What it is.

For those of you not familiar with the Camino, here's an extremely abbreviated description, cobbled together from different sources.

The Camino de Santiago, known in English as The Way of Saint James, is a network of routes leading to the shrine of St. James the Great at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain where tradition holds that the remains of the apostle are buried.  Created and established after the discovery of the relics of Saint James the Great at the beginning of the 9th century, the Way of St James became a major pilgrimage route of medieval Christianity from the 10th century onwards.  

Hundreds of thousands - nearly half a million in 2022 - of pilgrims and many others set out each year from popular starting points across Europe, to make their way to Santiago de Compostela.  Most travel by foot, although some come by bicycle, and some even travel as their medieval counterparts did, on horseback or by donkey.  In addition to those undertaking it as a religious pilgrimage, many are hikers who walk the route for travel or sport or simply as a retreat from modern life.  Our particular route begins in Porto, Portugal, and follows the so-called coastal route north, ending in Santiago, Spain.  We plan to take approximately two weeks to do it, hiking 10-15 miles/day.

The experience has been concisely described by others as:  First third - physical, second third - mental, final third - spiritual.  My motivation is primarily adventure, including the physical and mental challenge, but open to the spiritual and certainly anticipating the cultural as we travel across Portugal and Spain, meeting walkers from around the world.

Once we've arrived in Europe, I hope to publish semi-regular (daily?) posts so check back whenever you care to.