IF you’ve ever considered walking one of the many pilgrims walks around the world you’ll know there’s a lot of information out there and it can all be a bit overwhelming. Well don’t fret! We spoke to a number of Australians who have walked the Camino di Santiago and a number of other long-distance pilgrim walks to get the lowdown on what it’s like to take on such a challenging journey.
Leanne Prichard
In May 2018 Leanne (53) used her long-service leave to walk the 800km Camino Frances.
GRW: How much preparation and training did you did do prior to your walk?
I did quite a bit of training in the lead up to my Camino. I bought my gear, including my walking boots and backpack a couple of years earlier (yes, I was very keen!) so they were well and truly broken in by the time I left. I started by taking long walks in my local area, including some steep climbs. As the date for my departure drew closer, I began walking with my backpack with some rocks in it to simulate the weight I would need to carry on the Camino. I also participated in a couple of long-distance walks including the Hobart Point to Pinnacle (24km – from the Casino on sea level to the top of Mount Wellington – 1270m) and the Way to St James Cygnet Tasmanian Camino which is a two-day pilgrimage (30 km in total) through the beautiful Huon Valley.
A lot of people find the long hours of daily walking gives them time to reflect on their lives. Did
