I take my microphone out for a walk with Jyrki Wahlstedt, a long-distance walking enthusiast whose idea of a stroll is anything but ordinary. We talk about ultra-walking, pilgrimage routes across Europe, and what compels someone to walk hundreds, even thousands, of kilometers.
Jyrki shares stories from the Camino Primitivo in Spain and the Jakobswege routes in Germany, detailing the challenges, history, and deeply personal moments he’s encountered on foot. From blisters and barefoot prep to cathedral organs and chance conversations, this episode explores how walking long distances becomes more than just physical movement: it becomes a journey through culture, memory, and self-reflection.
We also dive into the rich history of the Camino de Santiago, how it connects walkers across time and place, and what kind of mindset and gear it takes to go the distance.
We talk about:
- How Jyrki’s 300 km+ walks began (spoiler: Tolkien and a squash tournament were involved)
- Highlights from Germany and Spain: towns, people, and Bach
- Walking as mindfulness and personal transformation
- Learning to listen to your body and plan realistically
- Why there's no universal advice—just trial, error, and adaptation
- The fascinating history of the Camino de Santiago
“Don’t do nothing. Do something, and scale it back.” — Or in Jyrki’s case, scale it way up.
Weekly Challenge:
Pack a few books in your backpack and head out for a long walk. As you stroll, imagine yourself tracing the ancient pilgrimage routes through Spain. What might you discover on the way?
Additional resources are available in the links below.
- Camino Primitivo
- Borja Golán - Wikipedia
- Georg Böhm - Wikipedia
- Via Podiensis - Wikipedia
- A History of the Camino de Santiago - Iberian Adventures
- The History of the Camino de Santiago | Wilderness Travel
- History of the Camino de Santiago | Walk the Camino
- History of the Camino de Santiago | Stories | Notre Dame Magazine | University of Notre Dame
- St. James' Way pilgrimage routes in Germany
- Germany’s Camino trek rivals Spain’s famous pilgrimage—and is a lot less crowded
- The Camino Francés guide: routes, stages, maps and km
- Camino Primitivo | Galiwonders
- The Camino Primitivo - a 2025 guide & stages
- Camino Primitivo (The Primitive Way)
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