There were some posts on this topic last year, but we're getting down to the wire now so I thought I would ask a few more questions on this part of our upcoming camino.
Susanna and I will be walking from Bilbao to Ponferrada on the Camino Olvidado. Once in Ponferrada, we will be taking a detour to visit Penalba de Santiago and the Valle de Silencio. This has been on my wish list for years and years. The first part of that detour is clear -- we go from Ponferrada up to El Acebo, then from El Acebo to Penalba de Santiago.
Our question is what to do from Penalba de Santiago. We have two options -- return to Ponferrada (and thus make a complete circle), or take a trail from Penalba de Santiago to As Medulas. Either option would be fine, because we plan to continue on to Santiago on the Camino de Invierno, and both Ponferrada and As Medulas are on that route.
Rebekah has given a pretty sobering description of the walk from Penalba de Santiago to As Medulas. But it seems like it might be the prettier route. Reb, do you remember how many hours it took you? We will have a gps with both routes on it, thanks to a lot of help from Gunnar, but we would love to hear from anyone who has any experience with either route.
Fingers crossed that someone lurking out there can help us! Buen camino, Laurie
Susanna and I will be walking from Bilbao to Ponferrada on the Camino Olvidado. Once in Ponferrada, we will be taking a detour to visit Penalba de Santiago and the Valle de Silencio. This has been on my wish list for years and years. The first part of that detour is clear -- we go from Ponferrada up to El Acebo, then from El Acebo to Penalba de Santiago.
Our question is what to do from Penalba de Santiago. We have two options -- return to Ponferrada (and thus make a complete circle), or take a trail from Penalba de Santiago to As Medulas. Either option would be fine, because we plan to continue on to Santiago on the Camino de Invierno, and both Ponferrada and As Medulas are on that route.
Rebekah has given a pretty sobering description of the walk from Penalba de Santiago to As Medulas. But it seems like it might be the prettier route. Reb, do you remember how many hours it took you? We will have a gps with both routes on it, thanks to a lot of help from Gunnar, but we would love to hear from anyone who has any experience with either route.
Fingers crossed that someone lurking out there can help us! Buen camino, Laurie
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