SHORT WALK TO FROMISTA ALONG THE CANAL DE CASTILLA AND A “REST” DAY

18 May

“That thou, light-winged Dryad of the trees,
In some melodious plot
Of beechen green, and shadows numberless,
Singest of summer in full-throated ease.”

ODE TO A NIGHTINGALE by John Keats

As we were walking along the Canal ,Tom stopped and with the aid of an App. on his phone, identified the song of a Nightingale – something I had never heard before – the Camino provides wonder,too.

A leisurely start to a short saunter this morning,with the ever present markers to guide us.

We walked along a good trail in the direction of Fromista
Some shelter from a strong breeze
We soon reached the canal
A deck advertising St James’ Way by boat, disappointingly not operative on Thursdays.
We came across the aforementioned craft moored just before the famous lock at Fromista.
Tom,Mike and Rob.
I doubt that the boat went through it.

The Canal de Castilla, an impressive work of hydraulic engineering, was one of the best projects of this type to be built in Spain throughout the 18th and 19th centuries at the hands of the Enlightenment and at a time when it was necessary to sell grain surplus and improve commercial communications.

What was born as a navigation route for the transport of goods, would be closed to traffic in the middle of the 20th century, in 1959. Considered today as an Asset of Cultural Interest, since then its main function has been focused on irrigation, to which unites its interest as one of the most attractive tourist routes in Castilla y León, due to the scenic, natural wealth and the historical-artistic value that the cities that are in its path arouse.

This artificial river, which runs for 205 kilometers of the plateau between the provinces of Palencia and Valladolid, has become a route of cultural interest that in its three branches -North, South and Campos- offers visitors a rich and varied architecture of its own , a natural environment on its shores and the historical and traditional grounds of the towns that are in its path.

The Northern Branch starts in Alar del Rey and ends in Ribas de Campos, where the so-called Ramal de Campos begins, until it reaches Medina de Rioseco. And the Southern Branch begins at the fork of the Campos Branch in El Serrón and continues to the city of Pisuerga, Valladolid. https://www.turismocastillayleon.com/es/arte-cultura-patrimonio/grandes-rutas/canal-castilla

We continued along the Camino and entered Fromista noting another Stork’s nest on the way.

This time the nest was atop of a factory .
A town now more famous for its carefully restored churches than it’s Camino links.
The Saint himself
San Telmo
These pollarded trees are a feature of many Spanish squares.
After a day of relaxation it was dinner time and the Paella was much appreciated.

A 12.5 mile walk tomorrow . Ranjit declared “ it would be a walk in the park “ – we’ll he would, wouldn’t’ he ?

One Response to “SHORT WALK TO FROMISTA ALONG THE CANAL DE CASTILLA AND A “REST” DAY”

  1. slodown 19/05/2023 at 02:27 #

    I bet El Canal de Castilla is not like the sad, sewage filled canals of UK.

    Reply

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