One life changed forever
Here I found not only peace, perfection and pleasure but also the dark and devious.
As I trod this ancient path I found in unexpected places, amazing answers to my own unasked questions.
What began as a walk across northern Spain became a journey of faith, resilience and transformation. With every step, I discovered not only the beauty of the Camino but also lessons that would shape the rest of my life
My book is FREE August 1-5th 2026
PACKING LIST SUGGESTIONS – Scroll down
A journey in numbers
✨
❤️ I found countless acts of kindness , from a handful of plums when I had no food left, to ice for my broken blisters when pain threatened, medication to calm a raging infection, a warm blanket when I was unbearably cold, and beyond all the kind words from a grandmotherly lady who I named ‘Mother Taiwan’ who comforted me in her own softly spoken broken English, when my Bali belly erupted visciously said “we will go later, for a small walk, you will feel better.” Here on the Camino I found kindnesses that were immeasurable far beyond words.
✈️ 76.734 air miles in cattle class comfort! (Apart from one amazing free upgrade following a nights sleep curled around my lumpy backpack like a snail, for comfort, on a cold hard steel unforgiving airport bench seat.
🥾 + 820 hard won kilometers of blisters, bedlam & bountiful gifts
☀️ 64 never to be forgotten long days of adventures both good and not so good and everything in-between
3 pairs of Sox, 3 t-shirts, 3 undies, 3 shorts and not much else!
🎒 One 7kg Backpack that I swear became heavier and heavier at each days end…
LESSONS LEARNED – the GOOD
My Upgrade at Doha to Business Class after sleeping all night on a cold hard steel airport bench because I got lost in the cavernous building
An old Chinese gentleman struggling along with more demons on his back than most could imagine
A handful of fresh plums given to me by an old Spanish lady who did not speak English and did not know just how hungry I was because of a hold up in getting cash transfers from home when my credit card was stolen.
German Aubergue hosts who gave me three nights credit when I was broke, again
Girl at Tourist Information who paid for my dinner when I was again strapped for cash as my credit card had been stolen
Apulia where Mica & Robert became more than friends they became my family, from Germany.
Angels arriving to rescue me time after time the first of many who refused to be ignored any longer and therefore standing out as number one being Dave from Australia at Porto who patched me up when I was broken, then took me on a tour city tour where I danced in the bubbles of a street entertainer like a child at play
Alexandre who had a heart of gold and took care of me by helping me cope with language translation at Sahagun post office then also bought me ice cream and a train ticket
Mother Taiwan who touched my heart with her simple kindness
St James – Apostle who was be-headed for his religious beliefs and is honoured above all today in Santiago Cathedral and by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims annually who walk in his footsteps today as did I.
The – NOT SO GOOD
I held my breath as I grabbed my illegal Capsicum Spray in a vast and lonely pine forest as two male horse riders slowly approached this lone vulnerable female pilgrim who was imagining a fate similar to ‘the pine forest murders’ in her home country
I was propositioned by a soldier returning from the training camps at Sahagun
I was scammed by mine aubergue host near Logrono
I was robbed of my credit card on a train day one enroute to St Jean Pied de Port
I very narrowly escaped a threatening abduction at Viana do Costello
I was lost, homeless and alone late at night in Santiago where no self respecting female should even be when the totally unbelievable happened
I was without money accomodation with only a packet of stale mini-muffins and water from street water fountains to sustain me on a four day holiday weekend in the city of Pamplona
I was scammed in Padron by a couple of ‘pilgrims’ who infiltrated my phone causing me to have to lock my bank accounts, loss of travel documents, and use of atms for a week before the bank allowed access to my accounts again
Was lost in the emptiness of Doha Air Terminal resulting in a fractured night of laying down to sleep on a cold hard stainless steel bench with a hard backpack for cold comfort during a 15 hour layover before being ‘rescued’ by a 6am shift worker and led to where I should have been all along in the 24hour transit lounge with recliners, hot food, tv, included. Sure was another dumb blonde moment I reckon
My BLOG
Once my book was published I discovered so many adventures I had overlooked in my feeble one finger typing mode of necessity having only a hand held I Pad at my fingertips. Thus I have added a blog of omissions here of some thoughts added as impromptu glimpses into my memory banks that got lost in the avalanche of typing my book and my memory that is so full of holes things just slip right thru so very, very easily. 🙂
Packing List – choose from this list…
Camino de Santiago packing list — light is king. You’ll be carrying everything every day.
The Big 4 – don’t skimp here
Backpack: 30-35L with rain cover + hip belt. Pack it at 10% of your body weight max
Shoes: Broken-in hiking shoes or trail runners + 3 pairs merino wool socks. Blisters ruin Caminos
Most albergues provide blankets but you’ll want your own liner too
Poles: 1 or 2 trekking poles. Your knees will thank you on the downhills
Clothing – layer + wash + repeat
When you arrive at your aubergue for the night, shower (washing your clothes at the same time and hang them to dry, then don fresh clothes for tomorrow’s walk and sleep in these, this way three changes easily alternate. If your washed clothes are not completely dry by morning take a plastic bag for these and hang them out at the next stop.
Wear: 3 pair hiking shirt, pants/shorts, socks, underwear, (bras) hat, 2 pair shoes, suggest flip flops for evening and shower wear.
Pack:
– 2x merino/t-shirt tops
– 1x long pants that zip to shorts
– 1x fleece or light puffy
– 1x rain jacket + rain pants
-2x hiking socks + 1x sleep socks
– Buff/bandana + sun hat + sunglasses
Trick: merino dries overnight and doesn’t stink. Dark colors hide dirt
Sleep + Toiletries
Silk/cotton sleep sack liner – required in most albergues
Microfiber towel – quick dry
Toiletries kit: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap bar/shampoo bar, deodorant, nail clippers, sunscreen SPF50, lip balm
First aid: blister kit (Compeed, needle, tape), ibuprofen, any prescriptions, anti-chafe cream/Vaseline
Ear plugs + eye mask
Tech + Documents
Passport + Camino Credencial – you need stamps for the Compostela
Phone + charger + EU plug adapter?
Torch small for nighttime treck to toilets
Cash: €300-400 in small bills. Many bars/albergues are cash-only
Water bottle or bladder
Extras worth their weight
Laundry soap sheets or a bit of liquid soap
Ziplock bags for wet clothes/docs
Small daypack stuff sack to keep things organized
Guidebook app like Wise Pilgrim or Buen Camino
Leave at home
Jeans, cotton towels, hair dryer, too many clothes, guidebooks in paper, laptop. You can buy toiletries along the way.
For July in Spain: expect heat. 25-35°C and strong sun. Prioritize sun protection, 2L water capacity, and breathable layers. Rain is less likely but those mountain storms come fast.
www.sheronyoung.com
Contact me
sherons.email@yahoo.com
