This is what I've been questioning. I'm not so sure that time to contemplate or processing grief were motivations for medieval pilgrims. That seems to be a modern motivation.
I get the sense that many of the motivations for pilgrims walking...
We just completed the Norte from Irun to Santiago. The elevation gain in the first week is massive. I could not have survived without poles especially on the descents. That being said I did note younger walkers without poles. Only you can assess...
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