One thing to emphasise is that unlike the Frances, on the Ingles, there isn't the plethora of bars, restaurants and drinking fountains every two kilometres or so.
Just to illustrate on the Betanzos to Hospital de Bruma stage. I left Betanzos (in April) at 08.30 for the long trek up to Hospital de Bruma (and thence to Buscas) - 10 hours. In April, you cannot really start any earlier, because Galicia, further west than the UK and Ireland, but one hour ahead, is pitch black in the morning until about 08.30. I made good progress and made the wonderful museum at Presedo with its restaurant, just after 11am. Too early for the restaurant to serve lunch, as they were still preparing for the day ahead. I therefore had the choice, wait there for an hour and then have lunch, or a quick drink and press on.
Press on I did, but the next place for sustenance at Bar Avelina was almost 3 hours away; too late for their lunch. The learning point is that on the Ingles, you need to carry provisions with you (fruit, water, snacks), especially on the two days from Betanzos to Sigueiro, where you do not pass a single shop. Luckily I had prepared a packed lunch in Betanzos from the hotel (night before from the supermarket if you are staying in the albergue), but if I did not have this, I would have struggled.
Because of the late start to daylight, the Galician countryside also starts late. Supermarkets open in the morning, after you want to start. The end effect in the evening, is that if you arrive at your destination, say at 6pm and want an early dinner and bed, you struggle. Even in the larger places like Ferrol and Betanzos, finding a place for dinner which is not a pizza before 8.30pm is difficult. That is why Casa Rural Dona Maria was so good. Arrived at 6pm, washed and cleaned up, and had my freshly prepared evening meal at 7pm, and finally, could have an early night and a long rest for the next day ahead.
