Alert Sevilla to Guillena - River Crossing Flooded Today - April 29, 2017.

[pitztop]

Due to very heavy rain in the Sevilla area on Friday (28 April 2017), there has been quite a bit of flooding. The arroyo Molinos (the stream that needs to be forded on the way to Guillena from Sevilla) was a full blown river this morning (29 April 2017). As we were walking towards the fording point, we were met by pilgrims walking back along the way. They told us that the water was easily chest high or higher and flowing fast. They also told us that the alternative route (short cut to the N-630) was also flooded and unusable. We had to walk all the way back to Santiponche and pick up the N-630 there. Due to the amount of water, I don't think it will be possible to ford the arroyo Molinos for the next few days. The good news is that there is no for rain forecast for the next week. Even walking into Santiponche this morning (29 April 2017) required wading without boots I places. The only possible walking route today was to walk on the N-630 out of Santiponche and then the A-460 into Guillena. Although there is a good shoulder for walking on both roads, there is a lot of fast traffic.

The first photo is us wading on the way into Santiponche.

The second photo is the arroyo Molinos, taken looking upstream from an auto rest stop, as it passes under the N-630.

The third photo is the arroyo Molinos, taken looking down stream, as it flows under the A-66 toward the fording point.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Yikes! I am sure those who read this and were planning to walk this way are grateful for your post. A permanent webcam with footage available at the Triana albergue would be nice to have.

 

[pitztop]

Yikes! I am sure those who read this and were planning to walk this way are grateful for your post. A permanent webcam with footage available at the Triana albergue would be nice to have.

That's a great idea!!

 

[C clearly]

Wow! Was it warm? Glad you are having fun!

 

[pitztop]

It was a wonderful cool day to walk... and yes I am definitely having fun!!!!!

 

[SioCamino]

We left Fuente de Cantos on Saturday and were told by our lovely hosts in El Zaguan before we left that the normal route was impasssable. They printed off an alternative map for us. Since then we have had no problems though it is still cold and showery.

 

[MileHighPair]

Much different than earlier, on March 1st when I had to hop about 18 inches across a muddy spot. Thanks for the great photos, it gives me a new perspective!

River crossing - Guillena

• MileHighPair
• Apr 30, 2017

 

[Keving]

Anyone got an update on this

 

[Waka]

Thanks for the info. I'm in the planning stage and wasn't expecting a river crossing on the first day, I'll be leaving middle of march so hopefully some dry weather. Are there any other river crossings on the journey to SDC?

 

[C clearly]

Thanks for the info. I'm in the planning stage and wasn't expecting a river crossing on the first day, I'll be leaving middle of march so hopefully some dry weather. Are there any other river crossings on the journey to SDC?

It seems to be highly variable and dependent on the immediate weather. I walked from Seville to Astorga in March-April 2017 and never once had to remove my boots to get across water. However I saw a number of places where a good rainstorm and flooding would have created the need to wade across. Those places are mentioned in the Kelly guide and in the thread by @SYates.

 

[Waka]

It seems to be highly variable and dependent on the immediate weather. I walked from Seville to Astorga in March-April 2017 and never once had to remove my boots to get across water. However I saw a number of places where a good rainstorm and flooding would have created the need to wade across. Those places are mentioned in the Kelly guide and in the thread by @SYates.

Thank you, I have the G Kelly guide and loads of info to wade through.

 

[wes]

My wife and I crossed the Molinos in April several years ago and the water was chest-deep. We followed an athletic young Swedish woman, and scrambled over on top of flotsam, mostly tree branches. It was a tricky business, wearing backpacks and with boots tied around our necks, but we made it without falling in. Having a laugh about the experience over a drink later that evening, we agreed it hadn't been very smart. The problem is, any diversion is time-consuming and involves unpleasant walking on the edge of busy main roads.

 

[CaroleH]

A good warning pitztop, to be prepared, to check out weather reports or ask around the evening before.
Same situation last year in 2016, but a little later in mid May, a week of constant rain, arroyo Molinos flooded ... so we stayed on the road (N630 I guess). Not as exciting and i hate road walking, but I'm also very wary of flooded rivers.

 

[CaroleH]

I hope it's fine and sunny wherever you are now, pitztop. Buen camino.

 

[amancio]

Thanks for the info. I'm in the planning stage and wasn't expecting a river crossing on the first day, I'll be leaving middle of march so hopefully some dry weather. Are there any other river crossings on the journey to SDC?

No worries: the first stage out of Seville is not particularly glamorous, as it happens with most routes out of big cities. I would recommend skipping the first stage, take a bus to Guillena and thus avoid complications, even if the river is easy enough to cross, it is not a particularly attractive walk itself. If you arrive in Seville a couple of days ahead, do take some time and take the bus to Santiponce to visit the roman ruins in Italica, birth place of Roman emperor Traianus

If you take the bus to Guillena, get off in the last bus stop and just follow the road for a couple of kms before entering an industrial park, crossing olive and orange orchards and then discover the inmense natural beauty of the Dehesa landscape after crossing an iron gate!