Blaise Van Hecke gave all of us who are a little aged challenged an inspiring presentation with an account for her journey walking the Camino trail reaching her final destination in Santiago. Blaise described herself as a writer and not an adventurer. She runs Busybird Publishing with her husband.
Blaise outlined that on turning 50 last year she decided that not for religious reasons but to do something for and by herself she would do the 800 klm walk. About 1500 walkers reach Santiago each day having completed the walk staying in a variety of accommodation during their treak. She outlined that a shell is the symbol of the walk and there are signposts with the shell symbol throughout the walk to guide the walkers. She averaged about 16 to 20 klm each day over differing terrain of hills, flat and rocky tracks. Blaise used walking poles which were a great assistance coming down slopes. Overall the walk took 42 days.
She described the satisfying feeling, during which she said she didn't ever feel unsafe, on reaching Santiago and receiving her certificate.