Camino Gratitude Primitivo

After surviving the “Baguette & Blister” tour of the Camino Francés (2024) and the “Seafood & Sore Feet” trek of the Camino Portugués (2025), a new adventure is calling. This year, I’m going back to the Camino Primitivo, the oldest route to Santiago de Compostela. Legend has it that King Alfonso II of Asturias was the first to walk this path in the 9th century, trekking from Oviedo to Santiago to confirm the newly discovered remains of St. James the Apostle.

While the majority of pilgrims flock to the more famous paths, fewer than 5% choose the Primitivo. It is a route defined by steep climbs, rugged mountain paths, and weather that can quickly switch from sunshine to downpour. But my research promises epic scenery, quiet trails, and gorgeous scenery. I am inspired by John Muir “The mountains are calling, and I must go.”

Training in Paradise: Encinitas, CA

My 2026 “Camino Practice” has officially begun in Encinitas, California, about 25 miles north of San Diego. Compared to the brutal Arctic winters of Cape Cod, training here is a sunny dream. With temperatures holding steady between 55°F and 75°F, I’ve been averaging 8 miles a day exploring the beautiful California coast.

The Mission:

• The Trek: 310 km (approx. 200 miles) from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela.

• The Timeline: 10 days, starting April 6th.

• The Extension: After reaching the Cathedral, I fly to Italy for a deep dive into the heart of the Catholic faith—from the heights of St. Peter’s Basilica and the depths of the Catacombs to the quiet grace of St. Catherine’s in Siena.

As I prepare for another Camino, I’m inspired by my seminary friend, Quinn: “of the pilgrimage: the experience of profound beauty, the abundance of life, and the invitation to join in something great, something worth more than the world can give, something for which we all have been created. That something became clearer over the course of the pilgrimage, and by the end that something felt almost toooo mucchhh!”

So, here we go again: new boots, new blisters, and a whole new chapter of stories waiting to be written.

Buen Camino!