El Camino de los Santos - New Route - Finally

Yes - finally the road construction between Yorkville, IL and Plano, IL has been completed - along with a new walking - hiking - cycling path that will get any pilgrim safely between the two towns. This pilgrimage - El Camino de los Santos - The Journey of the Saints - is an easy 5 to 6 hour round trip walking pilgrimage.  Distance one way is approximately 6½ miles or 10.5 Km and complete round trip is 13 miles or 21 Km.  Cycling takes about 45 minutes one way or 1½ to 2 hours with no breaks.  The new route runs alongside US Rt. 34 and boasts such amenities such as food, drink and restrooms. There are no extreme up or downhills except for one slight hill on the edge of Plano.  

Saint Gianna Bretta Molla Shrine - Yorkville, IL 

Staring from the Saint Gianna Shrine at St. Patrick Church in Yorkville in the parking lot you will be on sidewalks or the new path all the way into Plano.  Once in Plano you will use either sidewalks or neighborhood streets to get to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The recommended path is:  Saint Gianna Shrine to the sidewalk on Walnut Street and walk to the left - right turn on Freemont to a left turn on Landmark to Rt. 47.  Cross at the light and follow the bike path to US Rt. 34 and turn left. Follow the bike path until you get to Cannonball Trail. Cross at the light to the opposite side of the road and continue left on Rt. 34 on the path until you get to Wabounsee Drive at Waubonsee College.  At the light cross to the opposite side of the road and continue on Rt. 34 on the bike path into Plano.  At Hale Street turn right and cross at the light and take either the sidewalk or neighborhood street to Church Street.  Take a left at Church Street and cotinine to Center Street.  Cross the street at the Stop sign and turn right past St. Mary School and continue past St. Mary Church.  Turn left into the church parking lot and continue to your left to the shrine. If walking you can cross the grass off Center Street to the Shrine. 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine - Plano, IL 

This completes the first leg of your Camino - stop to rest - eat - drink - pray - reflect. The return trip is the opposite way that you arrived. At each shrine before you depart it is recommend that you start and end your Camino with prayers - your intention for walking or cycling the Camino - prayer for blessings received - prayers for those in need - prayers for whatever you wish. This is your Camino and there is no correct way or wrong way to journey on Camino. If starting in Plano the directions to Yorkville is the exact reverse of the directions above. In Spain when walking El Camino de Santiago de Compostela we were constantly encouraged by the locals who smiled - shouted and encouraged us on with "Buen Camino". That was a journey of one month and almost 500 miles. this short Camino is excellent for those who wish to mimic the Camino in Spain here at home in Illinois. 

Buen Camino  (Good Journey) 

Deacon Dale Metcalfe