Introduction

Last year during our holiday in Spain, we visited Leon and Pamplona, two of the cities Darren walked through during his first Camino in 2013. 

Walking through the streets of Pamplona the seed was planted that perhaps it was time for me walk a Camino of my own. Considering Darren has walked five already and I have walked none, zilch, nada.

I must point out that this is beyond my usual creature comforts, even though I spent 5 years of my life in a boarding school almost 30 plus years ago. 

If anyone had suggested I would walk a Camino five years ago I would have laughed at the them.

They say your first should always be on your own. This allows you to meet new people and truly experience the Camino. So that's what I am doing. 

I am grateful for Darren’s continued love and support. I know I have the strength to overcome any and all challenges.

So, on the 6th of July, a day after my late father would have turned 90, I will depart from Cape Town and travel to Oviedo where my first Camino will start.

In 2013 Darren walked Camino Frances and he placed a stone in remembrance of my mother and father, on my behalf. They both passed away in 2012, one year shy of their 50th wedding anniversary. This year I will also walk in their remembrance and my two brothers, Martin and Ian, who we lost in August 2013, six days apart.

I will also walk in solidarity with Darren, who is waking Camino Del Norte, raising fund on behalf of the South African Bone Marrow Registry, for children in need.

A link to his blog below:

http://darrenscamino2018.blogspot.com

I will be walking the Camino Primitivo also known as the Original Way

Some history about the route.

The Camino Primitivo is the oldest Camino de Santiago route. 

During the Middle Ages.

The Camino Primitivo is thought of as the "Original Way" because it is reportedly the path taken by the first reported pilgrim Alfonso II of Asturias (c. 760 – 842), nicknamed the Chaste (Spanish: el Casto) in 814 from his capital, Oviedo to the location to be Santiago de Compostela at that time Mount Libredón. He built the original shrine to Saint James on the spot of the discovery. Until the city of León was established as both the capital of the Kingdom of Leon and the nexus of a safe route the French Way across the meseta the Camino Primitivo remained the most frequented route for pilgrims.

Modern revival

The Camino Primitivo remains as a popular alternative path, which avoids the Meseta and the crowds of pilgrims there. It allows hikers to enjoy a more stimulating hike with significant vertical gradients and better views. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camino_Primitivo