Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Hans Begins Camino Portugués on our 3rd Anniversary of Camino Francés


Follow Hans on this interactive map here

Text messages so far:
Hans in Portugal, Gary in Venice (California)

Oct 1, 2010
Gary: Welcome to Porto. Can you send fotos from your handi?

Hans: Hi gary, beutiful town. I did a sightseeing tour. No photos, my handi is the same as we walked to Santiago in 2007. I try to handle a modern handy in my next life - a joke. Now I go to drink portwine!

Hans: Gary, I drink a glas for you and susan, promised

Gary: I will find some portwin to toast your walk this evening

Hans:  Just now i lift a glass of port!

Gary: Good night Schlaf gut und Spaziergang gut

Oct 4, 2010
Gary: Where will you be tonight?

Hans: I am walking along the coast to vila do conde, sat. Ydsterday wd had a lot of rain and storm to barcelos. Now I visit braga. Now back to barc and walk to tamel.

Here is a quick overview of the Camino Portugués-

and a PDF of this route by the Confraternity of Saint James, UK

This route, which heads north following the Atlantic coast of Portugal and Spain, was used by Queen Isabel of Portugal (1271 - 1336) to make at least one pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Queen Isabel was canonized in 1626 and this is celebrated on her feast day, the 8th of July.

The Route. Starts at Porto in north-west Portugal and continues northwards crossing the rivers Lima and Minho where it enters Spain. Still heading north, the river Ulla is crossed at Padron before arriving at Santiago. The total distance of (about) 232k can be divided into 117k for the Portuguese section and 112k from Tui to Santiago, with 3k for the transfer from Valenca across the border at the Rio Minho to Tui. Note: these are composite values based on five sources.

Length and Suggested Daily Walks.

Porto - Vilarinho 26k From the cathedral an initial 9k along city streets to a junction at Araujo where the camino turns right along a secondary but busy road to Vilar Do Pinheiro and Vilarinho.

Vilarinho – Barcelos 26k Pleasant rural settlements and wooded areas, passing through Rates to descend to the R.Cavado and reach the market town of Barcelos.

Barcelos - Ponte De Lima 31k Along rural and secondary roads with some forested areas. From Tamel [ 9k railway station] to Balugaes [13k] often wet in places and care needed to follow waymarks. After Vitorino De Piaes and Portela a long descent to the valley of the R.Lima and on to Ponte De Lima.

Ponte De Lima - Rubiaes 17k At times a damp track which follows streams and climbs through the forest to Portela Grande at 433m before descending to Rubiaes.

Rubiaes - Valenca 17k Cross the R. Coura to the pass at S. Bento Da Porta Aberta and descend to the valley of the Minho. Cobbled lanes give way to roads leading into Valenca.

Valenca - Tui 3k Walk down to the R.Minho and cross by Eiffel's Puente Internacional. Continue following the yellow arrows along urban 'lanes' to the cathedral.

Tui - Porrino 15k From the cathedral the camino descends to the valley of the R. Louro which is followed to Porrino; sometimes in damp stretches and eventually for 7k alongside a vast industrial estate and the outskirts of Porrino.

Porrino - Redondela1 14k For 3k the route follows the N550 and then, at Mos, takes minor roads and a few tracks through well wooded countryside until the descent into Redondela by the Ria De Vigo.

Redondela - Arcade (Pontesampaio) 9k By minor roads, keeping to the west of the N550 to enter a forested section which joins the N550 at the entrance to Arcade. 1k to the bridge at Pontesampaio.

Arcade - Pontevedra 10k Through the backstreets of Pontesampaio to enter and follow a sunken lane which climbs to a wooded and agricultural area. A long road section of 4k leads to the outskirts of Pontevedra.

Pontevedra - Caldas De Reis 23k Through the city of Pontevedra,crossing the 'old' Burgo bridge to continue through a long well wooded valley bordered by the railway. After 6k the camino enters an area of mixed farmland and small plots and follows a cross country route parallel with the N550 until the immediate outskirts of Caldas De Reis.

Caldas De Reis - Padron 19k A rural and well wooded section until Pontesecures is reached. Cross the R.Ulla and enter Padron.

Padron - Santiago de Compostela 20k After 2k of main road the camino follows minor roads through hamlets and fields generally between the railway and the A9. At 9k cross the A9 and continue along minor roads through the 'new' town of Milladoiro. On the summit of the next hill the spires of the cathedral can be seen. Just after crossing the railway track and the R.Sar, the outskirts of Santiago are reached and yellow arrows lead to the cathedral.

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