Maura's Journey - Updates
Maura's amazing journey is complete. A final update of her remarkable journey will be uploaded shortly
"There are trips you take to escape life, and then there are journeys you take to find it.
Walking the Camino de Santiago — especially the stretch from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Logroño — is without doubt the latter.
I’d heard people say the Camino is more than a walk; it’s a pilgrimage, a spiritual journey, even a reset button.
Still, nothing quite prepared me for what it would feel like to lace up my boots in the little French town of Saint-Jean and set off across the Pyrenees with everything I needed strapped to my back (including my ukulele)".
Maura Shaftoe
Read the final update of Maura's incredible Pilgrimage - HERE
NEW: Maura Shaftoe's Pilgrimage:
Maura's Camino Chronicles: One Step, one song at a time
Meet Maura Shaftoe, Behavioural Cash Flow Specialist, financial coach, life planner, recording artist… and now, pilgrim!
At 62, Maura is living proof that retirement isn’t an ending — it’s a new beginning.
A passionate later-life entrepreneur and one of Refirement’s inspiring Ambassadors based in Canada, Maura helps her clients create not just financial plans, but lives of meaning, security, and joy. Now, she’s embarking on a new kind of journey
She is undertaking an 800km walk along Spain’s iconic El Camino pilgrim trail, with her ukulele, journal, and a heart full of purpose in a solo pilgrimage for peace, reflection, and inspiration.
We’ll be following Maura’s five-week walk — sharing her insights, maps of her route, journal entries, musical moments, and the lessons she learns along the way, because this isn’t just a hike, it’s a living symbol of what’s possible when women over 60 say YES to life, freedom, and authenticity.
Follow along on the website, as we cheer Maura on and rediscover what it means to age boldly, live intentionally, and rock (and not just in a chair!).
#Refirement #WomenOver60 #CaminoChronicles.
What is the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Trail?
An ancient pilgrimage trail across northern Spain, the Camino de Santiago starts in the charming town of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and ends in the sacred city of Santiago de Compostela, where the Cathedral is believed to hold the remains of St. James.
The Camino de Santiago is rich in attractions, offering a journey through stunning cities and natural landscapes. Highlights include Pamplona, famous for its bull run; the La Rioja wine region and its capital, Logroño; the impressive cathedral in Burgos; the elegant city of León; and Ponferrada with its historic Templar Castle.
More Than a Walk
Along the way, I experienced a rich mix of Basque, Navarrese, and Riojan cultures, tasted some of the best food of my life, and had space — real space — to think, breathe, and just be. There were moments of solitude and deep reflection. There were churches where I lit candles for people I love. There were blisters, sure, but also belly laughs, shared meals, and stories from fellow travellers that will stay with me forever.
This journey isn’t just about the destination. It’s about the rhythm of your steps, the kindness of strangers, the beauty of a path walked by thousands — and now, walked by me.
