Best pals Laurie and Nora took the 157 mile pilgrimage through Portugal and Spain in 2025
By Nora Burdick, pictured with Laurie Hennessy on the Camino
Over the years, Laurie Hennessy and I have walked thousands of miles together, using the time to discuss life, exchange ideas, celebrate family milestones, and support one another through challenges.
So, when Laurie invited me to walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela—the Way of St. James—I immediately said yes. We would become peregrinos, or pilgrims, traveling one of the routes linked to St. James the Great through Portugal and Spain.
After weighing our available time and a realistic daily pace, we selected a 157-mile route from central Portugal into Spain.
John Brierley’s A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino helped us evaluate the route, elevation, trail conditions, and distances between stops. Although we felt ready for the challenge, we quickly realized that our usual flat “postal carrier route” would not be enough. We needed to step up—literally.
With only ten weeks until our September 2025 departure, we began training in earnest.
Along with our physical preparation, we carefully limited what we would carry. Each 13-pound Osprey pack held a sleeping bag, clothing, personal items, and an olive-green Marine Corps–issue jacket liner once worn by Kenny Glass, a 30-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Daily laundry access made traveling light much easier—and 13 pounds felt like an accomplishment.
On September 2, 2025, we flew from Toronto to Porto, Portugal. Guidebook in hand and packs ready, we began our journey.
Brierley’s guide offers many inspiring reflections, including, “You must empty out before you can fill back up.” Its meaning deepened as we released our expectations and embraced the simplicity of pilgrim life. Less truly became more.
Before setting out, we had read about the “Camino family” that often forms along the trail. Ours soon emerged. Karson, from Germany, enriched the miles with stories of Roman roads, bridges, mosaic tiles, and local history. Our Irish companions entertained us during rest breaks, while Andy, a forensic investigator, and Patrick, a retired NATO officer, were among the many people who encouraged us.
Many others walked portions of the trail with us, weaving their stories into our Camino. The experience offered a remarkable glimpse of our shared humanity. We encountered no negativity, and music—a universal bond—accompanied many of our most meaningful moments.
If only world leaders could walk a Camino together…
The Camino emptied us of expectations and filled that space with peace we carried home.
The olive-green jacket liner offered comfort whenever we needed it. Thank you, Kenny Glass, for your continued service.
Buen Camino.
Nora Burdick
