The Way of St. James -- Camino de Santiago -- has been a religious pilgrimage route since medieval times. While more people hike it today as a personal challenge, the pilgrims still come to reach their goal of the Cathedral de Santiago Compostela, where the remains of St. James purportedly lie in rest. Legend has it the apostle once rescued a knight who had fallen into the sea, and when pulled to shore, was covered in scallops. The scallop has become the symbol that hikers carry or wear along their route to signify their journey on The Way.

The original route, Camino del Norte, runs from southwest France at Irún and follows the northern coastline of Spain to Galicia where it heads inland towards Santiago joining the Camino Francés at Arzúa. This route follows the old Roman road, the Via Agrippa, for some of its way and is part of the Ruta de la Costa. The most popular route today is Camino Frances, which begins in Ste. Jean Pied de Port in France and traverses the rugged 485 miles to Santiago.

Designed with all hikers and walkers in mind, the toe-up construction affords a very comfortable and seamless toe. A slip stitched heel adds a bit of cushioning and longevity, while the patterning on the instep will grip the foot while providing stretch, comfort, and a nuanced textured pattern of the venerated scallop, symbol of St. James.

65 - for an 8.5 shoe foot -- one pattern repeat + 16 rows of another - start gusset -

4 Aug 2012: First sock completed; start 2nd…..
10 Aug 2012: About 3” of sock 2 to go! Woo hoo!
12 Aug 2012: Got up this morning and bound off.
14 Aug 2012: Wrapped and presented to Cathy.
20 Aug 2012: On the way to Spain!