Kamloops man completes the Camino

Jeff Putnam is back home in Kamloops, British Columbia after his experience completing the Camino de Santiago, the pilgrimage route from St Jean Pied de Port, France, to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in north-western Spain.

Following his father’s footsteps

The 817 kilometre trek, also known in English as ‘the Way of St. James’, goes back to the ninth century when the legend of James began.

One of the apostle of Jesus, James was understood to have been buried at Santiago de Compostela in 44 AD. It was in the ninth century the route as a pilgrimage began.

The popularity of the Camino has waxed and waned over time, but in the last quarter of the twentieth century it became popular again. Jeff Putnam said his father did the Camino in 2005, but he wasn’t ready at the time.

For Putnam, the journey was spiritual, in part inspired by the right of passage of turning 50. He says Kamloops, in the mountainous interior of British Columbia, is the ideal training ground for the gruelling physical challenge of northern Spain. “Throw your backpack on and start walking 10 to 15 kilometres two or three times a week for sure”.

“It was just an unbelievable experience, something I’ll never forget”

Jeff Putnam also advises not doing too much research as you want to experience it for yourself, and you’ll meet plenty of other people on the way, from all over the world.

He says he averaged about 28 kilometres a day, walking from 6 to 8 hours, and learned that “you don’t really need much to survive”. He told CBC Kamloops host, Shelley Joyce, that he appreciated the break from the rampant consumerism of North America. At five euros a night for a bed, and a dollar for a glass of wine, he enjoyed the simple pleasures.

Putnam adivses going alone, as “you have enough of your own burdens to carry”, but says he walked with others carrying much heavier burdens, some having lost a child, or dealing with health concerns.

Jeff Putnam acknowledges he “had a few dark moments” particularly in the beginning crossing the Pyrenees mountains when he couldn’t imagine keeping up the pace.

Now, after a week at home, nursing his feet back into good shape, he says “it was just an unbelievable experience, something I’ll never forget”  Putnam will resume his position as manager of the parks and civic facilities for the City of Kamloops. One of his sons has expressed interest in his father’s Camino experience. Perhaps a third generation will follow.