April 12, 2026

Allow me to paint you a picture. (I'll be using finger paint)

It's sometime last summer. I'm standing on the camino, boots soaked, trekking poles in hand, wondering how exactly I ended up here, again, voluntarily walking hundreds of kilometers when perfectly good scooters exist. The Atlantic wind is doing something creative with my hair. My companions, the Caminotellers, are somewhere behind me philosophizing about whether the Camino chooses you or you choose the Camino. And somewhere in the back of my mind, a little voice is saying "this is going to make for great television!"

Though I have no idea of it's origin, that little voice was right. It usually is. I just wish it would also remind me to pack more snacks.

The Series Nobody Asked For But Everybody Needs

After months of filming, editing, re-editing, questioning my life choices, making peace with my life choices, and then questioning them again, the Camino Portugués, Litoral Route series is finally, gloriously, triumphantly LIVE on YouTube!

11 episodes. All under 20 minutes. Every single one packed with the stuff you actually want from a Camino series. Real tips. Practical hacks. Albergue reviews. A deep dive into the culture and history that makes this route one of the most underrated walks in Europe. And yes...Camino cooking. Because a pilgrim who doesn't eat well is just a person having a bad time outdoors. Right?

This is my Camino distilled. The essential Shell Toucher experience, minus the blisters. NOTE: No blisters were formed nor harmed during the making of these films.

Another Camino Vid? This One Is Different. (I promise)

If you've followed my past on-the-scene Camino videos you'll notice the difference immediately. Gone are the long rambling episodes where I occasionally remember there's a camera. This time everything is tighter, faster and more focused. No episode overstays its welcome. Every minute earns its place.

Think of it less like a travel documentary and more like a Camino survival guide that somehow also made you laugh, made you hungry, and made you immediately start googling flights to Porto. (You're welcome.)

The Camino Portugués: Why This Route?

Ah, the question I get asked most. Why the Portugués? Why the Litoral Route specifically?

Because it is spectacular. And criminally underwalked.

While everyone and their uncle is queuing up on the Camino Francés, the Portugués Litoral sneaks along the Atlantic coast like it has a secret. Ancient fishing villages. Roman roads. Seafood that will make you reconsider every meal you've ever eaten. And a quiet, soulful rhythm that gets under your skin in the best possible way.

Also, and I cannot stress this enough, the tortillas are even more magnificent once you eventually make it into Spain.

None of This Happened Without You!Here's the part where I get briefly serious before returning to my natural state of cheerful, A.D.D. chaos.

This series exists because of you. Every order from shelltoucher.com, every comment, every message, every person who shared a video or told a friend, it all adds up. It keeps these passion projects alive and moving forward. And, it supports independent media!

You are not just customers. You are fellow pilgrims. And this series is as much yours as it is mine! So from the bottom of my well-worn Merrill's, thank you. I mean that completely.

And Because I Appreciate You - A Giveaway!
To celebrate the launch we are giving away three ShellToucher Camino bundles to three lucky pilgrims.
Each winner receives:

🧼 ShellToucher All-Purpose Camino Soap
🥾 Two pairs of Natural Rubber Trekking Pole Tips
🎖️ My Famous "Sin Tortilla No Hay Camino patch"

How to enter:
Head to Episode 1 on YouTube and answer this question in the comments:
"Have you walked the Camino Portugués or is it on your bucket list? Tell us your story or your dream."

The best stories win. Three winners announced this Wednesday 4/15/26. So dig deep, pilgrim. We want the real stuff!

Now...Let's Do This! [WATCH THE FULL SERIES HERE 👆]
Buen Camino fellow pilgrims. See you on the trail. 🐚