Asthma on Camino Portuguése warning

[AndyForsey]

Last year in April 2022 we walked from SJPP through to Santiago without any problems with my Asthma, the route was/is quite taxing for a 67 year old Asthmatic, the climbs being a challenge, however, as mentioned I had no problems. This year we (myself and my wife) decided to walk the CP from Lisbon to Santiago, we set out on the 8th Sept, and are now 2 days out from Porto, and I am currently resting up in a hotel as my Asthma has flared up, this I can only assume to be due to the amount of car/ lorry fumes I have inhaled on the walk so far. The Camino Francés has massive stretches that are through miles & miles of open countryside where the pollution levels were low and overall caused me no issue, but this year after walking days and days alongside busy road from Lisbon to Sao Joao de Madeira I am suffering badly. The route from Lisbon to Porto is very very Tarmac/Asphalt heavy with lots of polluting traffic, therefore, if you are an Asthmatic you might want to think long & hard about walking this leg of the Camino Portuguése.
Stay safe out there.
Andy

 

[lovelyshell]

Once you are past Porto it will be better but I would recommend skipping the walk out of Porto as it city and then highway walking as well as going through the industrial zone of Maia. I would recommend taking a Uber or bus to Vilar do Pinheiro and start there.

 

[AndyForsey]

Once you are past Porto it will be better but I would recommend skipping the walk out of Porto as it city and then highway walking as well as going through the industrial zone of Maia. I would recommend taking a Uber or bus to Vilar do Pinheiro and start there.

Thank you Lovelyshell, great advice which will be heeded!
Regards
Andy

 

[Camineiro]

Maybe you should think about the coastal route (along the beaches) from Porto.
Take the historic tramway from near the cathedral along the river Douro mouthing into the atlantic and continue your pilgrimage from there.
Possibly the sea climate might be better for your asthma.

 

[AndyForsey]

Maybe you should think about the coastal route (along the beaches) from Porto.
Take the historic tramway from near the cathedral along the river Douro mouthing into the atlantic and continue your pilgrimage from there.
Possibly the sea climate might be better for your asthma.

Thank you Camineiro, that’s pretty solid advice, we have two days in Porto and will formulate a plan!
Regards
Andy

 

[Keith H]

I’ve found over 2 autumns in Spain that my asthma flares up this time of year whereas it’s very manageable over summer and even Spring wasn’t as bad. But each of us knows what causes a flare and what doesn’t. Therefore the advice above to help avoid vehicular pollutants sound good (and it sounds like more pleasant walking! Buen Camino!

 

[OCHAR]

I found it very handy to wear a blue "COVID mask" while walking in cities and along traffic laden roads. The mask does a fantastic job filtering out dust, pollution and fine particulate matter. You get used to wearing it and actually miss it when you don't have it on. Speaking for myself of course.

 

[AndyForsey]

I found it very handy to wear a blue "COVID mask" while walking in cities and along traffic laden roads. The mask does a fantastic job filtering out dust, pollution and fine particulate matter. You get used to wearing it and actually miss it when you don't have it on. Speaking for myself of course.

Might just try that.

 

[CalDevere]

The walk leaving Porto along the river to the ocean is lovely. We did that and then turned inland above Labruge.

 

[David Tallan]

Once you are past Porto it will be better but I would recommend skipping the walk out of Porto as it city and then highway walking as well as going through the industrial zone of Maia. I would recommend taking a Uber or bus to Vilar do Pinheiro and start there.

An alternative is to walk along the river to the sea and north along the seashore out of Porto, You can then cut back to the Central (as I did) or continue along the Coastal.

 

[AndyForsey]

The walk leaving Porto along the river to the ocean is lovely. We did that and then turned inland above Labruge.

Thanks CalDevere.
That’s exactly what we did, and it was great, we left 6:00am, and avoided the morning rush hour.
Regards
A