A Stroll from Sarria to SdC - Which Roses to Smell?

[Robo]

What would you look at along the way?

My wife Pat and I are soon to embark on the slowest / easiest Camino on record

Whilst I walked the CF last year, this will be Pat's first Camino experience. And she is not really a walker. That, and given that we are both a bit injured, we are taking it very easy. (I have Achilles Tendonitis and Pat has Plantar Faciitis)

Are far as the medical issues are concerned, we are well prepared and professionally advised Drugs, ice, stretches, you name it, we'll be doing it.....

To make this as easy as possible for Pat, I have planned very short stages and luggage transport. We are taking 9 days from Sarria. Yes I know... That's very short stages ...... I plan the first three days to be Ultra short, to allow her feet to 'warm up' ad to get used to the routine. The maximum day is 16 kms.

We'll also do a short day walk past the Cruz de Ferro on our way, just so she can experience that, before we get to Sarria. Nice to see the cross and the mountain views.

Now if all goes well, we will have a leisurely walk, starting out late and enjoying each others company and hopefully working out our timing to avoid most of the 'hordes'.....

If all goes really well, and by that I mean Pat is actually able to walk without too much pain, it would be great to see some of the sights along the way. We'll have plenty of time!

The last time I walked this stretch, I was kind of hobbling, and just focussed on maintaining forward momentum

I'm sure I missed a lot......

So.....what things would you recommend we look out for along the way? Either on the Camino or within a couple of kms? We may end up needing to 'burn up' some time along the way

I never got to see the Church (that was moved) in Portomarin for example.


Note. All accommodation is pre booked, to ensure easy walking stages, and no 'bed race' stress. So it's not a case of 'get to SdC early' and do something else.....

Sub note: This Camino will also feature on our Blog in English and Thai, and I'm sure will provide a different perspective For those preferring to 'stroll' that is.......

 

[Albertagirl]

Do see the little 12th cent. Romanesque church of Santiago at Barbadelo (just a few kilometres out of Sarria). I was much blessed there last year so I cannot imagine it without this in my memory. Brierley says that mass is at 7:00 pm, but it was at 5:30 when I went through in November. The churchyard, with graves designed like horreos, is also interesting, and was particularly so when decorated for All Soul's Day. I hope that the door will be open when you pass by.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, Rob,
It sounds like you have a wonderful Camino planned for you and your wife. There is no shortage of things to fill your hours wherever you may be.

I know you may have already booked all your nights, but let me just put in a plug for Casa Morgade, about 10-12 km from Sarria http://www.casamorgade.com. On one of my very first Caminos we stayed here (2002 maybe?)when it was just a small family run business,with farming being the primary focus. We had a wonderful long evening dinner with the wife of the farmer, a woman from Bilbao, who had fallen in love with a gallego farmer.

Just two years ago, I went by the place again, and there she was, still working in the kitchen, but she came and sat with me and we had a very nice chat. This is a place that has good Camino vibes, it's a great place to stay, especially since they have added a nice Hotel Rural annex to the original place.

 

[mspath]

Check out this earlier Forum thread where the same question has been asked and answered.

One pleasant slightly off the path complex to visit along your way is Vilar de Donas just east of Palas de Rei. See more comments in this earlier Forum thread. The wall paintings and tombs are very special. This once was the headquarters of the Chevaliers de Santiago.

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

What would you look at along the way?

My wife Pat and I are soon to embark on the slowest / easiest Camino on record

Whilst I walked the CF last year, this will be Pat's first Camino experience. And she is not really a walker. That, and given that we are both a bit injured, we are taking it very easy. (I have Achilles Tendonitis and Pat has Plantar Faciitis)

Are far as the medical issues are concerned, we are well prepared and professionally advised Drugs, ice, stretches, you name it, we'll be doing it.....

To make this as easy as possible for Pat, I have planned very short stages and luggage transport. We are taking 9 days from Sarria. Yes I know... That's very short stages ...... I plan the first three days to be Ultra short, to allow her feet to 'warm up' ad to get used to the routine. The maximum day is 16 kms.

We'll also do a short day walk past the Cruz de Ferro on our way, just so she can experience that, before we get to Sarria. Nice to see the cross and the mountain views.

Now if all goes well, we will have a leisurely walk, starting out late and enjoying each others company and hopefully working out our timing to avoid most of the 'hordes'.....

If all goes really well, and by that I mean Pat is actually able to walk without too much pain, it would be great to see some of the sights along the way. We'll have plenty of time!

The last time I walked this stretch, I was kind of hobbling, and just focussed on maintaining forward momentum

I'm sure I missed a lot......

So.....what things would you recommend we look out for along the way? Either on the Camino or within a couple of kms? We may end up needing to 'burn up' some time along the way

I never got to see the Church (that was moved) in Portomarin for example.


Note. All accommodation is pre booked, to ensure easy walking stages, and no 'bed race' stress. So it's not a case of 'get to SdC early' and do something else.....

Sub note: This Camino will also feature on our Blog in English and Thai, and I'm sure will provide a different perspective For those preferring to 'stroll' that is.......

if you have the time and a vehicle, sobrado monastery is well worth the visit. pambre castle also requires a vehicle but is a short drive from palas or melide, and it may have reopened. walking distance, the usual suspects: vilar de donas and the castro at castrojeriz, everything else is literally 'on the Camino'.

 

[nidarosa]

The old fort at Castromaior! It's after Portomarin, not massively well signposted and adds 400 m to your walk, but it is well worth it. Spend some time walking around up there and take a good break.