Photo by Rob Nagy
When I first started my column last year in November 2024, I reached out to a close personal friend from grade school. I knew he wrote a few books in the past so I asked for his assistance in my new venture into writing. He gave me many tips and even proofread some of my earlier pieces. He sent me two books, one that he wrote and another that his son wrote.
The book was called, My Own Pace: A Story of Strength and Adversity on the Camino de Santiago, written by Bryan Paul Steward. It is about his son's recent trek thru Portugal and then from Santiago to Finisterre, walking the Camino de Santiago.
Bryan’s book, “My Own Pace”
Here I am one year later sharing Bryan's venture along with three others I know, that also walked the Camino recently. Starting with Bryan Paul Steward, from New Jersey.
A story written from his daily journals on Strength and Adversity walking the Camino de Santiago. Bryan recounts his 500-mile walk across northern Spain at age 24. With the added challenge of having Becker Muscular Dystrophy. From hundreds of falls and steep ascents through the mountains, the book explores how he learned to accept help from strangers and embrace vulnerability while finding, "his own pace."
Bryan with his walking pole
Bryan who is now married and a father continues to reflect on his journey and advocates for others navigating life with muscular dystrophy. Bryan walked the Porto to Santiago - The Portuguese Way, from July 9, 2018, to July 29, 2018, taking a rest in between each day. Then from July 31, 2018 to August 8, 2018, he walked Santiago to Finisterre.
Bryan at a crossroads sign
Bryan in front of the Santiago de Compostela
Rob Nagy, is based in Nashville, Tennessee. I met Rob years ago when he wrote a piece on Robert Hazard after he suddenly passed. I was working with Robert at that time and Rob and I have kept in touch with each other ever since. Rob is widely recognized for his extensive knowledge for rock and roll, blues, jazz and R&B. His decades of experience in the music industry have seen him interview some of the most influential musicians of our time. Rob tells me, "I am usually the interviewer not the interviewee, this is a change for me."
Rob is a writer, photographer, musician, hiker, reader and explorer. Rob took the French Way, the Camino Frances', starting in St. Jean Pied de Port France at 6:15am on September 12, 2025 and ended on October 18, 2025, at the Cathedral de Santiago de Compostela in Galacia, Spain. He is a veteran music journalist and concert photographer and is the founder of, "Rob Nagy's Rock & Roll Legacy", podcast. He dedicated his Camino to his three daughters, Haley, Kassidy, and Chloe. Rob hopes to return to walk the Portugal Route.
Rob Nagy on the trail
Rob Nagy at the Iron Cross- Spain
Offerings along the way - Rob’s three crosses for each daughter and painted rocks from Granville, Tennessee
Rob walks many paths
* The painted rocks, came from Granville Rocks out of Grainville, Tennessee. They extended their gratitude to Rob for transporting some of their rocks to Spain and France. Rob left them along the Iron Cross that is situated at the highest point on the Camino Frances' trail, located within the Monte's De Leon mountain range, near the Spanish village of Fonce Baden. In hopes that someone will discover these rocks and post them on their Facebook page, enabling them to track their journey. They encourage you to take the rocks with you and hide them in your hometown or a place you visit. Their mission is to brighten someone's day and to remember Kindness Rocks! While planting seeds of kindness along the way of your travels.
Erin McDermott is a Nashville recording artist, now traveling in Tunisia. I met Erin back in 2011, when I was in Nashville and we have stayed in contact thru the years. With a storyteller's soul, she has written songs with some of the cities finest, including Shawn Camp, members of The Steal Drivers and Grammy winner Tim O'Brien. She is an award winning photographer and her work has been featured by the BBC and the Chicago Tribune. With one of her photographs now part of the Nashville Public Library's permanent collection. She is also an accomplished painter, with her art work likewise represented in the Library's collection. A world traveler, writer, and true pilgrim of life. Erin continues to chase beauty, stories and song wherever the roads lead her. She hopes to return to the Camino and take the French Way, with more to explore and less in town walking. Erin and Luke,began their Camino on March 6, 2025 and ended 17 days later. Erin and her travel mate Luke Smith, took the Portuguese Way Coastal Route. They also just recently completed the Kumano Koto in Japan, where only 11,400 have completed both. Japan is working hard to inform people about this trail.
Erin McDermott outside the Santiago de Compostela
Kumano Koto in Japan
Kumano Koto in Japan
Kumano Koto in Japan
Luke Smith is a 32 year old traveler from Castleford, England. After several years working in finance, he decided to take an unexpected turn when he lost his job, transforming a setback into an opportunity to explore the world. Now Luke spends his time discovering new places, meeting people from all walks of life and sharing his journey as he trades spreadsheets for sunsets and balance sheets for adventure. He has been to over 30 countries and is currently spending a year in Japan, on a work visa.
Luke and Erin in the pouring rain - Picarana, Spain
Luke along a yellow path in Galacia, Spain
Luke in the rain - Galacia, Spain
Erin and Luke outside Porto Portugal before they began their caminos
I asked Erin how did they meet? She told me they met in April 2022, deep in the Amazon Rainforest in Peru, at an eco lodge named Muyana. Erin was there with an Iranian friend and Luke was in the cabin next to her. She did not have a fan or lights and asked the folks that ran the place why? They said they were in the same batteries as the neighbors. Luke and his partner Aiden, answered the door when she went over to ask them to stop using so much electricity. She was a little miffed and they ended up going on a few excursions together, in the rainforest, since they spoke English and they hit it off immediately and Luke and Erin have traveled extensively together ever since.
Here is my interview with each person who recently walked the Camino. Some of Luke's answers have been combined with Erin's since they walked the Camino together.
How many kilometers did you walk each day?
Bryan - around 20 Km each day which is 12.427 miles
Rob - averaged about 24 Km a day, which is 14.913 miles, my longest day was 38 km (23.613 miles)
Erin and Luke - between 14 to 18 miles a day (22-28 KM)
Where did you stay and how did you find lodging?
Bryan - every night in a albergues, usually picking the place I came across as I entered the town. In busier sections of the trail I called ahead to make reservations.
Rob - I generally stayed in hostels, every 24 km or so. If my feet were doing well, I would walk further before stopping for the night. If my blisters and muscle pain was an issue, I would stop in the closest village or city.
Erin and Luke - We mostly stayed in albergues and guest houses. Since we went in the off-season, finding places to stay was simple. Going off-season, we could just arrive and see what each day brought.
What were the most difficult parts of the trail?
Bryan - The mountainous sections. The Pyrenees at the very beginning and the climb to O Cebreiro later was the hardest. Some stretches at the Meseta region were tough in hot days, when towns were far apart.
Rob - Hiking on two beat up feet was the most challenging. Battling bone spurs, arthritis in my toes, nerve and muscle pain, blisters,up and down, steep inclines, rocks, the heat, were all challenging at times.
Erin and Luke - The cobblestones were brutal, especially when wet. It rained non-stop. The path was slippery and hard on your feet. The uphill sections were easier to enjoy. It felt peaceful walking between trees and wooded areas.
What was the Best part of your trip?
Bryan - To me it was meeting interesting people and the constant ebb and flow of other pilgrims kept things exciting. It was fun running into someone you hadn't seen in many days or weeks.
Rob - It was the landscapes, mountains, farm fields, vineyards, olive groves, streams, rivers, French and Spanish villages, churches hundreds of years old, cafes, trees, live stock, meeting interesting people, were all my favorite parts of the journey.
Erin and Luke - Was how the Camino slowly changes you. You realize how little control you actually need to feel at peace. Being outside all day, moving at a pace of your own steps and knowing you are a part of a long tradition of pilgrims, it puts life into perspective. It's Simple but Powerful!
Did you encounter any difficulties or set backs?
Bryan - My biggest set back was getting food poisoning from bad food and dealing with bed bugs. I also made wrong turns or missed trail markers occasionally, which slowed me down during the day.
Rob - My beat up feet, the heat, desolate areas were challenging. Not knowing where I would sleep some nights was a bit stressful. I almost had to sleep outside a few times.
Erin - Plenty! On the first day we realized our packs were way too heavy, so we started using a courier service to move our backpacks ahead each day. I developed tendinitis in my right foot. We walked through several storms and floods and heavy rain forced us to climb a steep hill to avoid the rising water.
Luke - We encountered lots of huge blisters, it was intense, but we made it through together.
How did you manage food and water along the way?
Bryan - I started the day with two full liters of water and refilled whenever I could. On hot days, I had to ration water. For food, I carried snacks and I usually passed places where I could eat meals. If the trail would not pass a restaurant for breakfast or lunch, I bought extra food the day before.
Kat - I remember reading in your book that you stuck to ham sandwiches.
Rob - Food and water were never an issue. I had both with me. Also there were cafes and stands along the way.
Erin and Luke - We started the day with a BIG hearty breakfast/meal. We never went hungry or thirsty with all the small shops, cafes and tables set up by locals with snacks and water. It felt like the route provided what you need when you needed it.
What brought you to the Camino?
Bryan - I was at a point in my life where I was looking for an adventure. I wanted to travel to Europe and go on a long hike that I could finish in a couple months. The Camino was a perfect fit!
Rob - With the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and faith based challenges in life, I wanted to see if I could do the entire trail, to get closer to God. To inspire and be an example to my children, family, friends, and humanity and visit new places. To experience different cultures and archive an amazing journey through my photography and journal entries. Find more purpose and meaning to life and clear my head. Expand my creative energy. Self reflect without the noise and distractions of daily life. To accomplish a journey that very few people have done in human history. Become more self reliant, patient, and less judgemental of myself and others and to be a better, well rounded man.
Erin - After several difficult years filled with loss, including the death of my partner, I needed something to pull me forward. I wanted to do something that wasn't just travel but a personal challenge and a reset. The Camino felt like a way to rebuild a sense of purpose and connection.
Luke - I had left my job in October 2024 to embark on a new adventure, moving to Japan for a year. Just two days before I was due to fly, I broke my ankle, forcing me to put all my plans on hold. When I was nearing full recovery I needed a physical, monumental challenge to prove to myself that my body was fully healed and ready for the next chapter. Walking the Camino was logically the best thing to do. It signified the beginning of my true, transitional period and served as a crucial stepping stone that has led me to where I am now half way through my year living in Japan.
What were your expectations and how did reality compare?
Bryan - I knew it would be challenging and a good opportunity for self reflection. Reality mostly matched my expectation. With definitely more help along the way than I expected. I never anticipated how true the saying, "the Camino provides", would be.
Rob - I had studied videos first hand accounts and conversations with Camino hikers, so I had a good idea what to expect. Walking ten miles a day, in the states, then getting the green light from my doctor, I thought the Camino would be much easier, it wasn't. I found it to be physically and mentally grueling most days. This served to intensify my determination to finish, even if I had to limp my way, which was often the case. I am in great health from my ankles on up but it was challenges with my feet, that were the greatest hurdle.
Erin and Luke - We believed the guide books that said,it was mostly flat, it definitely wasn't. We learned that the distance in books were off and we ended up walking 250 miles instead of 170 miles. We laughed about that almost every day and the unexpected ports were what made it meaningful.
Luke - I expected it to be a difficult goal but reality was far more challenging due to the constant wet weather and mental fortitude required to wake up ready to walk each day on a route that sometimes felt infinitely long. All these challenges culminated in a deeply emotional arrival into Santiago, where the earlier problems felt like they simply evaporated, conquered by perseverance.
Are there any burdens you hoped to leave behind?
Bryan - I did not have a specific burden, I came to the conclusion that someone doesn't need to let go of something but can instead change how they see the burdens they carry. I think life is less about, "letting go" and more about learning to carry things differently.
Rob - I matured as a human being. I was often humbled and my ego was challenged. I learned to be more accepting of myself and others. I proved to myself that I could see an incredible challenge to the finish line. I returned home with my head held high and a 62 year old body that endured. I also realized that life is not about money, possessions, what you look like and stature, it is about my relationship with me, God and my fellow human beings.
Erin - I wanted to let go of the grief and emotional weight, I had been carrying and my need to control everything. The Camino became a way to practice acceptance and see what happens when you just show up and keep walking. It is not just a religious pilgrimage, it is a personal one. You get to know yourself and realize how connected we all are to each other and nature.
Luke - I wouldn't say there were any burdens, I was keen to leave on the trail. For me the journey was an adventure focused entirely on proving my capability and reaffirming my ability to achieve my significant goal I set my mind to, especially after the unexpected setback of my injury.
What did you learn about yourself?
Bryan - I learned that I am much more capable and determined in the face of challenges than I realized.
Rob - Experiencing days of self reflection, I was able to let go of heavy life challenges from my past and present. Healing over the loss of family and friends. Getting closer to God. Letting go of possessions. Accepting me for who I am, embracing the simple life. Not buying into the narrative of western culture and what we are told makes us a success. Letting go of what people think of me. Embracing mind, body and spirit.
Erin - I learned to slow down and listen to my body. I used to push through pain and stress but the Camino taught me that rest can be just as important as effort I also learned how to let things unfold without any worry and to handle challenges without getting caught up in them.
Luke - I learned that I am fiercely positive and optimistic a person who is capable of turning what others might see as unreasonable goals and dreams into a reality. I am most grateful for the reassurance I gained from achieving this feat alongside one of my best friends, validating my resilience and proving I was ready for my new life in Japan.
What is the one thing you would change about your experience walking the Camino?
Bryan - I wish I had gotten more peoples contact information. There are a lot of people I still wonder about.
Rob - I would change a few things prior to my Camino, planning overnight stays in advance and making sure I had internet access on the trail. Carrying a portable phone charger and archiving the journey with a drone.
Erin - I would bring a lot less gear and probably go a month later. In April or May instead of March. The weather would have been kinder and I would have been happier with a lighter pack.
Luke - I think I would change the weather but I understand that isn't one of the gifts in my hands. Overall, the experience wouldn't be the same if there were not ups and downs along the way, so I honestly wouldn't change a thing.
What are you most grateful for after completing your pilgrimage?
Bryan - That I choose to do something difficult that pushed me in many ways, I could not have imagined. Choosing to go beyond my comfort zone was incredibly rewarding.
Rob - I am most grateful for the God pushing me to go.I thought long and hard, prayed and meditated before making the commitment. Life is short, your health can change in an instant and time waits for no one. In retrospect, hiking the Camino de Santiago Frances', is one of my greatest accomplishments in a life that has been a challenging journey of countless peaks and valleys. Now that I have physically healed I am already thinking about the next hiking journey.
Erin - I am grateful for my body, it is stronger than I ever gave it credit for. I've always been a bigger person but my body carried me every step of the way. I am grateful for my friend Luke, who walked with me. His endless optimism sometimes drove me crazy but it kept us going when things got tough.
What thoughts or challenges did you face?
Bryan - I worried about whether my body would hold up the whole way. Having a physical disability made that thought more present. I trained for the hike but it still pushed me further than I was completely confident in at the beginning.
Rob - I continue to feel the impact of this life changing journey daily. I expect this will be a reoccurring theme the remainder of my life. I have no regrets. I am proud of my accomplishments and I am honored that my family, friends and social media followers enjoyed the ride. The support and encouragement I received daily on and off the trail was amazing!
Luke - My most reoccurring thoughts or challenges were simply, "Just keep walking!" We will finish this and we will achieve our goal. I enjoyed the adventure and the freedom but also meeting people on the trail and learning about their unique objectives for the trip.
Well there you have it. There you go!
They say that...
The Santiago will not comfort you. It will change you, shake you and if you let it, change the way you see everything but only if you let it.
Walking the Camino is more than a journey... it's a wellness reset. Leave behind the rush of modern life and return to what truly matters, your breath, your body and your personal inner rhythm. Science backs it up, as studies show the Camino reduces stress and emotional fatigue while increasing clarity and life satisfaction. Each step becomes a moving meditation. Each sunrise is a reminder to slow down. Each encounter is an invitation to connect to nature, with others and most importantly with yourself.
More on the Camino can be found on this Facebook page you can follow at Follow the Camino or Followthecamino.com
Life is a Journey and we are steering ourselves in the direction we most desire.
Kat~
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