April 23 2012 start from Astorga or Rabanal to Santiago

[Bhirc]

We are leaving Toronto for Porto on April 22 then to one of the above start points for April 23 and flying back on May 7.

Would welcome advice on best way to get to either start point from Porto, after early morning arrival, and catching up lost sleep later that day.

The route from Villafranca to O'Cebreiro is 30.1km but 36.1km after adjusting for the climb. Looks like a horror show. Any ideas of the best approach to tackle this. It will be Day 3 or 4 so could be tricky getting legs up to speed for this.

Any recommended one day layover location on the route?

Is Santiago worth a couple of days for sightseeing at the end?

 

[tyrrek]

Hi Bhirc!

Are you looking at John Brierley's book, by any chance? I was equally horrified by the suggestion of walking up to O Cebreiro at the end of a 30km stretch, so I stayed somewhere around Vega de Valcarce and walked up in the morning, passing through O Cebreiro at lunchtime and staying at Alto do Poio.

Lots of people look forward to staying at O Cebreiro, and it is a popular location, but I have no regrets about my choice. The view over the valley from Alto do Poio as the sun rose in the morning was absolutely stunning. I could post a photo but I don't want to spoil it for you!

Depending on what time you arrive in Santiago you may or may not make it to the pilgrim service at noon, which is well worth it. I stayed just outside Santiago the night before arriving so I could arrive reasonably fresh and in time for the service. However I met two Canadian girls I'd met along the way as I arrived and they sat me down with a beer instead, so I had to go to the service the next day. Allow a day or so for these kind of circumstances.

Buen Camino!

 

[skilsaw]

The connections from Porto to Astorga will be easier and more direct than going to Rabanal.
Rabanal is a small mountain village. Astorga is a small city.

The climb to O'Cebreiro is a steady one foot after the other... If you have heard stories of
St. Jean pied du port to Roncesvalles, you will know that it is a challenge, but quite achievable.
You can cut the day down by getting to Vega de Valcarce the day before. There is a good albergue there run by the Brazilian Confraternity of St. James. I suspect it will be open.

I have done Villafranca to O'Cebreiro in a day. Eight hours of walking. It is a very satisfying day.

If you start from Vega de Valcarce, you can have lunch in O'Cebreiro and overnight in Triacastela.
This is a nine hour walk. My actual walking speed is 5 km per hour, but at the end of the day, I have averaged 4 km per hour, total elapsed time, including breaks.

I have found that pilgrimage is attitude. Belief in yourself, patience, perseverance...
One of the big lessons for me has been that I am capable of more than I ever thought possible.

Buen Camino.
David, Victoria, Canada.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There is no bus service to Rabanal, but you can take a taxi from Astorga.

Ruitelan is a nice place to stop after Villafranca. After a good night's sleep, you are ready for the climbs to La Faba then O Cebreiro. I would suggest continuing on to Fonfria after Ruitelan.

There are buses from Oporto to Santiago, Ourense, Madrid, or Logrono. You will need to transfer there to a bus to Astorga.