Hola! Thanks for joining me on my adventure. I’ll be using this platform to provide occasional updates about my journey along The Way.

During April and May 2025, I will be hiking solo for about 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. I will be taking the most popular pilgrim route, the “Camino Frances,” starting in the French Pyrenees village of St. Jean Pied-de-Port, hiking west and ending in the northwest Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela. This should take me between 35 to 40 days, at an average walking pace of about 15 miles a day.

This ancient pilgrimage is commonly called the “Camino,” which means “The Way” in English. The Camino has a long history, with paths trodden with prayer for over 1,000 years. There are many Camino paths throughout Europe, with over a half million persons from around the world making pilgrimage each year. About half of these pilgrims take the Camino Frances route. The destination city of Santiago de Compostela is the location of a famous cathedral which, according to legend and tradition, contains the bones of the Apostle St. James.

Pilgrims typically walk 100-500 miles, but may also take the journey on bicycle or horseback. A pilgrim may travel alone or informally with others, or as part of a formally organized tour group. How a pilgrim approaches their pilgrimage is highly personal and varies greatly. Some carry a backpack (which I plan to do), while others use a luggage transport service. Some stay in pilgrim hostels, called “albergues,” (which I also plan to do), hotels, and/or private inns.

People make this pilgrimage for spiritual, religious, adventure, health, contemplation, and other reasons. My pilgrimage is intended to be a spiritual journey, with a focus on prayer, contemplation, and inner growth.

I’ve had the desire to take this pilgrimage for about a decade. Time and circumstances now allow me to take this extended journey. Other pilgrims have crossed my path over the years. They’ve shared the joy and excitement of their pilgrimages. I’ve watched films, read books, and researched how the Camino works and how different people approach their journeys. When my wife Susan and I visited Spain and Portugal in 2023, we “accidentally” crossed different Camino routes in Segovia, Salamanca, Montserrat, and Porto. Throughout it all, I have felt the call of the Camino.

Susan will join me at the journey end, after which time we plan to explore northern Spain together.

So, if you’re curious or wondering what this journey entails and where it may lead, please join me on this blog. I hope to share lovely pictures and interesting short stories about my pilgrim journey.

Thanks again for joining me on this adventure.