Lost on the Way: A Journal from the Camino de Santiago

By: Blake Farha

Narrated by: Blake Farha

Length: 5 hrs

Publisher's summary

Published in 2020, this is one of the most intimate, touching, and humorous travelogues you'll ever listen to.

Of the many Camino books out there, Lost on the Way: A Journal from the Camino de Santiago is, perhaps, the only one that is like an autobiographical travel memoir, a Spain travel guide for hiking in Spain, and a Camino de Santiago guidebook for the Camino del Norte, Camino Frances, and the Camino Primitivo.

When Blake Farha was unexpectedly laid off, he knew the time had finally come to walk the Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimage stretching all the way across Spain. Armed with a cheap notebook, a ballpoint pen, and the ugliest pair of shoes he’d ever owned, he set out to fulfill a dream and to get a grip on the demons that have plagued him his entire life.

In this uncensored travel journal, Blake chronicles his 600-mile sojourn on foot through the Spanish countryside and invites listeners deep into the inner workings of his heart and mind.

Day by day, mile after mile, the Camino, the pilgrims he meets, and the time for reflection bestow upon him countless insights on depression, anxiety, self-worth, and finding peace.

Vulnerable and humorous, evocative and earnest, his journal is a window into a lost soul on a journey to self-discovery; a portrait of gorgeous landscapes, human connections, and those questions which don’t seem to have any answers.

Like the thousands of tiny yellow arrows that mark the way to Santiago, these heartfelt entries remind us that hope often hides in unexpected places and stand as a testament to all who listen to them that there’s nothing wrong with getting lost on the way.

Whether you're interested in the Camino de Santiago, traveling in Spain, or walking almost 600 miles in the shoes of a lost soul looking for answers, scroll up and purchase this powerful tale of introspection and wanderlust to join Blake in getting lost on the way!

©2020 Blake Farha (P)2020 Blake Farha

A great Camino book

This brought back such amazing memories of my time on the Camino and I could really relate to many of Blakes experiences and feelings along the way. It’s made me want to go back and walk all over again

Inspiring

This book is beautifully written. It's dedicated to not reframing an experience and so the journal entries are left as they were originally written. It is an honest trek story. There are many of them that feel forced. That focus on the "arrival" in life and wrap it all up in a perfect bow. Blake was committed to being honest. And along the way, he shares wisdom with us without trying to be an advice giver. It comes from a place of vulnerability and authenticity. This book made me cry more than once not because terrible things were happening but because of the author's ability to cut through to the human experience with his writing.

Well done but not what I was as looking for.

The author really reveals himself which takes courage. I admire that. The story was not exactly what I was looking for but that doesn't mean it's not good for someone else. For someone else to I try may be 4 stars. I think I was looking for something with a broader view of the Camino. The author seems to be quite an interesting person though.

It was okay!

Not exactly what I was hoping for. His tone of voice was pretty boring. Seemed to be more of a self help story.

Much ado about feelings...

The author states at the beginning of the book that what he has published is the unembellished journal he wrote while walking the Camino, I guess I should have taken that as a warning. From time to time there were descriptions of his days walks that were enjoyable but more often than not what he dwelled upon were how he felt about himself as he walked. Most accounts of people's journey to Santiago include personal struggle and often growth but it is part of a greater narrative of their travel and not the main focus. I didn't hate this tale and despite my disappointment I did not bail part way through. Having walked the same route earlier that same year as the author I was hoping for a few evocative descriptions of a journey which i hold dear so my expectations were my own problem. The saving "hike your own hike" obviously applies to the wiring of the subsequent narrative; I just shouldn't have gone looking for travelogue in what is really a self help journal. Ultreia and Buen Camino to the author and his subsequent Camino.

Come along for the walk

It was very interesting to follow the author's many ups and downs both on the Camino and off of it.

Honest human

Sometimes it takes a completely different experience to make us recognize the changes we need to make. I look forward to my own Camino and appreciate the honesty Blake shared.

Happy for his journey

I listened to this because I wanted an account of some experiences on the Camino Primitivo. Likely I am a bit too old to relate to some of his journal entries, but some of the corny ones were endearing. My rating is more a result of the poor acting of a few recounts. Please don’t fake cry on audio. Just saying that you cried is enough. Buen Camino and God bless you Blake. Glad that you found peace with yourself.

Disappointing

I'm a 2x veteran of the Camino and love hearing other's reminisces. His own started great but by halfway through, had devolved into a sobbing, weepy pity party, morphing into an über arrogant chest pound. I finally had to call it quits 30 minutes before it ended. I downgraded it from 3 stars to 2 when he was "proud" he was going to return to Berlin, home of his previous employer before being fired, and planning on living on Germany's unemployment for a year. That wrecked it for me. No helpful or insightful thoughts on the Camino itself.