52 Comments

Many blessings on your journey, and the planning that will take place over the next year.

My wife Lisa and I have found great benefit in pilgrimage. She walked the Way of St. Giles in France, and we've also explored using the model of pilgrimage for wilderness travel (both hiking and canoeing) in North America. It's a little different as we lack the ancient Christian religious sites, but the practice of praying with Creation and humbling ourselves by traveling by foot (or paddle) remains deeply edifying and transformative. The Liturgy of the Hours takes on a new clarity and intensity when prayed at a campfire or by the water's edge. It's been a helpful way for us to de-objectify our relationship with the created order, and remember that we're 'fellow pilgrims' with the rest of God's creatures, as well.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you Mark! You share some wonderful reflections here which affirm that pilgrimage is not necessarily tied to ancient Christian sites, but can be practiced simply in creation. Have you shared any of your pilgrimage experiences on your Substack?

Expand full comment

I/we haven't written about the pilgrimage experiences yet - I started the substack after that season of life had somewhat wound down.

We do have one account of a 2017 'wild pilgrimage' available online though, as we were featured in a New Hampshire PBS show. You can see it here: https://video.nhpbs.org/video/holy-flotilla-fy5cud/

Expand full comment

I remember John Muir saying the same "it can be solved by walking." When trying to persuade people that their addictive tech is harmful, the best tactic I've found is getting them back into nature, and pushing them to the good, vs telling them what is bad.

Expand full comment
author

Agreed, walking in nature has a profound "reset" effect - as does physical activity, conversing with people, and enjoying meals together :)

Expand full comment
Apr 29Liked by Peco, Ruth Gaskovski

How wonderful! Will there be any chance of a meet-up at the end for those who can’t make the trip?

Expand full comment
author

Interesting thought - we'll finish in Santiago de Compostela, then the group will return to Madrid, although our family will continue on to Switzerland. There are Easy Jet connections from London to Santiago. What did you have in mind?

Expand full comment

Something like an in-person pub meet up if it’s London… I imagine many who came to the Plough or Ekstasis events would be keen! Hadden Turner might have some ideas too. And is Paul Kingsnorth in Ireland?

Expand full comment

Obviously I’m partial to London as it’s closer :) and you’d have more English speakers (alas, not all of us are accomplished linguists!) but another major city like Madrid could work too.

Expand full comment
author

Hmm, I don't think we'll make it to London...but there is still time to come up with some workable ideas! Let's keep this possibility open and explore it further :)

Expand full comment
Apr 29Liked by Ruth Gaskovski

If I were still able to walk I would love to walk the Camino Way. Seven years after my sixty-fifth birthday a massive stroke took away the use of my right side, depriving me of the ability to walk. That was fourteen years ago. Before that, as far back as the age of seven years old, I loved hiking in the woods and mountains, most usually solitarily. Having been raised in a fundamental Christian home, I never considered going on a pilgrimage; that was for other faiths, or so I thought. Now I think often about pilgrimages, about walking the paths of thousands of others to, from, and between sacred places, sharing sacred experiences with other believers

Expand full comment

Yes. As an amputee who uses a prosthesis, 100km - especially without access to the technicians who make daily life possible for me - sounds like a recipe for dragging the group and my family down with me. I’ll be with you all in spirit.

Expand full comment

Hundreds have gone in a wheelchair if that is an option for you. https://followthecamino.com/en/blog/the-camino-in-a-wheelchair/

Expand full comment
Apr 29Liked by Peco, Ruth Gaskovski

Wow! I feel great joy at this announcement! This is a wonderful idea and a proper outflowing of all you have recently been writing and considering. Congratulations, and I hope many will be able to join you in what will surely be a wonderfully fruitful experience!

Walking is an important part of my life and we are working deliberately to make it part of our children's as they grow. Yesterday our family walked around a pond, across a creek, and through a neighborhood to enjoy an afternoon downtown (games at the arcade and ice cream at a coffee shop). About 4.5 miles round trip, which is quite a walk for the younger children. But we are determined to develop this level of resilience and the slow, up-close, on-purpose experience of the world, and the attitude that we *can* walk. It is also time to build up our muscle for our summertime not-at-all-impressive but still so very good hikes in the Shenandoah National Park.

Expand full comment
author

Happy to hear that you share in our joy! You would love it and it would be wonderful to have you along. We had this trip at the back of our minds for many years, but the kids were still too young, and when our youngest finally had reached the age where he could actually out-walk us, it did not seem practically possible. Along came an invitation from the pilgrimage company which floored me and made all of this possible.

It's wonderful that you are working on developing walking resilience with your kids. They are capable of so much, especially when there is ice cream involved:) We regularly would walk to a historic village center even when the kids were still very young, and they simply grew accustomed to the one hour+ walk. Have you ever written a piece on walking for any of your other publications (I am planning to do so soon) ?

Expand full comment
Apr 29·edited Apr 29Liked by Ruth Gaskovski

Thank you, Ruth! Yes, these things so often seem to fall into place at the right time. We could not swing something like this right now, but your announcement does have me thinking about the possibility of arranging a walk to a local church with some other families: a little mini-pilgrimage.

I did write about one winter walk a couple of years ago -- not sure if you ever saw this essay: https://hearthandfield.com/winter-wonder/

More directly on the point, however, I am drafting a piece right now on how to walk in your unwalkable neighborhood (also for Hearth & Field). I'm thinking of the suburban or small town neighborhoods that do not have shops or parks in the neighborhood and often don't even have sidewalks. How can we A) still find ways to use the neighborhood safely on foot and B) find solutions (shortcuts! permissions! changes!) to allow us to leave the neighborhood on foot to reach shops, etc. outside of the neighborhood.

I think people often underestimate how hardy children can be in terms of things like walking. There is a certain hour-long hike in the national park nearby that I work towards having each of my children be able to complete while they are two years old. A lot of it is, as you say, becoming accustomed to long walks -- this means both physically (building the muscle needed) and mentally. The parents' attitude goes a long way here!

And one of the wonderful things about walking is that while you are walking, you are *not* sitting in front of your computer, mindlessly eating Cheetos. It is not only an activity that is good in and of itself, but it is a positive action that can push out negative ones due to the sheer time and effort that it takes!

I will look forward to reading your piece! What is it about, specifically?

Expand full comment
author

Thanks for sending links to your pieces - will add those to my post:) Here some added thoughts:

-When our kids were little we actually organized a "Walking Church" fundraiser (it was for the Christian Blind Mission), where about 40+ people gathered for a long Sunday walk around a lake, natural walking path, ending up at a cafe. It was a pleasure to converse and walk with those we would just generally sit beside at church. It also garnered some interested looks and questions about what our group was doing from passers-by.

-Walking in unwalkable neighbourhoods: For fifteen years we lived in a suburban setting, which was not attractive at all, very "concrety" and lined with cookie cutter houses, driveways, and wide, busy roads. Definitely not a walker's paradise. Yet this is where we walked every day, often mornings and afternoons. We grew to love our neighbourhood because we learned to pay attention to the little details and find surprises where we did not expect them. No one else seemed to walk much and we were known as "the walking family". We realized that the setting did not matter. What mattered was that we simply walked, and the enjoyment followed. We never returned home not feeling better than before we left:)

-When we were still young parents with only one child in the stroller, we set out on an "urban pilgrimage", walking from our front door to downtown Toronto is several sections, taking the bus home, and then picking up from where we left of.

This was a long ramble...It feels like I could fill a book just about the wonders and importance of walking ...

Expand full comment
Apr 30·edited Apr 30Liked by Ruth Gaskovski

These are wonderful examples of walking and how it can affect a community! Lovely to hear.

I host a moms' fellowship walk every month for the mothers in our outdoor playgroup -- we meet at a parking lot and walk about 1.5 miles to a downtown coffee shop, where we then sit for an hour and discuss an article or topic of mutual interest (often religious, but not always) before walking back. It's really been a wonderful way to build fellowship -- definitely even better than just doing the coffee/talking part! (Although we always have some women who skip the walk and meet us at the cafe, which is also a good thing!)

There is something about walking and fellowship (both in faith and otherwise).

Looking forward to your post! I agree...there are countless wonderful things to be gained from walking.

Expand full comment
author

Would most definitely join your group (which is an absolutely splendid idea for community building) - and not skip the walk! :)

Expand full comment
author

Oh, so much to say here but have to step out just now...more later :)

Expand full comment

Kerri Christopher just reminded me that my Cookie Ramble piece is also about walks! https://hearthandfield.com/how-and-why-to-take-a-cookie-ramble/

Seems like H&F is my favorite place for writing about walking!

Expand full comment

oh how I would love to join you....

Expand full comment
author

We'd love to have you along!

Expand full comment

I'd love to join you for this. Thanks for the great post.

Expand full comment
author

Would love to have you along Laura! Let me know if you have any questions about registering to join us :)

Expand full comment

Yes, please show me how to register. Can I start at Logrono in La Rioja instead? My friend lives along the trail and may want to join us.

Expand full comment
author

Laura, you can register for the pilgrimage here https://selectinternationaltours.com/product/walking-the-camino-with-peco-and-ruth-gaskovski-and-seth-haines-june-14-24-2025-25rs06sprg/. You can download the brochure with a detailed itinerary there as well. We start the pilgrimage with a visit to Madrid and Leon, and then move on to Sarria from where we walk the last 100 km to Santiago.

Expand full comment
Apr 29·edited Apr 29Liked by Ruth Gaskovski

What an excellent opportunity! It only feel right that this is happening. :)

We enjoy our post-dinner family walks through the neighborhood to nearby playgrounds. It refreshes and reorients us—toward each other and toward the world around us. We have also been making a more concerted effort to regularly go to our local arboretum for morning trail walks. The boys (1, 3, and 4 are all about it.....and it's a fun stage to do so!)

Also, my friend Carter walked the Camino a few years back, and made a little book of images related to the experience. I think Seth would especially appreciate this, as a photographer:

https://iamcartermoore.com/Prone-to-Wander

Expand full comment
author

Thanks for sharing your friend Carter's book of images - I think Seth would especially appreciate this: "The majority of the photographs and words from the book have not and will not be published online to keep the experience valuable for those who purchase it."

Post-dinner walks are a perfect way to bring the day to a close and there simply cannot be too much time spent walking through arboretums :)

Expand full comment

Congratulations Ruth and co -- this looks amazing!

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Katie! Will love to hear all about your pilgrimage experience in Ireland :)

Expand full comment
Apr 29·edited Apr 29Liked by Ruth Gaskovski

Oh how wonderful that you guys are doing this! A dear friend walked this Camino last year, with one of her oldest friends, and loved it - prompting them to do The Way of St Francis to Assisi, from Florence, and to plan more. The late British writer Nicholas Luard, wrote a book, The Field of the Star: A pilgrim's journey to Santiago de Compostela, in honour and, later, memory of his wonderful late daughter, with whom I worked briefly on magazines in London when in our twenties. So powerful (if long since out of print). Love that you are coming to it from the perspectives of your different Christian traditions, and look forward so much to reading more as you prepare and then "make" this sacred walk!

Expand full comment
author

Thanks Jenni! I think once one has experienced a pilgrimage, it is hard not to simply want to continue. When I walked the Camino in 2004, I met a German pilgrim who had arrived in Santiago, then simply turned around and walked all the way back home because he did not want to stop walking. I was not a Christian when I walked the Camino (and had no intention of becoming one) and feel that any pilgrim who comes to the experience with an open heart can benefit from the experience in deep and unexpected ways.

Expand full comment

Oh that's amazing about the German pilgrim, Ruth! I love that. He didn't want to stop walking. My devout Catholic Italian Grandmother went on a lot of pilgrimages when my nonno died - she was on one in Siena when I finally met her, long story, and I was going to write about that today for her Feast Day! I am hoping to walk in her footsteps and do many of them myself, with my husband and children (teens and a twentysomething now!). Another book to mention, which I recently gave to my daughter: Pilgrimage: The Great Pilgrim Routes Of Britain and Europe, which includes the Camino. I'd love to talk to all more about this at some point, so wonderful.

Expand full comment
author

We even met someone who walked with his donkey :) I have often noted to Peco that if I could, I would simply walk all the time. Would be interested to read your piece about your grandmother :)

Expand full comment

Thank you so much, Ruth. Sending love from a cold but bright England! XO

Expand full comment
Aug 22Liked by Ruth Gaskovski

This sounds like a wonderful trip. could you clarify one thing please? In the itinerary in the brochure there is a number beside each day in parens, which I take to be the number of miles walked? Just checking because we go from 5 to 15 from one day to the next which seemed kind of extreme. thank you for an answer!

Expand full comment
author

Hi Ellen, thanks for your message. Yes, the distances in parantheses are the miles covered during those days. The initial days allow for a bit of a warm-up, thus the shorter distances. The longer distances are the customary milage walked by pilgrims, and having only a light day pack to carry makes it much easier (luggage will be transported by bus). For those pilgrims who have difficulty during the longer stretches, transportation is available if necessary. Let me know if you have any other questions :)

Expand full comment

The Camino Santiago is on my bucket list. This trip sounds like a great fit! I am curious if there will be any Catholic priests in attendance that would offer Masses throughout the Pilgrimage? I joined a group to Rome several years back and the experience found me diving into my faith life in a whole new realm. Having a priest with us would seal the deal for me. Please send me your thoughts.

Expand full comment
author

Hi Theresa, I followed up with the organizer and she confirmed that, while we will not have a designated priest travelling with our group, we can work with our ground operator to identify public Masses that are taking place in the towns along the walking route. Let me know if you have any other questions and I hope that you will join us on this wonderful pilgrimage route!

Expand full comment
author

Hi Theresa, thanks so much for your interest. We have pilgrims from a variety of denominations, but Mass will be availalbe to those who would like to attend, although I am not sure that it is daily. I'll check with the organizer directly and I'll confirm once I hear back. I would be lovely to have you along :)

Expand full comment
Jun 6Liked by Ruth Gaskovski

Is there any chance you’ll be doing this again in the next 5-10 years?? I’d love to do this with a friend when our little ones are a bit older!

Expand full comment
author

I would most certainly love to do this again! I was in your situation many years ago, when I longed to return to the Camino, but our kids were simply still too small. What we decided to do instead was an "urban pilgrimage". We made made a plan to walk from our doorstep to downtown Toronto and divided the journey up into stages (we had our daughter in the stroller and I was pregnant with our second child). Every weekend we did another stage, driving to the point where we had left off and then taking the bus back to our point of origin. Although it sounds cumbersome it was a terrific experience and we even made a picture book set to verse out of our trip. Many years have passed since then (our daughter is now 18) and we continued to walk long distances together that we could easily drive (to the market, cafe, shopping), taking mundane opportunities and turning them into daily "pilgrimages" of a different kind. The Camino will still be there when your kids are a little older :)

Expand full comment
Apr 30Liked by Ruth Gaskovski

My father, husband and two boys (14 and 9) begin the Camino tomorrow! My mother, who is unable to do the walk this time around, and I will meet them in 9 days in front of the St. James Cathedral. They’re taking the route through Portugal. They’re in for the trip of a lifetime!

Expand full comment
author

Wonderful! I am sure they will have an unforgettable experience. Buen Camino to you all and I hope that you will have a joyous reunion in Santiago :)

Expand full comment
Apr 30Liked by Ruth Gaskovski

Hilaire Belloc's "The Path to Rome" is a delightful read for walkers.

I re-read it every few years. He walks (for the most part) from southern

France through the Alps to Rome. It is illustrated with his pen and ink

sketches.

I know we're unmachining, but it is fun to look up online some things he

mentions.

Expand full comment
author

Sounds like a wonderful read - I just came across this review: "This is a travel book; it is a history book; it is a humor book; it is an art book; it is a literary book; it is a theology book. It is a book about the land; it is a book about people; it is a book about God; it is a book about not taking yourself too seriously. I was extremely sad when this book ended because I wanted the pilgrimage with Belloc to go on forever and ever." Will be sure to find a copy :)

Expand full comment
May 1Liked by Ruth Gaskovski

What a perfect description- I have to say that "a book about not taking yourself too seriously" is what endears it to me. I do think readers here will love it.

Expand full comment
Apr 30Liked by Ruth Gaskovski

This sounds wonderful!

Expand full comment