MikeB
Member
I returned last week from 10½ days walking from León to Santiago and had a wonderful time. I'll post some photos later of the snow at Foncebadón, a good 10 - 15cm, but I'd like to make sure everyone knows about this rather, on the face of it, disgraceful behaviour.
At Virgen del Camino, on the eastern edge of León, there are a choice of two routes to Hospital de Orbigo. One follows the N120 main road passing through Villadangos del Paramo(32km), the other cuts across country and on a mixture of earth farm tracks and minor roads and passes through Villar de Mazerife(36km).
Except that this time (20 December), all the arrows pointing to the left had been obliterated, and even the concrete bollard had been smashed down. It was very obvious that "they" did not want you to go via Villar de Mazerife. I'd walked that route before and loved it, so really didn't want to have to follow the N120. I was on my own with just photocopies of the CSJ and the Miam-Miam-Dodo guides of 2007. The MMD guide has schematic maps at a good scale, so I thought what the hell, I'll give it a go - I can cross back later to the N120 if there's a problem.
The yellow arrows reappeared shortly after, even official violet road signs as the camino passed over a couple of motorways, and there was absolutely no problem with the path whatsoever - it was a gorgeous walk. Well of course it got me thinking a bit. Who are the "they" who did not want us to go that way and why.
It could not be because of the state of the path - it was perfect for walking. I could only think it was not a question of "The Villar de Mazerife route is no longer suitable" but rather "We want you to walk by the side of the N120". Why??? Not for the health, safety or sanity of the pilgrims, that's for sure!
I had a pretty sure idea what I thought, but asked in a bar in Villar who confirmed my suspicions. I also met a hospitalera from León a few days later and she was also sure - that it was likely to be one of the owners of the private albergues along the N120 route trying to encourage people to pass by their albergue.
Apart from publicising this, there is not much I can do - my Spanish is limited - but hopefully someone reading this with connections could spread the word to the correct ears and get the arrows and bollard replaced.
So, for anyone heading out of León, THE ROUTE VIA VILLAR DE MAZERIFE IS OPEN !!! And if your legs wont take you to Hospital (36km), there are three albergues in Villar (24km).
At Virgen del Camino, on the eastern edge of León, there are a choice of two routes to Hospital de Orbigo. One follows the N120 main road passing through Villadangos del Paramo(32km), the other cuts across country and on a mixture of earth farm tracks and minor roads and passes through Villar de Mazerife(36km).
Except that this time (20 December), all the arrows pointing to the left had been obliterated, and even the concrete bollard had been smashed down. It was very obvious that "they" did not want you to go via Villar de Mazerife. I'd walked that route before and loved it, so really didn't want to have to follow the N120. I was on my own with just photocopies of the CSJ and the Miam-Miam-Dodo guides of 2007. The MMD guide has schematic maps at a good scale, so I thought what the hell, I'll give it a go - I can cross back later to the N120 if there's a problem.
The yellow arrows reappeared shortly after, even official violet road signs as the camino passed over a couple of motorways, and there was absolutely no problem with the path whatsoever - it was a gorgeous walk. Well of course it got me thinking a bit. Who are the "they" who did not want us to go that way and why.
It could not be because of the state of the path - it was perfect for walking. I could only think it was not a question of "The Villar de Mazerife route is no longer suitable" but rather "We want you to walk by the side of the N120". Why??? Not for the health, safety or sanity of the pilgrims, that's for sure!
I had a pretty sure idea what I thought, but asked in a bar in Villar who confirmed my suspicions. I also met a hospitalera from León a few days later and she was also sure - that it was likely to be one of the owners of the private albergues along the N120 route trying to encourage people to pass by their albergue.
Apart from publicising this, there is not much I can do - my Spanish is limited - but hopefully someone reading this with connections could spread the word to the correct ears and get the arrows and bollard replaced.
So, for anyone heading out of León, THE ROUTE VIA VILLAR DE MAZERIFE IS OPEN !!! And if your legs wont take you to Hospital (36km), there are three albergues in Villar (24km).