Camino de Santiago Pilgrim Story #2: Darren, age 41, from Cape Town, South Africa

Darren on the Camino

How many times have you walked a Camino? And which ones?

Camino Francis from from SJPDP to Santiago. Once.

When did you walk?

May/June 2013

What caused you to decide to walk the Camino?

It was time for a shake up in my life. The expiry date on my existing career was overdue and I needed a change.  I had no idea what I wanted to do at age 40. The Camino was the obvious thing to do, all you do is walk every day.

What were some of the highlights of your Camino?

• Meeting amazing people.
• The scenery.
• Walking into Santiago seeing so many of my Camino friends.
• Meeting a man named Neil.

What were some of your biggest challenges on the Camino?

• My knees & shins hurt.
• The length of the Camino is a challenge alone. After 400 kilometers my body wanted to give up but my mind forced me to continue.
• The cold weather in Spring.

Celebrating in Santiago!

How did the Camino change you?

• The Camino provided me with my new career path in tourism.
• I learnt to live with the basics.
• I now have the ability to take stock of my life when it gets really busy.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before the Camino? Advice?

• Pack less stuff although we were told about that before hand.
• You need a thicker fleece when walking in early May.

Anything else you would like to add?

I recorded my Camino journey, blow by blow, here: www.darrencombrink.blogspot.com

Thanks to the inspiration of the Camino, I am now a tour guide in Cape Town, South Africa.  My company is DC Tours. Get in touch if you’re coming this way!

Thank you Darren for your story.  If you would like to share your Camino story, please do!

I met lifelong friends on the Camino.

Darren in Santiago