About
About Johan Steyl
Site owner and primary contributor
My Early Introduction to Hiking
My love of outdoor adventure began with hiking in the mountains around my hometown in South Africa. I used to hike with my Dad as often as possible. The university town where I studied was also close to the mountains, so my friends and I would regularly head out for a walk.
Later, a group of friends from work and I explored many of the hiking trails in the South African Hiking Network.
Then life happened. We moved to Australia, and for the next 15 years I focused on my career and raising a family.
Finding the Camino
I first heard about the Camino from a friend, but didn't give it much thought at the time. That changed a year or two later when I woke up on Christmas morning with an overwhelming urge to walk the Camino, despite knowing absolutely nothing about it.
I consulted my dear friend, Google, and the more I read, the stronger the urge became.
I discovered that there was a local chapter of the Friends of the Camino nearby, so I joined the Sunshine Coast Camino Group (SCCG). They were a great inspiration to me and, before long, became my Camino family.
My First Camino Experience
In July 2022, I started my first Camino: the Camino Francés, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, accompanied by one of my friends from the SCCG and her partner.
Although I had trained for the walk, I was ill-prepared and grossly overweight. On the climb to Orisson on day one, I thought I was going to die! Luckily, I didn't, but by the time we reached Zubiri on day three, small blisters were already forming. I soldiered on and made it as far as Grañón before catching a bus to Burgos, where I rested my feet until my friends caught up with me.
From Burgos, I managed to walk as far as Sahagún before my feet said, "Enough — no more!" Another bus ride took me to León, where I ended up in a private hospital with seven huge blisters. They patched me up, and the doctor told me I was less than 24 hours away from an infection that could have ended my hopes of reaching Santiago de Compostela. I was told to stay off my feet for five days.
My friends arrived, took a rest day and continued on their way. I caught another bus to Astorga, where I waited for them. From Astorga, I made it all the way to Santiago and then continued on to Finisterre and Muxía.
I did not want any of the pain and setbacks that I encountered, but I learnt so much about myself on that first Camino that I could write a book about it! The experience changed my life in more ways than I could ever have imagined, and for the better.
Along the way, I met a lady from Québec, Canada. The more we walked and talked, the more we realised that we wanted the same things from life.
Life After the Camino
Long story short, I returned to Australia, and we visited each other back and forth until I retired for the second time. My last day of work was on Tuesday, 14 November, and three days later, on Friday the 17th, I arrived in Sherbrooke, Québec, with all my worldly belongings in three suitcases and a bicycle case!
In June 2024, we walked the Via Podiensis, starting in Le Puy-en-Velay, France. Sharing that experience with my partner was magical.
Then, in April 2025, I returned to Spain to celebrate turning 70 by walking the Camino Francés for a second time. This time around, I had lost 22 kg, was much fitter and was far better prepared. The difference was remarkable. I completed the pilgrimage without experiencing even a hotspot! I was also very fortunate that my son was able to join me in León and walk the final 300 km with me to Santiago de Compostela.
And so, my Camino journey continues...
Other interests
- We hike a lot, obviously.
- In Summer we get out on our gravel bikes as often as we can.
- We love long roadtrips in our campervan
- I have been an avid photographer since the age of 13
About this website