Walking Their Way Into Blisters: A Modern Pilgrim's Tale on the Camino de Santiago
In this episode of In Search of an Argument, our co-host Beth proves that even seasoned hikers can turn their feet into topographical maps of pain while walking the historic Camino de Santiago in Spain. Spoiler alert: she survived, though her toenails report ugly details.
The Journey Begins (With Spreadsheets!) Beth joined her friend Laura, who was tackling the full 483-mile French Way, for what she thought would be a casual week of walking. Laura, being the organizational goddess she is, prepared spreadsheets so detailed they could make a project manager weep with joy. Meanwhile, Beth's preparation involved walking around New Orleans in hiking boots, presumably confusing locals who thought she was lost on her way to the Appalachian Trail.
Life on the Trail (Or: How to Turn Your Feet into Modern Art) Walking 15 miles daily with a 17-pound pack, Beth discovered that blisters have a geography all their own. What started as a small city grew into a country, then a continent, and finally achieved full continental drift. Yet somehow, she kept walking – probably because Spain thoughtfully places coffee stops and wine-included pilgrim meals along the route. Coincidence? We think not.
Despite training with weighted vests and practicing on various terrains, nothing quite prepared her for the 18-mile day in the rain, where she and her companions developed a unique coping mechanism: reminding themselves they weren't monks wearing wool robes. Sometimes, perspective comes in strange packages.
The Spirit of the Camino (And Other Spirits, Like Wine) Unlike similar trails in the U.S., the Camino comes with built-in infrastructure including hostels, rest stops, and yes, those blessed pilgrim meals with wine. Because nothing says "spiritual journey" quite like a half-bottle of Spanish wine with dinner for €11. Nearly 450,000 people completed the French Way in 2023, presumably not all at once, though that would make for an interesting traffic jam.
The Most Important Question: Snacks No hiking story is complete without a snack inventory, and Beth's group took their trail munchies seriously. Thanks to Laura's sister Elena, designated snack curator, they were never short of nuts, chocolate, and gummies (the regular kind, not the special kind from their previous podcast episode – a story for another day).
Looking Forward (Once the Blisters Heal) Though her journey was cut short by one day due to her feet's artistic interpretation of continental drift, Beth is already planning future sections. Because apparently, walking across Spain with everything you need strapped to your back while collecting blisters isn't a deterrent – it's an invitation for more.
The Real MVP: Plastic Birkenstocks Special shoutout to Beth's $10 Target knockoff Birkenstocks, the unsung heroes of post-hiking comfort. Real deals exist! These are the ones you won't feel bad about abandoning in Spain.
Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform to hear more about Beth's adventure, including the mysterious Cat Man of the Camino who appeared like a snack-bearing mirage on their rainiest day.
Warning: May cause unexpected desire to walk across Spain while carrying your life on your back.
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