My reason to walk alone was to be able to think in peace and quiet. The world is saturated with news, breaking news, news flashes, opinions, input, output, noise, and we all suffer from information and impression indigestion. Walking El Camino alone in both physical and mental isolation - all 798 kilometers/496 miles, most of the time way in the countryside - is not only a way to cleanse oneself spiritually and mentally, but also a rare opportunity to think - critical thinking, reasoning, uninterrupted, concentrated - and to get life's events, challenges and opportunities in order. Friedrich Nietzsche wrote "Only thoughts that come from walking have any value." Socrates said "The unexamined life is not worth living." During the Camino's very long walk many of life's events come to mind and past decisions put to a severe test with the simple question: "What was he thinking?". The too frequent answer is scary: "He wasn't!".He sometimes being me!
A lonely walker builds an internal experience stronger and more intense than what is possible when walking with others. Above all, one may meet one's Self - and find that one is never alone. St. Augustine wrote "Magnum mysterium mihi." I am a great mystery to myself. El Camino is a good place to explore that mystery.
Walking El Camino is a very private, personal and quiet experience. Even couples sometimes walk separated - often several hundred meters apart. It's almost like they have agreed: "No offense, Dear. Nothing personal, but I need to be alone. I need to think".
The Camino provides a unique space to change, maybe stop learning from our regular patterns of behavior. We are out of our normal element and have time to reflect on and open up to thinking about life in a truly different and unique way.
Because Camino Francés is the most walked of all the pilgrim ways to Santiago, it is also very safe. Though the landscape can look deserted on occasions, one is never completely alone. The local people have taken care of the pilgrims for centuries and will always assist in need.
