El Camino Calgary: Peregrinos Once Again

On the one year anniversary of our hike taking in the legendary El Camino de Santiago Trail in Spain, we relived the experience. Sure, we did it here in Calgary this time and just for a day, but it felt as thought we were back. We donned the boots, dusted off Camino mementos to adorn our packs and let things unfold as they did for us the year prior. In June 2018 we walked some hundred and twenty clicks across Northern Spain…in search of something. Was it love, kindness, understanding, some way to better us? No idea, but we had a most incredible time and feel we’re better citizens because of it. And now we want that amazing feeling back.

Fast forward to June 2019, we’re doing a walk in honour of that event replicating a typical day in Spain and capturing the spirit of it all. We’ll cover a lot of ground (about 22km), take in the scenery, socialize, with plenty of coffee and pub stops along the way. Think jovial. We’ll call this is the Calgary Camino (Way) and the photos below show just a few things we saw this fine day. Truth be told we were so into the experience that the camera was often forgotten about. We’ll also share memories from 2018, and they’re awesome. Check out the links!

Posts about our Spanish adventure are some of the least read on this website. They even do worse than the pinball write ups. Yikes! Anyway, engagement on these is generally in the toilet, so here especially we’d really appreciate hearing from you.

Day dawns bright in Bowness Park. This is our starting point and ahead is a crazy circuitous route plotted out so as to hit a coffee shop or pub every few kilometres minimally (as it was in Spain). Plus we carried snacks and vino too, just in case. Got to be prepared! So we walked down pathways, streets and through parks and soon it was time for a random picnic stop. With the Ibérico stuff not readily available here we had to settle for Serrano Ham. Oh whoa is us. Jamón Ibérico is this incredible cured meat, unlike no other, and pure heaven. Wine is a great paring with either.

We look over the all El Camino trinkets collected in Spain. There’s a little souvenir shop in nearly every town on the trail (and the towns are close together) and for a Euro or two one can get a St James Cross pin or bracelet or an El Camino Shell. The latter is the most often seen symbol of the trail and we got one!

More walking (and after each pub stop, staggering – haha) and chatting and reminiscing. The El Camino, of all the cool things we’ve done, takes the lofty position as most awesome ever. We’ll never forget it and are grateful for the experience.

El Camino Memories. We arrive in a charming town where we begin the week long adventure. It’s a meet and greet with the group we’ll be hanging with and our local liaisons. And what an amazing cathedral just outside our hotel. Here: Hello Astorga.

Moving along, it’s coffee stop time. And look at that, the World Cup is on, just like it was on every single TV we saw in Spain that week in June. What hockey is to Canada, so Soccer (Football/Futbol) is to Spain. They’re obsessed! When a game’s on, the whole country comes to a grinding halt. Of course, we root for the national team, even if many of the nuances of this sport are lost on us. Simple rule, if the locals cheer, do the same.

El Camino Memories. It’s a good push up to the Iron Cross and then it’s down over the other side. There’s Thomas the last Templar Knight (shy this day), fine food, amazing mountain scenery and the oldest bridge we’ll ever cross. Here: Scruffy Peregrino (Pilgrim).

There’s a rule here, if we pass an mom ‘n’ pop grocery, we stop for lotto. This day it takes on the appearance of an addiction. In spite of spotting a Boler earlier (usually a bringer of good luck) we come away win less. Like the Oilers! Ouch, burn! Interestingly we did play some lotto in Spain which paid for the trinkets seen.

El Camino Memories It’s up and over again, the oldest church we’ll ever visit, a three hour lunch, and laundry. Things exciting and the necessary and mundane. We’re not complaining! Here: Up & Over.

Along the Bow, our minds wander. Yes, we’re back on the Camino. Downtown Calgary is now some Spanish village and Memorial Drive is now some Galician backroad with little traffic (yeah right!). The illusion is real and we’re sold.

El Camino Memories There’s a greeting said when passing fellow Pilgrims on the trail: Buen Camino or “Good Way”. It’s more churches, hórreo granaries, stamps and passports and perhaps our favourite crash pad of the trip. Thank God we weren’t paying for it! Thanks goes out to the Sis and her Hubby who as benefactors footed our entire freaking bill, and with who it was an honour to walk with. There’s zero way we could have done it otherwise.

Another few clicks, another coffee stop, feeling the buzz. Cafe Solo is high test! We think back on how much the world has changed from 2018 to 2019. Connie’s now minus a boob – damn you prick Cancer. In spite of it all, it’s chin up and fists out and she almost laughs it off. She won that battle, even if battered and bruised, but the thought of what could have been still terrifies the other half.

El Camino Memories Back roads and paths through the woods. At times we’d see no one for an hour or two and the El Camino was all ours. And another great place to spend the night. Damn, we could get used to this. Food, man they eat well here. Lunch takes hours and dinner’s an event. Here: Lost & Loving It.

Still some distance before we reach our Calgary Camino goal, a Spanish Eatery where we’ll meet those special folks who we shared the trail with. There’s fun to be had when you enjoy everyone’s company.

El Camino Memories There’s the cow lady who was more than happy to pose for us, but chastised others who tried to take her picture. More amazing scenery, feeling fit, not wanting it to end. This is something close to heaven. More good food, more cold brews and knowing that with this trek ending soon (just one more day) it’s going to be a downer. Here: Walking the Cows.

We’re in downtown Calgary now, a busy place, hustle and bustle. Not quite as peaceful as on the trail, but hey, it’s all good. The Peace Bridge and it’s the lotto blues. Can’t seem to win there. That Boler must have been jinxed.

El Camino Memories All things must come to an end. Here at Santiago, at the Cathedral Santiago, all good Peregrinos receive their certificate of completion on finishing the El Camino. For some it’s a purely a religious experience but no one comes away without it being spiritual or moving in some way. You wanted to be grounded and look at the world through friendship googles? Then do it. Our little group, us individually and the hundreds of Pilgrims that completed the trail this day, from all corners of the world, became one that day. Here Santiago!

Destination sighted. The camera’s put away and it’s time eat and reminisce. There’s not many Spanish Restaurants in Calgary and this one served food just as we remembered it. God, it was good. But they were out of Ham! You dirty bastards! They said it’s hard to import, and they soon sell out, but we think they kept it all for themselves.

So ends this anniversary trek. We had a follow up planned for 2020, but you know Covid and all. And how changed the world is since this anniversary walk and the original in Spain. Seems like we’re all backsliding when it comes to being good people with everyone filled with hate and anger on all sides. If we could all share that Camino vibe. A pact, we’ll meet you in the trail in 2021 and we’ll buy you a beer.

If we can ever swing it, we’d do the trail again. Hate the plane ride over but the rest was the best time we’ve ever had. Tearing up just thinking about it. Thanks for joining us on all these adventures.

We now return you to your regular scheduled programming…

They’re saying…

”I enjoy your pictures and write ups so much. They bring back a touch of nostalgia for things we used to know, or didn’t even know about. It’s all about keeping our history alive and vibrant. It’s about where we came from, and about the people that made today’s world possible. Today’s world is so fast paced and so focused on the future, which is all well and good, but it’s nice to remember too, how it was not so very long ago. Thank you Chris &. Connie.” Jan Cooper.

Fully and completely random…
Twilight Train – @ Aspen Crossing!
Three Bridges – Got a thing for them!
South Mist Hills – Getting high!
Big and orange Dodge Bighorn – Rare Beast!

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date of Adventure: June, 2019.
Location: Calgary, AB (España in spirit).
Article references and thanks: Grant & Bean, forever and always grateful.

The very last photo from Spain.

One year later in Calgary.

Bolers are said to bring good luck.

Still, we didn’t win here.

In spirit we’re back in Spain.

It ain’t Jamón Ibérico but it’ll do fine.

Packs adorned with El Camino trinkets.

The official hat.

A rush of yellow.

Along the mighty Bow.

It was a coffee stop ritual.

Calgary becomes Santiago de Compostela.

Nothing won here either.

Random things seen.

Buen Camino, Calgary edition.

An iconic lion of Centre Street.

Another stands guard on the far side.

Someone’s confident in their message.

Another let down.

Now it’s a dinner date with fellow Peregrinos.