Father David McGuinness, pastor of St. Joseph Church, Athens, blesses Marianne Reeves, left, and Marty Ledenham weeks before the two embark on The Camino de Santiago de Compostela.

ATHENS—Two Athens women are planning to hike The Camino de Santiago de Compostela (The Way of St. James of Compostela), the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain.

The two Athens residents, Marianne Reeves and Marty Ledenham, trained together but first met on a Kennesaw Mountain hike sponsored by the American Pilgrims, a national organization that fosters the tradition of the Camino and facilitates communication, information and encouragement of past and future pilgrims. Since their first trail hike, they shared other hikes, coffee, and attended Masses. Ledenham will hike with her brother. Reeves will hike with her husband.

Ledenham begins her pilgrimage in September with a return flight booked for mid-October.