Armchair travel with Joan & Sam Hull as they recount their adventures walking the Camino de Santiago.

The Camino de Santiago, or the Way of Saint James, is a network of pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried. Many walk the routes as a path to spiritual growth. It is also popular with hiking and cycling enthusiasts and organized tour groups.

Joan and Sam began their long-distance walking adventures in 2013 in their 60s and 70s.  Sam first became enthralled with the Camino de Santiago 45 years ago after reading a reference to it in Iberia by James Mitchener. Family, career, health issues and Life took priority over the dream, of walking this famous pilgrim route in Spain for many years, but it was never abandoned. Sam’s passion was contagious, and Joan was soon hooked. Known as Team Turtle,  with their motto of “we start off slow and taper off”, they  have walked on the Camino de Santiago three time as well as long distance walks in England and Italy.  Despite three knee and one ankle replacement, one fused ankle, a cancer diagnosis and other sundry maladies between them, they found that just putting one foot in front of the other can make anything possible. The rewards, of being outside in nature, meeting incredible people from around the world, reducing your needs to the few things you carry on your back, has been immeasurable. Learning to trust each other’s strengths and encourage each other during the challenges has given them a deep appreciation of each other and life in the slow lane. Sam and Joan have been happily married for almost 33 years and live in Arundel Maine.