I Got Up and Walked the Camino de Santiago with My Other Half

Book excerpt: A light hearted read from David's and Sue's versions of the Camino de Santiago in Spain! David is an experienced hiker having walked the Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia, 1000 kilometres in 43 days and Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand, 3000 kilometres in 119 days and more recently the Pacific Crest Trail, 4,200 kilometres in 4 months and 8 days. Life is simple with his backpack full of food, equipment and tent, whereas Sue likes coffees, soft beds and showers. This was a compromise to walk at least once together on their six month backpacking trip around Europe.Walking 800 kilometres in seven weeks, approximately twenty kilometres a day was a challenge for both. David usually walks forty kilometres a day with a personal best of sixty kilometres in a day, so he had to slow down! For Sue this was just a challenge! However with lots of cafes and a hot shower and soft bed at the end of each day to look forward to, it was a great way to spend time in each other's company.David has gone back to packing his tent and continuing to walk the list of walks he wants to accomplish. While Sue is happy to wait at home and edit his journals. When he hikes overseas she will follow him in a train, bus, cruise or just do her own thing. With a husband and wife version of walking the Camino they are different in retelling their stories.Sit back with a coffee or beer and enjoy the read.