For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
The guides say Báscara to Girona is 32, and my GPS recorded 35 (but I know @Rick would smile knowingly with yet another example of my “wandering”). So I wonder what those numbers refer to.Day 3, Bàscara (or Orrols / vicinity) - Girona (30.7 or 26.6km from Bascara)
Well...we need to decide which way to go, yes?VN, should I hold off on my description of getting out of Girona and the reason why you may not see any arrows within the city itself?
Yeah, the numbers wander a bit. Mine are measured by OSMand, following the Dutch track. In this case it only measured as far as the bridge into Girona, as the track zipped right past the city.So I wonder what those numbers refer to.
Well...we need to decide which way to go, yes?
Which means a meeting over food.
So first where to eat in Girona? Any recommendations from those of you who have actually been there?
Settle? OMG, so many things on the menu look delicious! I can't decide.settle for le Bistrot
Settle? OMG, so many things on the menu look delicious! I can't decide.
See you all there and Laurie can explain our options.
Nobody told me that there were points. Can they be exchanged for prizes?I would hate to be in a position of giving points to myself for violating forum rules.
Yes. Reverse prizes. The one with the most points picks up the tab at Le Bistrot.Can they be exchanged for prizes?
Yes. Reverse prizes. The one with the most points picks up the tab at Le Bistrot.
Where I see vegetables everywhere, including green asparagus! Thankful for machine translation, to be sure.
Tracks for the same trail can have different lengths recorded. Say there is a winding trail with a lot of ascents and descents. If you display a track onto a basemap that someone recorded with a trackpoint recorded every minute you may see lines that "take a shortcut" to avoid curves. A track recorded on the same trail by someone recording a trackpoint every five seconds displayed on the basemap will show travel along the curve and may also show zig-zags from one side of the trail to the other made to make the ascent/descent less steep. The distance between the start and end points for the trail is computed from the sum of the straight-line distances between all the trackpoints so I think you can see how the full distance can vary. The accuracy of each GPS device and accuracy of the GPS signal on the recording day can also influence the track record.The guides say Báscara to Girona is 32, and my GPS recorded 35 (but I know @Rick would smile knowingly with yet another example of my “wandering”). So I wonder what those numbers refer to.
Cafe le Bistrot is quite close to the Camino route as shown by the Dutch confraternity and is only 400 metres away (4 minutes) away from Pensio Borras, Travessia de l'Auriga, 6, 17004 Girona. See: http://www.hostal-pension-borras-gerona.vivehotels.com/ for reservations and prices.Ok This one I can answer.
Although I really really want to visit this restaurant one day we could settle for le Bistrot.
More democratic prices!
Well, you’ve probably seen what I wrote in my thread —So, Laurie, the track I have out of Girona goes via Vic. And I'm leaning that way anyway. But the 'official' route goes another way, right? What are your thoughts?
In Melbourne, we're in lockdown for 5 days, we can't stray more than 5 km from home.No late nights or very early starts for us from now on as a curfew has been imposed from 1 am to 6 am.
If I have the map you are referring to (is it what David Tallan refers to as the “Dutch map?”), it looks like those tracks and my tracks are on opposite sides of the river.I am wondering if it would be better to cross the Ter river at Pont de l'Aigua and miss all the busy roads and industrial area and instead come into Girona through the suburbs instead.
My comment related to Catalonia rather than ANZ, by the wayIn Melbourne, we're in lockdown for 5 days, we can't stray more than 5 km from home.
Suits us slow walkers: very short stages...
It is a bit hard to tell at that resolution but it looks like you crossed at Pont de l'Aigua and so that is very much a vote for that side of the river.If I have the map you are referring to (is it what David Tallan refers to as the “Dutch map?”), it looks like those tracks and my tracks are on opposite sides of the river.
I just remember the normal suburban blah coming into Girona, nothing industrial.
Yes.it looks like you crossed at Pont de l'Aigua and so that is very much a vote for that side of the river.
Well, let's linger for a wee bit to decide options. Because now I am a little torn after reading your post and doing some scratching at superficial layers of the internet.So I know we are packing our bags to leave Girona, but for those who love small Spanish cities with lots of history, architecture, and ambiente, this is a place to linger
My only reservation is that it looks much more built-up by comparison to the way via Vic. But it's new territory for you and so maybe more interesting?There are wikiloc tracks with many pictures (some impressive castles, romanesque churches along the way).
Hostalric to Sant Celoni
Sant Celoni to Palou
Palou to Sabadell
Sabadell to Vacarasses
Do you mean Sant Cugat del Valles, Laurie? The town roughly south of Sabadell? If going this way it would make sense to walk Sabadell-Sant Cugat-Vacarisses.And then there are tons of options, some to Barcelona, some to San Cugat (a place I would love to walk to), some to Montserrat directly). So I will leave it up to whoever wants to make the decision, but I LOVED the route through Vic.
I think that I would prefer to follow the Dutch route to Vic thanks but I am open to either.Well, let's linger for a wee bit to decide options. Because now I am a little torn after reading your post and doing some scratching at superficial layers of the internet.
Besides. This (hee hee) is the true camino.
My only reservation is that it looks much more built-up by comparison to the way via Vic. But it's new territory for you and so maybe more interesting?
Do you mean Sant Cugat del Valles, Laurie? The town roughly south of Sabadell? If going this way it would make sense to walk Sabadell-Sant Cugat-Vacarisses.
Does anyone have strong opinions in the matter?
Which I had not managed to find - and full of information.I came across this bit of information
So...Well, this is just way too many choices in too small an area -- too confusing, too many arrows to keep painted, too many guides to write. I hope the amigos can work with the Generalitat and agree on a couple of options. I understand the pull of all those routes, each probably has its own abundance of beautiful architecture, and the entire area is so pretty. But with such a small number of people even walking, it seems to me it would make sense to get us all on the same route.
This clinches it for me.I don’t have strong preferences here, but I do think that aside from the monastery in San Cugat, the Vic alternative has much more Romanesque.
So the only other complcation is that the Dutch track goes direct (along a huge embalise) between Anglès and Vic. It's 57kms with essentially nowhere to stop in between. But the amics blog Laurie linked to above goes way North and then South again: Anglès to Les Planes d'Hostoles; Les Planes d'Hostoles to Sant Esteve d'en Bas; Sant Esteve d'en Bas to L'Esquirol; L'Esquirol toVic. It's really the long way roung Robin Hood's barn. But one exciting benefit for us geology lovers is that it takes us within striking distance of the very cool Parque Natural de la Zona Volcanica Garrotxa:I think that I would prefer to follow the Dutch route to Vic thanks but I am open to either.
So the Amics de Camí de Sant Jaume de Cervera
Really... I have fingers on a 7.99 flight into Barcelona for Tuesday, to walk anywhere non-virtually. The virtual is pretty amazing as wellNo late nights or very early starts for us from now on as a curfew has been imposed from 1 am to 6 am in Catalonia.
I don’t have strong preferences here, but I do think that aside from the monastery in San Cugat, the Vic alternative has much more Romanesque.
Much more Romanesque! We like the Vic alternative!This clinches it for me.
But not at the cost of a 57 km stageSo the only other complcation is that the Dutch track goes direct (along a huge embalise) between Anglès and Vic. It's 57kms with essentially nowhere to stop in between.
Isn't that roughly the way @peregrina2000 walked?Anglès to Les Planes d'Hostoles; Les Planes d'Hostoles to Sant Esteve d'en Bas; Sant Esteve d'en Bas to L'Esquirol; L'Esquirol toVic
Haha: because I'm lazy and wanted a track that covered the whole camino. I have been including your tracks in posts about each stage, though.Why are we following the “Dutch tracks” anyway?
OH! Buen Camino, @AshIreGal .
I am likely not the only envious one.
If you're real-time walking nearby, or along this way, we'd love to read any news you have
So are these the tracks that the Dutch organization (and @Thomas1962) have posted, or tracks of some Dutch walkers? It seems like you have already identified a couple of route choices you/@Doughnut/I disagree with, so maybe we should hunt for some more. I would personally just go with the stage by stage options on wikiloc, but you’re the boss.Haha: because I'm lazy and wanted a track that covered the whole camino. I have been including your tracks in posts about each stage, though.
You are, of course, familiar with, and have confident access to, wikiloc. A stage by stage track on wikiloc would be totally inaccessible to me. I don't mean in terms of not having permission to use it, I mean that I would not know how and would find the continuing frustration of trying just too difficult. I would be likely to abandon that thread entirely. The Dutch tracks available on the forum are designed for someone like me - to give access to all.So are these the tracks that the Dutch organization (and @Thomas1962) have posted, or tracks of some Dutch walkers? It seems like you have already identified a couple of route choices you/@Doughnut/I disagree with, so maybe we should hunt for some more. I would personally just go with the stage by stage options on wikiloc, but you’re the boss.
They are from the Dutch Confraternity, from their website. Where they got them from is anyone's guess.So are these the tracks that the Dutch organization (and @Thomas1962) have posted, or tracks of some Dutch walkers? It seems like you have already identified a couple of route choices you/@Doughnut/I disagree with, so maybe we should hunt for some more. I would personally just go with the stage by stage options on wikiloc, but you’re the boss.
Anglès to Vilanova de Seu trail is a 40K one, beautiful to walk through, but bare and dusty and up and up and up (except for one lengthy stretch of flat after the second dam) -- it's hardly a surprise that most seem to cycle rather than walk it, though even the cyclists are few in number ; it's really quite a tough one
Sleeping in a rehearsal hall in the local town hall, it's heated, and there's electricity and network after two days out in the sticks
Slept in a little clearing in the woods last night, first time I think since the 2005
I did not make that detour, even though it's more populous and so welcoming -- instead I took the Way from Anglès along the reservoir, which was IIRC my only 35+ K stage so far on this current (delayed) Camino.
Slept on the floor at the town hall in Vilanova de Sau, where they are lovely people indeed.
And her track: http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/spatialArtifacts.do?event=setCurrentSpatialArtifact&id=10903645Day 7 -- Girona to St. Pere de Casserres to Vic Parador (on foot, 33 km), and then in a taxi from the Parador to the city of Vic
(For anyone staying on the Camino without the detour to St. Pere, the walk from L'Esquirol to Vic is only 18 km).
Leaving Girona is much nicer than entering it, as the camino goes through a park and then on a vía verde, so few dreary suburbs or industrial estates. For the first few hours the old railway line follows the Ter river and it was a hot day, so my progress was slowed by stopping for a refreshing swim in the silvery green water. Lots of sedge was in flower and was far from "withered on the lake", and many birds were singing, and absolutely nothing ailed me. Because of slow progress I stopped the first night in Anglès, busy with bank holiday bicyclists. The Ter provided hydroelectric plants which were bombed by the nazis towards the end of 1938, badly damaging some of the nearby villages in the process.
The next day I paused for coffee in Amer, even more independentista than Girona, with a two storey high picture of Puigdemont captioned "no surrender" and other messages in German and English. The villages got smaller and the surrounding hills higher, with even some views of snow-capped Pyrenees in the distance.
The camino officially turns west at San Esteve d'En Bas, but I carried on an hour or so to stay at Olot
After several days of relative flat, the camino leaves the lovely d'en Bas valley to go up a cliff. I got to els Hostalets d'en Bas at around 8.30 and was delighted to find a bar open for breakfast, and surprised to find it full of middle aged men, most of whom were drinking red wine with their tostadas. I didn't join them as there is around 800m of ascent to do, 500m of it in just 2km. Which was hard work, but very lovely as well. Some of the trees were already in their autumn glory, and of the rest, mostly "leaves look pale, dreading the winter's near". Nearing the high ground the reward for the hard work (scrambling in places where it was too steep or slippery to walk) was spectacular views down over the valley, and back towards the snowy Pyrenees, looking very pretty. The higher ground was a mixture of pasture with lazy cows and their musical bells, and "forests ancient as the hills, enfolding sunny spots of greenery". Just lovely. At some point I crossed the provincial border and made my first ever camino footsteps in Barcelona province.
The kind landlady of the hostal I'm staying at l'Esquirol took my temperature on arrival. It showed 32.7, "hmm", she said "¿estas muerto?"
I've never stayed at a Parador in my life. This might be an exception.When @peregrina2000 suggests a detour it's usually worth the extra effort. So it was this year with Sant Pere de Casserres, a largely 11th century Benedictine monastery perched high up on a narrow peninsular over a loop where the Ter River turns into the Sau reservoir. It's not easy to get to (the path is narrow and sometimes steep and overgrown) and it's not near anywhere - ~10km off from Roda de Ter on the camino, and c20km back to it at Vic - but it is serenely lovely, both in its position and its architecture. And of course, arriving at opening time of 10am, I had the place entirely to myself, other than the custodian and an eagle overhead.
Fromif you’re looking to taste a distinctly Catalan dessert amid a unique setting, look no further than Munchen. Here you can try crema catalana, a Catalan take on creme brûlée, within the restaurant’s stone-walled, cave-like atmosphere.
The walk between Girona and Vic (which I reach on Day 7) is mainly on an old rail bed called Carrilet (more info here: http://www.viesverdes.cat/ES/53/ruta-del-carrilet-i.html) The Carrilet goes between Girona and Olot, and the Cami St. Jaume takes the route until the town of Sant Esteve d'en Bas, about 10 km before the end of the vie verde in Olot.
Finding the Carrilet from the center of Girona is not hard. There are many signs pointing you towards it; there is a bike/walking path/park pretty much the whole way from town to the beginning of the Carrilet; and everyone in town knows about it. Cross the Ponte da Pedra and turn left, you will find it
[...]
The surface of the Carrilet is fabulous, kind of a crushed compacted fine gravel. Very soft on the feet. The other great thing about the path is that the grade is never too steep because train tracks have to be below a certain grade. I ascended 600 m today and never even felt it!
Since the path is on an old RR track, the Cami either skirts the towns it passes (since the station would have been on the edge of town) or, if the town has grown a lot since the track was pulled up, you will find that there has been building over the tracks. But that is never for more than 100m or so. I decided to go into the town of Angles since it seemed to have a nice looking old quarter up on a hill. Nothing stunning, but I got a sello in the ayuntamiento and some cold water from their water cooler.
See new klm file in prior post of mine.Those who went North:
Here is what Laurie did:
Do we have a track for Alan Sykes and if so, could I have it please.And Alan Sykes walked vis Olot (which I'd want to do) and then next stayed at the Vic Parador in order to more easily walk to Sant Pere de Casserres :
I am coming around to walking some sort of Northern route myself. Along the river and around the lakes is probably okay for a cyclist but there doesn't seem to be enough resources for walkers, especially short distance walkers.I've never stayed at a Parador in my life. This might be an exception.
My preference is more and more the N way, following Alan's footsteps to Olot and Sant Pere de Casserres.
I wish I could find the tracks that I followed, so that you wouldn’t have to deal with the tracks that I recorded. I was a GPS newebie on this camino and had many challenges. So it would be much better to go to wikiloc and find good tracks rather than try to fix mine.There is an error in one of Peregrina2000's files and the track got truncated up in the hills between San Feliu and L'Esquirol. I have put an orange marked line on the map so that the trail does not finish somewhere out in the hills BUT the track really does finish somewhere out in the hills and so DO NOT USE THIS MAP FOR NAVIGATION until it has been fixed.
And Alan Sykes walked vis Olot (which I'd want to do) and then next stayed at the Vic Parador in order to more easily walk to Sant Pere de Casserres :
He had good tracks for the viejo, too. Nice to see his here.rocjumper
It's worth noting that the Parador very easily accessible from Vilanova de Sau, so anyone going that way won't miss out on Sant Pere de Casserres. But the way from that southern side misses the megalithic sites you mentioned. But we're jumpng way ahead...hold onto those thoughts and we can bash it out in detail then.Walking into Vic on a very short day from the parador would be a great idea, giving much more time in Vic, though it may be all on roads.
I should clarify — the ones I posted are not rocjumpers, but I did see he has them for Montserrat forward.He had good tracks for the viejo, too. Nice to see his here.
But we're jumpng way ahead...hold onto those thoughts and we can bash it out in detail then.
Will do. Good idea!Actually it may be easier for me if everyone just reposts their out of order comments when we get to the right place, because then going back through and just deleting is a piece of cake.
http://www.restaurantcalelisa.com/menu-diari/ looks good, menu of the day E22.50 with coffee and vino.Haha...I obviously need restraint because I'm jumping all over the place.
Will do. Good idea!
Do you remember any open places to eat Laurie? It sounds from your post like it was a bit if a cycling hub, and I wonder if you had to dodge many lycra manics on that via verde?
My French guidebook described an alternate route to Vic which involved turning west at El Pasteral, just before Amer, and heading to Vilanova de Sau. This was a significantly shorter route, but accommodation at Vilanova de Sau was expensive. It would be a convenient way to visit the Monasterio Sant Pere Casserres, if one were interested. I thought it would be a pretty walk, along roads in the forest up to a dam, and then along the Sau reservoir to the touristy town of Vilanova de Sau.
I took the Way from Anglès along the reservoir, which was IIRC my only 35+ K stage so far on this current (delayed) Camino.
Slept on the floor at the town hall in Vilanova de Sau, where they are lovely people indeed.
Have you found any other options @Doughnut NZ ? I don't see any on the actual camino.An alternative to the mystery cottage is to cross the dam at Pantà de Sau and stay the night on a Dude Ranch, MAS LA RIBA, that keeps our equestrian theme. The address is Mas la Riba, 14, 08519, Barcelona, Spain which is very unhelpful! It is 25 klms from Mas Els Terrats and 24 klms to Vic.
It is good to know there is an albergue! They seem rare as hens teeth on this route.Staying in the Bonmati albergue 15 km beyond Girona (which gives preference to pilgrims) may be a source of information about other places.
Where did you find the turquoise line? May I have it please. When I was looking for a route like this all I found was a big hill to climb.@Dougnut NZ, I must say...you have very good taste in restaurants!
Moving on, first to summarize the alternative along the reservior before we head North.
So @Doughnut NZ has done an excellent job already of laying out the options of places to stay for the direct path.
Here is that option in a nutshell:
Days 5 and 6 El Pasteral - Vilanova de Sau - Vic (OSM measures 34.2 to Vilanova de Sau, 49.3km in total to Vic without the detour to the Parador and Sant Pere de Casserres)
Here is my OSMand map of the route, and details of distances; it is much shorter than the other way, a little over half the distance. Included in the total is the detour to the Vic-Sau Parador but not all the way to Sant Pere de Casserres
View attachment 105115
View attachment 105116
Clearly anyone who wants to walk short stages needs to take advantage of @Doughnut NZ's suggestion for accommodation, but it looks dicey.
Have you found any other options @Doughnut NZ ? I don't see any on the actual camino.
But.
There are several possibilities if you were to turn off the Northern route farther along at Les Planes d'Hostoles, and find your own way across to Panta de Sau (the turquoise line is the camino):
It's one of the caminos on the 'all caminos in Spain' file from the Dutch co-fraternity.Where did you find the turquoise line? May I have it please
I am a bit unclear where people are walking. Unless there is a good reason to deviate from the ”regular” route to Vic, I think we’re better off sticking with it because the walk into L’ESquirol is wonderful. Is the “north side of the reservoir” something different?Here is my OSMand map of the route, and details of distances; it is much shorter than the other way, a little over half the distance. Included in the total is the detour to the Vic-Sau Parador but not all the way to Sant Pere de Casserres
My apologies, I should read before assuming. I didn't see the turquoise line and for my own lala reasons I thought that you meant the purple line. Yes I have the turquoise line as it is the "Dutch" route.It's one of the caminos on the 'all caminos in Spain' file from the Dutch co-fraternity.
I got it here.
The purple is my construction using OSMand's direction function.
No worries, Laurie, we haven't gotten to the way via l'Esquirol yet. Coming soon.I am a bit unclear where people are walking. Unless there is a good reason to deviate from the ”regular” route to Vic, I think we’re better off sticking with it because the walk into L’ESquirol is wonderful. Is the “north side of the reservoir” something different?
On the reservoir route, the path comes from the other (essentially opposite) side, so the neolithic sites would be very much out of the way. They could be seen on the way to Vic, though, especially if one stays at the parador and has pretty much all day to play with.you have mapped the detour to the parador but not all the way to Sant Pere. I think a better way to do this, especially if you want to see those amazing neolithic sites, is to walk from L’Esquirol to the monastery and then on to the parador. If you go first to the parador, you will miss them.
It certainly looks gentler. At some point farther North, we may as well go the long way, though. How much more does it add, do you know?What do others think?
Great, thanks.Not sure if this helps, but wikiloc shows a trail from Sant Martí to Rupit that seems pretty similar to your purple line, at least up to the point where the red, blue and purple lines converge. At that point it goes in a more southerly direction. So I’d say that the path out of Sant Martí is open to walkers.
I can only add that Rupit is a very pretty place where I once spent several days hiking in beautiful surroundings but I didn’t walk there.
I was there in summer, so I don’t know about snow, sorry. And I walked in this area in the mid 70s so my memories are a little fuzzy. My memories are of packing up picnic lunches and then going with some friends who knew the area and doing what then seemed like a lot of up and down hiking on beautiful paths to great high spots with views where we ate lunch. I am sure that at that point in my life I did not own a pair of hiking boots and was fine in whatever shoes it was I was wearing. I would walk it in trail runners, but I am a trail runners convert and have gotten rid of my hiking boots.Great, thanks.
One more thing. What do you think the weather might be like up in that high country in late April/early May? Is there a possibility of snow?
Also, also. What are the off-road trails in that area like? Would you recommend hiking boots over trail runners in that area?
I am a bit lost lost to tell you the truth. Can you just confirm that you are talking about a route that goes Girona - Amer - Rupit - Vic?The shorter route to Vic, but not long stages. It it as steep as it looks on that side of the valley, Laurie?
24 klms up around the that range, via Sant Esteve d'en Bas, from Les Planes d'Hostoles to where my three lines meet (and where your purple line joins the road at the top of the incline). BTW, there is a bar at this location (where my lines meet) and so a good rest stop.Oh, that looks super. We have our cake and can eat it too. The shorter route to Vic, but not long stages. It it as steep as it looks on that side of the valley, Laurie? It's a little hard to tell from the map I have.
And snap! Laurie, you got there ahead of me with the wikiloc track.
I was just writing a post getting us as far as Sant Esteve d'en Bas but it's not done. So am happy to see this! (Edit. I just accidently deleted that post. Sigh. I'll have to recreate it tomorrow.)
This definitely seems the way to go.The climb starts at around Puig de la Gatonera and climbs around 600 metres over 9 klms and so it is a definite climb but not as steep as the start of your purple line
Yes. Isn't Amer in a valley? Rupit certainly is up!I am a bit lost lost to tell you the truth. Can you just confirm that you are talking about a route that goes Girona - Amer - Rupit - Vic?
For anyone wanting to walk via the reservoir, but who wants to walk shorter stages, we needed to find accommodation. There's none along the first part of the reservoir, but we noticed that up where Rupit is there are two options. Hence the off-piste bush-bashing.What is the motivation for trying to find an alternative route from Girona to vVc? This camino goes through absolutely gorgeous countryside no matter which way you go.
The biker route is exactly the same route as shown on my map. I downloaded it an then wondered where it was. It was sitting underneath my map, exactly.The price we pay for this intermediate accommodation, though, is the up and down:
Here's another wikiloc track, a mountain biker's:
https://www.wikiloc.com/mountain-biking-trails/amer-sant-marti-sacalm-rupit-panta-de-susqueda-314134 (Amer- Sant Martí Sacalm - Rupit - Pantà de Susqueda) at #wikiloc
It's 159m up to 864 in Rupit.
And then the next day down to the reservoir.
Edit. Great minds think alike! We posted at the same time, Doug.
As we walk north through Amer we are in a valley and there is a range of hills to the west. We have been experimenting with taking short cuts up these hills. See below.I am a bit lost lost to tell you the truth. Can you just confirm that you are talking about a route that goes Girona - Amer - Rupit - Vic?
Which side of the valley (what valley?) are you asking me about?
I have been trying to find a route that suits our short distance walkers as well as those that walk longer distances but there isn't a lot of choice for reasonably priced accommodation in this area and so we are trying different short cuts to see what works but I think that @peregrina2000 's route is about as good as it will get although I don't quite have her stamina!Maybe I haven’t had enough caffeine yet this morning.
What is the motivation for trying to find an alternative route from Girona to vVc? This camino goes through absolutely gorgeous countryside no matter which way you go.
Similar to the squirrelThen the next day, from Rupit a bit of a climb at first and then down to Vilanova de Sau is about 19 km. Not as steep as the way up.
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/rupit-a-vilanova-de-sau-gr2-etapa-6-357394 (RUPIT A VILANOVA DE SAU (GR2 ETAPA 6)) at #wikiloc
I walked the Catalán one year after the authorities took away the Franco era name of Santa María de Corcó and gave it back its original name, L’Esquirol (squirrel). I assume all the confusion is gone now. L’esquirol is a slang term for strikebreakers, like “scab” in English, so I suppose it offended the fascist sensibilities.Similar to the squirrel
I was being much too lazy to look up the correct name and used what is to me the delightful English language translation. I am doing this, this morning because our second grandson has just been dropped off at our place by his Dad and so I am going to be tsunami busy because when both grandsons are together they are MUCH more than the sum of each otherI walked the Catalán one year after the authorities took away the Franco era name of Santa María de Corcó and gave it back its original name, L’Esquirol (squirrel). I assume all the confusion is gone now. L’esquirol is a slang term for strikebreakers, like “scab” in English, so I suppose it offended the fascist sensibilities.
The path goes through a lot of lovely woods and nice fields, it is just wonderful walking. At the entrance to the town of Les Planes d'Hostoles (which the cami doesn't enter), there is a very friendly bar. It had started to rain about 20 minutes before I arrived and I was afraid the staff would not welcome a peregrina with a big dripping Altus poncho and wet shoes. They were fabulous. Even though I only had a Kas de Limón, they insisted I sit at a table, drape my poncho somewhere to dry, etc. Lots of people were eating, but I just never eat a full meal when I'm walking. Since I had another 6 km or so to Sant Feliu, I didn't get a chance to sample the food, but it was one of those very popular menú del día places with simple but good looking food.
From the bar to Sant Feliu was especially lovely, lots of green tunnels and peaceful countryside. I was glad I had continued on to Sant Feliu rather than staying in Les Plaes or Amer, because it is a very pretty little town with a river running through it. Another little town where the church is flying the Catalán flag, typically an indicator of support of the independence movement.
There is a nice place to stay in Sant Feliu, the Fonda Finet. This pensión has a central old town location, but I got sent a few blocks away to a little "annex" that's connected to their house. It's two or three stories, new construction, four or five rooms to a floor, so I don't know if they still use the old place in the old part of town. There is a restaurant there that seems to be still working. I did eat dinner there, but they brought it to the "annex" to serve, and I was happy to eat with another English speaking couple from South Africa. They were walking the Carrilet not the Camino, doing about 15 km a day and having a ball. The room was 20€ and the dinner around 8 or 9.
Here is that link:The map of the route that I linked to above also has information about lodging. If you click on the little house icon on the left of the map, you'll see that there are several ways to break this stage [VN edit: from Girona!] up into two or three shorter days, in Bescano, Angles, Amer, and Les Planes d'Hostoles.
I don’t want to seem pedantic here, but I think it is wrong to call option 1 the “official” track. The way that is marked by the Generalitat is via L’Esquirol. And that’s the way virtually all blogs, tracks, websites that I have seen indicate.1. Via reservoir on the 'official' track (post #s 158 and 141, above)
Reservoir variant.I don’t want to seem pedantic here, but I think it is wrong to call option 1 the “official” track
Anyone?Food and Lodging:
I've only gotten as far as this:
When we get to this part would someone please explain if it is possible to get to the monastery from any direction except Vic?The monastery is 5 km from the Parador, IOW an extra 10 km for the round trip. We can talk about this part and getting to the Parador ahead, on the l'Esquirol-Vic stage
Day 5. La Cellera de Ter - Sant Esteve d'en Bas (26.9 km)
Those wanting shorter stages can stop in:
les Planes d'Hostoles (13.6 km)
Sant Feliu de Pallerols (17.7 km)
For us, the via verde ends at Sant Esteve d'en Bas
I will add some suggestions shortly. Sorry about the delay, I am still recovering from the grandchildren.Food and Lodging:
I've only gotten as far as this:
I got there on my day from L’Esquirol. I know I said you should never look at my wikiloc tracks,When we get to this part would someone please explain if it is possible to get to the monastery from any direction except Vic?
Yes.When we get to this part would someone please explain if it is possible to get to the monastery from any direction except Vic?
Amer, regardless if you are staying or not, do NOT miss the very highly rated Pastisseria Puigdemont bakery. The owners have very strong political views which have attracted some one star ratings on G Maps, despite this it still manages a 4.3 overall rating because of all the 5 star ratings it gets.Amer - Rupit (23 km)
Several places to stay, easiest to book that I found was Hotel Can Garay, E102 -E112 for single/double. Great ratings and a nice boutique hotel. http://hotelcangaray.com/So back to the way, this time going North via l'Esquirol:
Day 5. La Cellera de Ter - Sant Esteve d'en Bas (26.9 km)
Those wanting shorter stages can stop in:
les Planes d'Hostoles (13.6 km)
Sant Feliu de Pallerols (17.7 km)
For us, the via verde ends at Sant Esteve d'en Bas
Food and Lodging:
I've only gotten as far as this:
Oh, my. Now you're talking.Pastisseria Puigdemont [...] The photos of the pastries are just divine
Here's their webpage. No horses there, from the look of it:Further north but still with a d'Hostoles address you can eat at a riding school ?? The reviews suggest that the food is good and that they no longer keep horses?? See Escolar d'Equitació La Curenya.
I tried some searching but I had no luck, even looking for images (I used Catalan in the searches). Then I figured that if you can get one it would be in Barcelona. Here is the list of places there where you can get one there:A thought prompted by another thread, is it possible to get a pilgrim credential that is in Catalan as well as Castillian? If so where?
Archbishop of Barcelona, C / del Bisbe 5, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (L-V, closed from 2:00 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
Parish of Sant Jaume de Barcelona, C / Ferrán 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (working day)
Church and monastery of Sant Pau del Camp, C / Sant Pau 101. Currently the monastery is undergoing restoration works and is opened very little a week. We recommend that pilgrims write or call before going, since it is very likely that there will be no one and it is closed. Telephone: +34 934410001, email: santpau153@arqbcn.cat
- Archbishop of Barcelona, C / del Bisbe 5, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (L-V, closed from 2:00 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
- Parish of Sant Jaume de Barcelona, C / Ferrán 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (working day)
- Church and monastery of Sant Pau del Camp, C / Sant Pau 101. Currently the monastery is undergoing restoration works and is opened very little a week. We recommend that pilgrims write or call before going, since it is very likely that there will be no one and it is closed. Telephone: +34 934410001, email: santpau153@arqbcn.cat
So if you were intending to visit Olot, you simply continue on the via verde, and retrace your steps coming back here.the via verde ends at Sant Esteve d'en Bas, and after today it gets more 'interesting' underfoot.
But!: if you want to take the side trip to Olot to see the old volcanoes, just keep going and it will take you there.
After several days of relative flat, the camino leaves the lovely d'en Bas valley to go up a cliff.
Well. That sounds intetesting.Day 4, from Olot to L;Esquirol was the hardest day I have ever had on a camino. Climbing the sides of the canyon (there really is no other words) to the South of L Hospital de un Bas was tortuous.
Maybe they have napolitanas?I got to els Hostalets d'en Bas at around 8.30 and was delighted to find a bar open for breakfast, and surprised to find it full of middle aged men, most of whom were drinking red wine with their tostadas. I didn't join them as there is around 800m of ascent to do, 500m of it in just 2km. Which was hard work, but very lovely as well.
So if we are following your track, @peregrina2000, is this the way we'll follow? It sounds like it:Well, hmm, My experience was different. I slept close to Sant Esteve d'en Bas, rather than Olot, so started out in the morning a little closer to the ascent. I thought the climb up to the plateau of L'Esquirol was very beautiful and not hard at all. I suspect I took a different path, as I never saw a super steep slope or canyon. I asked advice on which path to take, and was advised by a local to not take the first path up, as it was longer and harder. The second one did have waymarking, though I admit it wasn't perfect waymarking near the top of the ascent. It was called the Cami Ral (Real).
It's nice to know after all that that more napolitanas are potenially to be had at Cantronigros, before walking down to l'Esquirol for the night.I had a very welcome coffee and sandwich in Cantronigros and then walked on down to L'Esquirol. I wouldn't have missed this day, but suspect I lucked out with a better waymarked path for the ascent. I was using Laurie's Wikilocs map which told me what to expect, and then local advice confirmed the easier path up.
So I left at Sant Esteve d'Bas alberge.. and all the signs want you to go the Via Verde to the right. I followed GPS to the left onto the route.
Went through lovely els hostalets d'en bas...all good. Lovely shop and cafe across from church.
Found turn up to right eventually to Cami rad (Vic route). At this point there were 8 tourist hikers also stuck in wikiloc looking for where they wanted to go. Too many routes and signs that everyone seems confused.
One route which I took to be the Vic Cami pointed in through the gates of what looked like a farm...
But there were yellow arrows pointing go straight ahead..so I did.. main road lead downhill, and was a route for lots of cyclists.. I took phone out and noticed GPS route was completely different ...so I backtracked to that sign with multiple routes... I followed through the 'gate'... And kept going crossing a second gate the was one of the Cami signs. After that no more arrows till I arrived out the other side a few hours later at cliffs of aiats / coma Joan.
There was a yellow X at one stage, but all traces of yellow arrows seemed to be removed. Even on the trees. Towards the end of route there were red white signs...
And looking back, as I finally exited the way, there is a BIG yellow arrow pointing into the path for this ridge. There was a local couple camping at the open space under cliffs. They pointed me down the road and then to go to rupkit and then to l'esquirol.
Thankfully, I didn't follow blindly, as I would have missed the sign post with 3 ways to get to VIC Cami.. the GPS route was the only was to know that I should leave road and follow small path into the right.
My experience at the farm gate was exactly the same as yours. There was one of those posts just up the road - about 4 or 5 metres - but nothing on the farm gate. That was where I was so glad to have had Laurie's wikiloc trail. Felt odd walking through the farm yard, but the sign on the far gate was reassuring.
I went wrong somewhere further on as well - took the sign for a chapel that had the camino logo on it, but it was a diversion not the main track.
From:Us proposo una interessant caminada de baixa dificultat però d'alt atractiu paisatgístic i històric, descobrint bonics racons que amaga la Riera de les Gorgues, molt a prop de la població de l'Esquirol (Collsacabra). No feu cas del desnivell que apunta Wikiloc, en realitat no arriba als 100 metres!
La Riera de les Gorgues, nom per cert molt encertat, neix a la Serra de Cabrera i dóna les seves aigües al Riu Ter en el Pantà de Sau. Dibuixa un capritxós recorregut per un paratge força rocós, endinsant-s'hi per les entranyes de barrancs, encaixonada enmig de parets de gran alçada i en un terreny força accidentat, raó aquesta de la gran quantitat de salts d'aigua, gorgues i badines que trobem al llarg del seu camí i que li confereixen un atractiu singular, sovint molt amagats i molt desconeguts.
Des de temps immemorials, aquestes aigües i els desnivells naturals de l'orografia del terreny han estat aprofitats per a moure uns quants molins fariners que es troben al llarg del seu camí. Avui tots ells abandonats i en ruïnes, són el testimoni d'un altre temps i d'una altra manera de treballar i viure, tot molt abans de l'industrialització i mecanització d'aquestes feines a finals del segle XIX i començament del XX, que van ferir de mort aquests enginys hidrùlics de l'època.
Tot i que n'hi ha més, en aquesta ruta trobarem les restes d'un parell de molins, de la Bertrana i de l'Eixerit. Us repto a trobar-los!
Ideal per a una ruta familiar, apte per a tothom. Un recorregut de poc més de 5 Km. d'anada i tornada per camins ben senyalitzats.
Un cop arribat al Pont Vell, la ruta discorre riera amunt i avall per petits corriols molt evidents, de vegades per l'esquerra i d'altres per la dreta de la riera, la qual cosa ens obliga a creuar-la en algunes ocasions. Segons el cabal d'aigua podreu arribar més o menys lluny. Aconsellable portar xancletes d'aigua si voleu "explorar" el seu recorregut que, us ben asseguro val la pena.
Com és habitual en aquests indrets envoltats de parets de gran alçada, el GPS es perd una mica dibuixant un traçat que sembla eixelebrat. Tranquils, la ruta és molt evident i està bé senyalitzada.
En el peu de les fotos trobareu molta més informació d'interés.
Espero us agradi
Salut i senderisme!
The town itself is not very pretty but the people were friendly and there are plenty of services -- ATMs, shops, cafés, etc
I ran a path up the road and that is definitely not steep, especially the bit towards where your prior shortcut joins the road as there is a bit of a switchback that reduces the grade.Day 6. Sant Esteve d'en Bas - l'Esquirol (20 km)
This is not a hugely long stage, but vigorous - and absolutely gorgeous, from the sound of it. Staying in l'Esquirol is the perfect setup for visiting the monastery the next day.
Laurie's wikiloc track will be essential:
Her post here has lots of photos, and wayfinding advice.Cami St. Jaume -- San Feliu to L'Esquirol
Cami St. Jaume -- San Feliu to L'Esquirol Hiking trail in Sant Feliu de Pallerols, Catalunya (España). Download its GPS track and follow the route on a map. Record your own itinerary from the Wikiloc app, upload the trail and share it with the community.www.wikiloc.com
So if you were intending to visit Olot, you simply continue on the via verde, and retrace your steps coming back here.
We leave the gentle path here and go upupup.
@alansykes and @gyro put it this way:
Well. That sounds intetesting.
But before we do that, after a couple of kms there is a place for second breakfast at els Hostalets d'en Bas.
Maybe they have napolitanas?
But!! The really stiff climb Alan and @gyro describe is not inevitable, because there is another way up, the Cami Real:
So if we are following your track, @peregrina2000, is this the way we'll follow? It sounds like it:
It's nice to know after all that that more napolitanas are potenially to be had at Cantronigros, before walking down to l'Esquirol for the night.
But reading people's accounts, that way down is not necessarily straightforward either. Thank goodness for your wikiloc track, Laurie!
Once you manage to get to l'Esquirol, if you have energy after that wandering climb and time on your hands, there's an interesting and easy 5km signposted loop to the ruins of old mills that were once active hereabouts:
From:
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trai...rtrana-salt-i-moli-de-leixerit-osona-34770965 (L'Esquirol - Riera de les Gorgues - Pont Vell - Molí de la Bertrana - Salt i Molí de l'Eixerit (Osona)) at #wikiloc
Of the town itself:
Accomodation
It sounds like the only game in town is Hostal Collsacabra
Laurie got a good price on booking.com.
Is that the same as Laurie's track?I ran a path up the road and that is definitely not steep, especially the bit towards where your prior shortcut joins the road as there is a bit of a switchback that reduces the grade.
No, I have @peregrina2000 's path. At the beginning at St. Esteve I used her path but it also rises quickly at one point and so I ran another path from about a third of the way, along the road.Is that the same as Laurie's track?
There are a lot of possible paths.
Ah. Good to know there's an even gentler alternative.At the beginning at St. Esteve I used her path but it also rises quickly at one point and so I ran another path fro
Bummer. All that good work!I managed to destroy most of my maps and so I need to rebuild them
All I can say is that I certainly don’t remember the ascent as @gyro describes it, and the designation “camí real” rings a bell, so I am guessing that is the way I went. And I also vaguely vaguely remember coming across some cyclists going the other way, which would have been impossible on the track @gyro describes.So if we are following your track, @peregrina2000, is this the way we'll follow? It sounds like it:
Was it confusing? That's the feeling I get from Ashiregal's posts. How'd you think it be without a track and GPS or phone app like OSMand, Laurie?The way down to L’Esquirol was a bit nasty as I remember, but not dangerous.
Este trayecto no ofrece ninguna dificultad, más allà de la de embelesarnos con su espectacularidad y belleza.
What I remember is that a track was not clearly defined, but the direction was obvious — down. But I can’t imagine that anyone will walk this camino without absolutely excellent map/navigation skills or a GPS.Was it confusing? That's the feeling I get from Ashiregal's posts. How'd it be without a track and GPS or phone app like OSMand?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?