14/5 Saturday Castrelo to As Seixas 13kmI slept very well even with a guy arriving and taking the top bunk above me. Then it was a help yourself breakfast although there was no coffee left to help yourself to!
A relatively short day ahead but I found the first couple of hours of ups and downs harder going than I expected. No refreshments for 8km until Ferreira. Then the two cafes were closed until lunch time. However, I found a hotel offering coffee and settled down in the garden. The coffee came and so did the man and his hedge trimmer. No peaceful break there.
So off I went and it immediately started to rain! Hmmm, turning into one of those days? Little wind and rain not heavy so the brolly kept my dry and cool. My luck changed around lunch time when I came across the most idyllic picnic spot at San Xurxo - picnic table, stepped stream, pilgrim statue and sheltered by trees from the rain.
Feeling suitably refreshed I continued on and soon arrived at As Seixas and the Albergue A Toqueira. I was there before opening time but there was no bar in the hamlet nearby so I snacked out of the vending machine - crisps, olives and Kas orange. Don't think I've ever seen olives in a UK vending machine!
Early afternoon the sun came out and I was settled in Soon to be joined by Steve from Sydney and Veronica from the Czech Republic. Veronica from the Czech Republic. Steve started in Irun like me but is covering the distance way faster. Veronica started in Oviedo and is also covering the ground fast.
I've also planned ahead and booked the next night's stop 20km ahead to avoid staying in Melide which is the busy town where the Primitivo joins the Francés.