it is to think about and plan the actual walking part.

I won’t spoil the surprise; instead, I will invite you to open your mind and heart to new ways of doing things.

In all, this is a story of getting the most out of the pilgrimage experience, and noticing before you go that reaching Santiago de Compostela isn’t the end of the journey.

This is a story of love and the relationship between a mother and daughter, who are each finding their own reasons for making this pilgrimage, and for making it together.

I also sneak in some thoughts on how to plan your return home from the Camino, in case you would like to make that transition go a little bit more smoothly.

Get your hands on all the instructions - all the how-tos – for how to plan your pilgrimage on the Camino Francés. But it has to be today if you want 20% off!

Here's where to find it: https://thecaminoexperience.com/kit/

Everything I offer to the pilgrim community is announced first on to my email list. You can join that list and also pick up your free copy of my Camino Planning Roadmap here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap/

I will be posting right from the Camino trail throughout most of May as I make my way from Logroño to Burgos and then from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona. (I know, it's a bit out of order. Crazy pilgrim that I am.)

https://www.facebook.com/TheCaminoExperience

https://www.instagram.com/thecaminoexperience/

Hope to see you out there!

#youonthecamino

Claire and Richard walked the Camino Francés in 2023 and had the time of their lives. While they walked the same trail, the same day-to-day stages, and they stayed in the same places every night, they still had their own unique experiences.

What is it like to walk the Camino with a partner? Well, it's time to find out.

The book we talked about is called In Movement There is Peace: Stumbling 500 Miles Along the Way to the Spirit, by Elaine Orabona Foster and Joseph Wilbred Foster III.

Imagine a box delivered to your doorstep with everything you need – all the instructions, all the how-tos – for how to plan your pilgrimage on the Camino Francés.

Imagine that rather than searching high and low on the internet to find the answers you need, you have it all in one place, at your fingertips, on one website or on in one app.

That is the Camino Planning Kit, and now through May 6, 2025, you can take 20% off and get started right away with putting together your pilgrimage plan.

Here's where to find it: https://thecaminoexperience.com/kit/

During the month of May I will be posting tips and tricks right from the trail. Follow me here:

https://www.facebook.com/TheCaminoExperience

https://www.instagram.com/thecaminoexperience/

Or better yet, meet me out there somewhere!

#youonthecamino

Kimberly shows us the value of making this pilgrimage with friends, with "your people."

Any way you do it is valid, and I believe that each person ultimately chooses the way that is best for them, but there is definitely something to be said for sharing this journey with people who know you well, who know you at your best and at your worst and who love you anyway.

Did someone say cheesecake?!? Yes! Here is where you find the best cheesecake in Santiago de Compolstela: Airas Nunes Café (easy to find with Google maps or similar)

The promotion on the Camino Planning Kit starts on Friday, April 25, here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/kit/

I will be posting right from the Camino trail as I make my way from Logroño to Burgos and then from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Pamplona. (I know, it's a bit out of order. Crazy pilgrim that I am.)

https://www.facebook.com/TheCaminoExperience

https://www.instagram.com/thecaminoexperience/

Hope to see you out there!

#youonthecamino

It's all here! Pilgrim Sandra is taking a thoughtful and well thought out approach to her Camino experience. There's gold in here!

Here is the pilgrim planning resource in Porto (Nicoletta) that Sandra used: https://your-camino.com/ 

If you have already walked one of the Camino routes, I would love to hear from you about what challenges you faced in returning home from the Camino. You can take the survey here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/aftersurvey/

Promotion coming the last weekend in April. Let me know you are interested here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/promo/

#youonthecamino

How do you break up the Camino Francés route if you have only 21 days for your pilgrimage? Jarrett and Amy tackled that challenge and came up with a plan that suits them perfectly. Find out how they did that, using this podcast and my Camino Francés Getting Started Audio Guide.

Be the first to know when the audio guide gets its remodel and goes on sale at the end of April 2025.

Go to https://thecaminoexperience.com/promo/

Here is the planning tool we talk about: https://godesalco.com/plan Full instructions for using the Godesalco tool and for how to plan your entire Camino journey are in the audio guide!

#youonthecamino

Our pilgrim wisdom continues this week, this time with someone getting ready to walk the Camino, rather than with someone who has already walked. Today you are going to meet pilgrim Annie who is walking the Camino Francés this spring.

You'll hear what Annie says about the intersection of human spirit and Camino spirit and how she intends to explore how the themes of surrender and restoration will work into her pilgrimage.

I think Annie is going to speak for many of us, as she shares how she is being called to walk the Camino as a long walk with God, to discover what God is trying to do in her life. Beautiful, right?

It reminds me that the Camino experience isn’t a one-off experience. Yes, it can be an incredible experience, and there is so much to explore and discover along the many Camino routes. So much to see and feel and smell and taste and touch. It is truly a journey of the senses. Enjoy!

Head back to season one, episode one to start at the true beginning, and don't forget to grab your free copy of Nancy's Camino Planning Roadmap:

https://thecaminoexperience.com/roadmap/

#youonthecamino

This is just one of the questions my guest Maurice and I ponder in this episode of the YOU on the Camino de Santiago podcast.

Before he walked his first Camino, Maurice spent some time exploring the question of why he was going to do this pilgrimage. It’s a question I recommend every pilgrim ponders. You may not know exactly why you want to walk the Camino, but simply by asking the question, you invite answers that may take you off in new and exciting directions.

Here is the book we discussed: The Art of Pilgrimage, by Phil Cousineau

Check out Nancy's 13-eBook series and watch your plans come together. https://thecaminoexperience.com/start/ For the DIY pilgrim.

Or, let's do this together! Join the Camino Experience group in September - only two spots left as of March 25, 2025. Let me know you are interested here: https://thecaminoexperience.com/inquire

Here are the two places in Santiago that we talked about where pilgrims can go to process their pilgrimage:

Pilgrim House in Santiago: https://www.pilgrimhousesantiago.com/

Camino Companions: https://www.fcjsisters.org/who-we-are/where-we-are/europe/camino-companions/ 

#youonthecamino