Shoulder tension, aching legs, blisters, and tendinitis are some perks of the package deal that come with walking El Camino. The most challenging part is not walking from stage to stage but waking up and doing it all over again. Most days, my hiking shoes are the last ones to be recovered from the albergue’s shoe rack. I don’t mind because I’m not in any rush to reach my destination. The winding, steep, rocky, muddy and dusty Camino is the ultimate test of willpower. Dripping sweat and out of breath, I have thought a time or two “Why am I doing this!?” Naturally it’s a thought that has crossed every pilgrim’s mind when the going gets tough.When I cannot bare to walk another step, my feet somehow propel me to walk for miles on end. Reaching the peak and looking back to see where I have come from makes all the pain worthwhile. Being in good company can also make all the difference! During day number three of walking El Camino, I had planned on completing only half the stage to recover physically from the previous days. My feet were dragging and I was feeling low on moral when suddenly I heard familiar voices behind me. I was greeted with smiling faces by my classmates Fern and Harry; their enthusiasm and energy was reviving. My pack’s weight became more bearable, my walking pace sped up, and I had a little bounce in my step. While we chatted, the kilometers quickly became less. Before I knew it, I had surpassed my resting point. I began to once again feel the pain in my shoulders, legs, and feet. Harry motivated me to keep walking. By the time we entered Pamplona, I was pushing him to finish. There is no greater excitement than to see the city come into view when you are utterly exhausted.