Tag: Spain

My Camino Frances – A Spiritual Journey

Jyri Manninen | Kajura

I commenced the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail on my 59th birthday in June of 2025. This personal journey of spiritual growth over 800km took me 22 days, and here I will be present to you the full 4 part series, the initial ‘Road to Saint Jean’ – prologue, and then the 3 main parts to match the 3 phases of the Camino – the Physical, Mental and Spiritual.

The first video above is of that prologue, which describes my journey from Finland to the starting point at Saint Jean Pied de Port, a small town located at the foothills of the Pyrenees by the border with Spain. Below you will find the three remaining videos in the series. I hope that you’ll follow this wonderful journey, and that it will inspire you to also plan for and do something similar, if not the Camino Frances itself. You won’t regret it!

Be blessed,
George

La Fase Física

The second video is the story of that first physical phase, La Fase Física, which sees me walk 325km from St Jean Pied de Port, over the Pyrenees on day 1 and then on to the city of Burgos in 9 days via Pamplona, Los Arcos, Viana and Belorado.

La Fase Mental

This third video is the story of the second or mental phase, La Fase Mental, which sees me walk 196km from Burgos to León over a period of 5 days over ‘La Meseta’ (The Plateau) via Castrojeriz, Frómista, Carrión de los Condes, Sahagun and Puente Villarente.

La Fase Espiritual

This final video is of the spiritual phase, La Fase Espiritual, which sees me walk 323km from León to Santiago de Compostela over a period of 7 days via Astorga, Ponferrada, Sarria , Portomarin and Arzúa.

It’s Time to Fly!

Jyri Manninen | Kajura

In case you didn’t know it already, my name is Jyri, but I also go by George, and I’m the dude behind this LOTR channel. I set up it up in July, 2021, so almost 4 years ago, and primarily for the purpose of sharing my bicycle and camino walking tour adventures, which have mainly been in Portugal and Finland, where I currently reside. A second reason is that I wanted it to act as a kind of dynamic business card, to showcase my own active lifestyle with my current and prospective, future coaching clients. Basically, I just wanted to build some initial trust and make connections with like-minded people via the concept of ‘proof of work’. I wanted to show that I myself was actually doing what I preach. 

However, things are now about to change significantly! Enjoy this LIFE ON THE RUN update video, as I go over my plans in more detail about, while enjoying the scenery from not only some of my previous adventures, but also from my local forest trails.

Be blessed,
Jyri (George)

In the Light

Jyri Manninen | Kajura


The Camino Portuguese is an approximately 245km long Christian pilgrimage trail, which starts at the cathedral in Porto, Portugal and then ends at its architectural namesake in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, but it isn’t just for the dogmatically inclined. The Portuguese Way is undertaken by people of all backgrounds and for all kinds of reasons, though commonly as a part of one’s personal growth. However, regardless of the multitude of possible personal life or spiritual perspectives, it’s also simply a very scenic and interesting 1-2 week long walk.

Here I highlight the most special moments of my own camino, ones in which I’d become utterly absorbed in the sunlight’s exquisite play with the continuously unfolding environments, as well as the consciousness awakening primal sounds of moving waters in the multitude of rivers and streams that I crossed along the trail.

“If you feel that you can’t go on, and your will’s sinking low, just believe, and you can’t go wrong. In the light, you will find the road.”

‘In the Light’ | Led Zeppelin, Physical Graffiti (1975)

So, please just sit back, relax and enjoy this brief sidetrack from the hustle and bustle of regular life; and please share this post with anyone who you think would find it inspirational or helpful. Obrigado, gracias & thank you!

Be blessed,
Jyri