Our very own Member, Christine Tonkin (CT), was the Guest Speaker this week, and her topic was ‘Making a Pilgrimage – Walking the Camino’. CT defined a pilgrimage as “walking with purpose to a meaningful destination” and told us what the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St James) actually is: a number of paths for walkers or horseback riders leading to the shrine of St James at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Northwest Spain. There are at least 4 routes, and CT walked the last 115 km or so of the Camino Frances - which is 780 km long in total. CT loves hiking and she was inspired to do the pilgrimage by her friend Raul with who she has explored parts of Australia in the past. To qualify as a Pilgrim participants must carry a Pilgrim Passport which is stamped at various set points along the way, and it is then presented to the officials at the end of the trail. CT participated between 18th and 27th May, and she qualified as a bona fide Pilgrim! She set off from Sarria in the Northwest corner of Spain, headed North towards Lugo, and then turned West to arrive at the finish located at Santiago de Compostela. The purpose of doing it for CT was both social and physical, and she took the opportunity to deeply reflect upon her life. Quite coincidentally CT’s friend Raul also made a Pilgrimage at about the same time, but their paths didn’t cross!