LIVE from the Camino 22 km from Rondriso to O Pedrouzo. Heavy rain and flooding

[VintageCowgirl]

When I checked the weather forecast last night and saw 70mm rain expected I shipped my backpack ahead! In my part of the world the weather forecasters call this an atmospheric river and I know the water is going to saturate everything shortly- even waterproof stuff. Even my rain poncho couldn’t stop my daypack and shirt from getting damp.

Rain very heavy all morning with a couple of short periods of regular rain. Within minutes of me leaving this morning a van crosses the street and slows and stops beside me. Creeper? Might have been a taxi without signage? It was one of tjise 10 or 12 seater vans. Maybe hoping I’d pay for a ride? Maybe I should have.

Most of today’s walk was on trails and not streets. Flooding. Mud. My boots couldn’t keep out the torrential rains and my socks and feet were wet in no time.

Some areas couldn’t even be navigated staying close to one edge or another for above water sections. Worst part was when I came across a British couple who had stopped to look ay the lake in front of them. About 50’ across. Flooded ditches. No semi above ground sections. The man says there doesn’t seem to be anything else to fo but do it. I come from a wet part of the world and sadly this is not my first rodeo. I point to the right and say it looks like go that way and then cross back once we’re after the parts where the water is gushing in from the ditches. I’m already soaked and it was 5” deep maybe. When I got across I turned around and a small crowd of pilgrims was gathered watching me.

Nothing to it. And I’m so glad tomorrow I reach Santiago. Wet again but after 36 days I’m ready fir somewhere warm and dry!

 

[J Willhaus]

How are the bridges and streams? Some have the stone steps across. Are they under water?

 

[Flog]

It's only water, skin dries. Just be careful, anyone attempting to wade across fast moving water around storm drains etc. It will pass.

 

[VintageCowgirl]

How are the bridges and streams? Some have the stone steps across. Are they under water?

Yesterday I crossed stepping stones that were still above water. If there were any stepping stones today I didn’t see them!

 

[senora1]

When I checked the weather forecast last night and saw 70mm rain expected I shipped my backpack ahead! In my part of the world the weather forecasters call this an atmospheric river and I know the water is going to saturate everything shortly- even waterproof stuff. Even my rain poncho couldn’t stop my daypack and shirt from getting damp.

Rain very heavy all morning with a couple of short periods of regular rain. Within minutes of me leaving this morning a van crosses the street and slows and stops beside me. Creeper? Might have been a taxi without signage? It was one of tjise 10 or 12 seater vans. Maybe hoping I’d pay for a ride? Maybe I should have.

Most of today’s walk was on trails and not streets. Flooding. Mud. My boots couldn’t keep out the torrential rains and my socks and feet were wet in no time.

Some areas couldn’t even be navigated staying close to one edge or another for above water sections. Worst part was when I came across a British couple who had stopped to look ay the lake in front of them. About 50’ across. Flooded ditches. No semi above ground sections. The man says there doesn’t seem to be anything else to fo but do it. I come from a wet part of the world and sadly this is not my first rodeo. I point to the right and say it looks like go that way and then cross back once we’re after the parts where the water is gushing in from the ditches. I’m already soaked and it was 5” deep maybe. When I got across I turned around and a small crowd of pilgrims was gathered watching me.

Nothing to it. And I’m so glad tomorrow I reach Santiago. Wet again but after 36 days I’m ready fir somewhere warm and dry!

Brava

 

[Rex]

Kudos to you for taking figuring out the path through the lake for the rest of your fellow pellegrinos. This is the kind of thing my "real-live cowboy" uncle taught us when we were small fry and following him through the brush and creeks of eastern Oregon... pick a path and go forward until you have to pick another path. (He also said to watch out (or listen) for rattlesnakes, too, but that probably doesn't apply on the Camino. ;>)

As someone mentioned above, it's only water, and if it comes in over my gore-tex hiking shoes, well, I just stop and empty them out once in a while. And I'm careful to stuff them with old newspapers each evening (bars are a good source of old newspapers) to be sure they are dry by morning.
Along the Via Francigena in both the Alps (Great Saint Bernard Pass) and the Apennine Mountains of Italy, there are warning signs about not crossing streams running above the stepping stones (like someone must have done before and got into trouble, no?!!). Atmospheric rivers are becoming a factor in several places we all like to trek... be prepared to deviate from the paths and do some orienteering.
Congratulations for finishing in such inclement conditions.

Buen camino!

 

[SFHoneybee]

When I checked the weather forecast last night and saw 70mm rain expected I shipped my backpack ahead! In my part of the world the weather forecasters call this an atmospheric river and I know the water is going to saturate everything shortly- even waterproof stuff. Even my rain poncho couldn’t stop my daypack and shirt from getting damp.

Rain very heavy all morning with a couple of short periods of regular rain. Within minutes of me leaving this morning a van crosses the street and slows and stops beside me. Creeper? Might have been a taxi without signage? It was one of tjise 10 or 12 seater vans. Maybe hoping I’d pay for a ride? Maybe I should have.

Most of today’s walk was on trails and not streets. Flooding. Mud. My boots couldn’t keep out the torrential rains and my socks and feet were wet in no time.

Some areas couldn’t even be navigated staying close to one edge or another for above water sections. Worst part was when I came across a British couple who had stopped to look ay the lake in front of them. About 50’ across. Flooded ditches. No semi above ground sections. The man says there doesn’t seem to be anything else to fo but do it. I come from a wet part of the world and sadly this is not my first rodeo. I point to the right and say it looks like go that way and then cross back once we’re after the parts where the water is gushing in from the ditches. I’m already soaked and it was 5” deep maybe. When I got across I turned around and a small crowd of pilgrims was gathered watching me.

Nothing to it. And I’m so glad tomorrow I reach Santiago. Wet again but after 36 days I’m ready fir somewhere warm and dry!

Whoa!
Great attitude… it’s only water… but a lot of it… I walked into Santiago last Wednesday… the few days before that I got drizzled in… but nothing like what you are getting now… I left for Madrid Friday morning… they rain and wind was really increasing… I think I got lucky and dodged the “real start of the Glacian rainy season”

 

[pinkwadingbird]

Huge amounts of rain seem to be happening in many parts of Spain at the moment. Attached is a video from the Camino Aragones showing the river in Canfranc Pueblo.

 

[J Willhaus]

Wow! Thanks for sharing that! Here's what it looked like in the summer of '22 at the bridge on the other end of town (Canfranc Pueblo). Quite a difference! I am always intrigued by the "pink" water when it rains there.

 

[Bert45]

Rivadiso?

 

[David Tallan]

Huge amounts of rain seem to be happening in many parts of Spain at the moment. Attached is a video from the Camino Aragones showing the river in Canfranc Pueblo.

At least they aren't saying that's the path! (like in some other videos I remember seeing posted)