21/5 Saturday Santa Mariña to Hospital 18km
Last night's dorm was almost full and only a single room with shower and loo for 10. Fortunately I was first to arrive so in and out of the shower before it got busy.
Having a drink before dinner was not the most relaxing with so many flies everywhere. However, I did have a chat to a Dutch couple, Nicholas and his wife, from Germany, who is met the previous night and my Camino Fairy, Tatjana who kindly lent me her phone cable again.
Other folk had eaten at lunch time so I just had the flies for company when I ate. Very average other than the lentil soup which was the best I've eaten.
By 9pm the lights were out and mist of the dorm was in bed. Quite a peaceful night as I'd grabbed a bed rather than a bunk, that is until 4am when someone's alarm went off. Bizarrely no in got up so I wonder if it was a mistake. However, it did result in half the dorm going to the loo in quick succession so in the end not the best of nights.
I was last up as normal and on my way after an ordinary breakfast. The landscape was quite agricultural at first. Although I walked alone there were usually peregrinos in sight. There was a view of a large lake/reservoir (Encoro da Fervenza) at A Gueime.
A little before Corzón the countryside got a little wilder with more moorland landscape and forested areas. There was a sign indicating a view point on a hill so I headed off to explore. It was a good 500m along and up but the views were good and it was a quiet spot for early lunch although I was eventually joined by two other intrepid peregrinos.
Back down and into Corozón for refreshments in bar with a few familiar faces. Whilst I wasn't checking progress with continuing battery challenges I guess this was easily half way. So I continued to walk alone with frequent greetings to and from other walkers.
As I arrived in an unsigned village with no indication of an Albergue I continued to follow the Camino signs only to meet Tatjana walking back towards me saying this was Hospital and the Albergue was not further ahead. Time to check the phone and sure enough the night's one albergue was back through the village without a single sign pointing to its presence.
There were a few pilgrims in the garden but no hospitalera to be seen. Eventually she showed up and explained that the evening meal was a way up the road and a car or cars would pick us up at 7! It also turned out there were no refreshments and that the hospitalera would take orders and drive up and down to the bar to bring drinks and when queried my taxied hold-all. Quite a bizarre set up and so inefficient especially as there was a kitchen fridge that could easily be stocked up with drinks. The evening could be interesting!