The Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

I first heard about route to Santiago on a Tv ad from the Spanish Tourism office in 1990. I was intrigued but not moved. It would take another 16 years for me to find the way to Santiago. I managed to persuade a fellow Catholic to join me on the trip in 2006. He was a mountain freak who was capable of cycling 2000m altitude metres without breaking into a sweat. Time was scarce for both of us so we decided to do just over half the pilgrimage (from Leon to Santiago) in 4 days averaging 120km per day with or without hills. Our decision to do the trip was to "ask god" for something in a place millions of others had asked and apparently recieved.

I planned to have earnest conversations with my maker all along the way. The 120km hills or no hills put paid to any good intentions. My lungs were fighting to get out of my chest. A mere "Amen" would have been impossible on some of the cycling climbs which seemed to head directly to the pearly gates but then would abruptly drop perilously down. My tacometer read 80km an hour with fully engaged disc brakes on the way down one such "harikiri" drop. I was not having any conversations with my maker but I seemed to be getting close to meeting him in person.

When we finally arrived in Santiago we spent an hour in the cathedral thanking the Lord for our safe arrival and then posing our "big asks". Two big things I asked for came to pass within 6 weeks so here I am off again this time on a "thanking" trip for all the good things that have happened to me, my family and friends. This Pilgrimage will be different. Firstly, I will be going alone and there will be no time limit. I may be gone for as little as two weeks but I may be gone for much longer. There will be time for self retropsection and lots of time for conversations with my maker.

I am off on the pilgrimage to Santiago de compostela on Sunday 11th April. I shall drive down to St. Jean Pied de Port and then cycle 800km to Santiago de Compostela. The "offiicial" pilgrimage begins early on Monday 12th of April in the morning. Think of me and I will pray for you.

This blog is to allow you to share the pilgrimage with me. I promise to think about you at least once on this trip. If you have an "ask", ask your maker and I will also "ask" on your behalf, the power of faith from millions of others who have trodden the path to Santiago will surely bring your "ask" to pass.

Buen Camino

Jo Lorez-Odunsi