Well,
Back in the states and nearly a month since completing the Camino Ingles (April 12 to 16th).
Rained nearly every day and, on one occasion, sleet. I saw on TV later in the day that there was snow in the higher elevations. For the most part the walkway, paths and forested areas were well drained, with few problems, with one exception the long stretch of mud and stone between Bruma and Seguerio. Heavy truck traffic produces deep ruts making the walk difficult and hazardous to ankles and knees.
Broke the 29km section from Betanzos to Bruma in two by stopping at the Bar Julia (18km) where Antonio from Meson de Novo picked me up and then dropped me off the next day (11km). I really liked the Meson...very clean and airy rooms, good food, great beer and wine and football on the TV...what more can you ask?
In Segueiro stopped at the Hotel Miras which is just before the next waymark across the river. What a great place to watch people. At one table was a group of men playing a lively game of dominos. Click, clack, expletive...click...expletive. Later a new group took some cards off a rack on the wall, paper, pencils and...off they went! Cards quietly thrown in, underhanded dealing by a young man, comments worth deleting...what a great time. By supper time life was good. A big steak with all the fixins. Good beer, great wine and more football! The rooms are very basic and the beds noisy. Still a good experience.
Going out of town toward SDC, once you cross the bridge and make the left turn toward the Church...pass the Church on your left with the band stand on your right. I missed this in the dark.
The last 10 km into SDC can be confusing. Once you hit the main road...you are on a very narrow shoulder. With the rain...the traffic on this stretch can be nerve wracking. There's another stretch of frontage road that leads up a sandy bank before turning right alongside a minor sunken road (it had caved in when I was there and repairs being made) then section alongside some warehouses. When you turn left at the T junction you are now on paved streets and sidewalks into SDC.
In SDC I stayed two days at the Hostal Girasol (five minutes from the cathedral). The food was great, the beer cold, wine plentiful and the Aguardiente smooth, the owners very accommodating and football top shelf: Sunday Bayern-Munich vs Real Madrid...Monday Chelsea vs Barcelona. If you have an early flight out, best to pay your tab the previous night as they don't open until after 0800. They will arrange a taxi to pick you up (20 euros to airport).
I had a good Camino, met very few other pilgrims along the Way (five total...all women).
This is a good Camino for pilgrims with few days to walk to SDC. With the exception of a few stretches in and out of major towns...the paths are beautiful, forested and well marked.
Buen Camino,
Arn