Between an aching knee, driving rain, arriving in Santiago and hustling out to Leon, I’ve been a little derelict in my blogging.
Betanzos to Bruma started off with both a test of will and my knee. Leaving the hotel, the light mist became a heavier rain as I walked towards Precedo with its one Albergue and Bar, the Meson-Museo. The rain turned torrential for at least an hour before my arrival. I was so soaked that I found a covered area near the Albergue to change my soaked socks, I sure miss my rain pants which I left in my pack, I won’t do that again.
Coffee and a warm up lifted my spirits allowing me to venture back into the dissipating rain. I once again ran into Elke from Hamburg, the only Pilgrim I’ve had regular contact with, this aspect of the Inglés is a disappointment.
After the first climb out of Betanzos, it leveled for a while and the weather held for the rest of the day as the longer climb began up to Bruma and the path reverted to a maintained gravel track.
While not steep, the Way was steadily inclined through the forest and chicken farms. I never saw another soul on this 2.5 hour stretch.
At As Traveses, I went into the Bar and I finally met some other pilgrims, Lee from Prince Edward Island and I struck up a lively conversation about her Inglés beginning in Ireland. Lee and I walked together as far as the Municipal where I stopped and she carried on. From there, a White Mercedes (really) whisked me to the Hotel Canaima in Meson do Vento.
Apparently the Canaima is THE place to see and be seen in Meson do Vento, dinner, drinks, conversation and a private room all for 36€. It was nice to finally be amongst Pilgrims again.
The early morning of the 5th started out with a pouring rain, my old friend, Santiago clearly wanted me to stay for the Pilgrims breakfast which I’d not planned to because it was served at 0700, I was usually well on my way by then.
Having breakfast, the rain suddenly subsided and I took the opportunity to head off for Sigüiero, 27k down the Camino.
For the last time, I crossed paths with Elke from Hamburg. We never spent a lot of time together but she was a familiar face each morning.
Walking along, I met Grace from Canada, Prince Edward Island to be exact. Grace had started walking with Lee whom I’d met the day before. As it happened, we were both staying at the Albergue Miras in Sigüiero so, we whiled away the hours as we walked the Way.
Showers came in waves most of the way to our Albergue. Rain gear on, no rain. The minute you took it off, mist or a shower or a down pour. No matter what you did, it was the wrong choice.
Arriving in town, my second stop was the Farmacia for some 600mg Ibuprofen, my right knee was shredded, la droga del Camino helped.
The Miras was very nice and their for real restaurant below was very good, I introduced Grace to Pulpo Galiego and rare steak, she admitted that she enjoyed both.
Finishing dinner, I headed back to my bed, since I’d left, I’d been joined by 3 guys from The Canary Islands who’d only just arrived.
Aside from the trashed knee, it was a good but very wet day. One more to go to Santiago.