Two Saint Vincent College students are celebrating the end of the school their year by bicycling 500 miles across France and Spain on a spiritual pilgrimage.

Meghan Smith, a junior psychology major from Valencia, and Emily Johns, a junior accounting major from Wexford, flew to Spain last week to begin the Camino de Santiago, also known as the Way of St. James, the pilgrimage route to the shrine of the apostle St. James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it the remains of the saint are buried.

Many have taken up this route as a form of spiritual path or retreat for their spiritual growth.

Emily's mother came up with the idea after seeing a movie.

“Emily's mother suggested it because she saw 'The Way' with Martin Sheen. It was the most impulsive thing we've ever done,” said Meghan, the daughter of Jamie and David Smith.

“We just bought the tickets and that was that,” said Meghan. “I knew about the Camino de Santiago, but I never thought about doing it.”

“They tell you to train for three or four months in advance, but Emily and I said we will just go for it. We are both in-shape athletes. We hope that helps a little bit,” Meghan said.

Meghan and Emily became acquainted while in high school because both were avid soccer players, and they now co-captain the Saint Vincent women's soccer team.

Emily, the daughter of Mark and Lucille Johns, said, “My mother wanted to walk it with me, but I don't have enough time to walk. We're renting the bikes from Bike Iberia when we get there, front-suspension mountain bikes.”

Meghan said they did a crash course in research for the trip.

“We are actually both research fiends,” she said. “Emily made a blog and was asking people that had done it, and they were very helpful.”

The Way of St. James has been one of the most important Christian pilgrimages since the Middle Ages. Legend holds that St. James' remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain where he was buried. Pilgrimages to Santiago have never ceased since that time.

Today, tens of thousands of Christian pilgrims and others make their way to Santiago. Most travel by foot or bicycle, though some still travel on horseback or by donkey. Many consider the experience a spiritual adventure to remove themselves from the bustle of modern life and serves as a retreat for many modern pilgrims.

The pair, best friends and roommates, planned to start their trip from St. John Pied de Port in France where they will pick up their bicycles and finish at the cathedral in Galicia in Spain.

They plan to stay overnight in pilgrims' hostels known as albergues along their route. They expect to receive a compostela or certificate of accomplishment, which is given to pilgrims completing the Way.

“The hostels have running water and electricity,” said Meghan. “It's not like we won't be showering for a week. We will have all the necessities to stay healthy and hygienic.”

Emily said they will be carrying hiking backpacks containing 20 days' worth of clothing in plastic bags.

“We're counting on being able to do laundry,” she said. “Both of us will have repair kits. We know how to change tires and change chains.”

Meghan said they plan to bike along countryside paths rather than highways.

“We'd rather go through the cities than along the highways. We want to get the most out of it, experience people in their own country,” said Meghan, who said before this trip she had never been out of the country or even on a plane.

“I think we plan on smelling the roses a little bit,” said Emily, who added she would like to talk to the other pilgrims on the Way.

“We are planning to have some Saint Benedict religious medals blessed before we leave so we can give them to other pilgrims,” Meghan added.

“We will explain that we are from Saint Vincent College, a Catholic college sponsored by Benedictine monks in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.”

“I'd really love to see St. James' tomb at the end. That's a very famous landmark,” she said.

“I saw the opportunity to use it to strengthen our faith. It's a chance for us to reconnect with God,” said Emily.

They expect to complete the trip they have been planning for three or four months in about 18 days and have scheduled a flight home May 26.

Meghan plans to do an internship this summer with the Watson Institute where she will be an aide to two autistic children, while Emily plans to intern in the finance department of PNC Bank in downtown Pittsburgh.

Both will return to Saint Vincent and its varsity soccer team in the fall for their senior year.