Requejo to A Gudiña

I had a very difficult night in the albergue, all the other pilgrims were heavy snorers, and when one stopped another started. I was awake long before my alarm but I waited as long as I could because I didn't to walk 9-10km in the pitch dark on the main road. As soon as it was light enough to see I set off.

I had decided to go via the main road because I knew I could make good time, even though it was a steady uphill slog for about 5km, in fcat I covered the 16km to Lubián in just over three hours.

When I got to Padornelo the cafe I had stopped at last time was closed but just 400m up the road there was a hotel with a cafe and it was open for breakfast, so I stayed for about 30 mins. As I walked from there to Lubián I thought about my options, which were limited. The albergue in Lubián is very small, they have squeezed too many sets of bunk beds into the available space, and all those guys from last night were planning to stay there, and it was going to be another night of loud, constant snoring. Given the choices for albergues over the next week, it was likely that I would be stuck with them for a while. On the other hand, walking another 24km was probably too much especially as it included going over a mountain at A Canda.

So I made an unhappy decision. When I got to Lubián, I would get a taxi to a spot about 10 km further and then walk the last 14 km to A Gudiña, this would put me a day ahead of the troupe of snorers (they were all a bit unfriendly as well).

I got to Lubián and went to the bar for something to eat and asked the owner if he could call me a taxi to take me to the spot I had chosen. I had a long wait, but it finally came, and the driver spoke english, was very friendly and we had a good chat.

I got out at the spot we had agreed and set off, and I had a very pleasant walk, and in about 2.5 hrs I was in the outskirts of A Gudiña. The albergue was just opening, it is one of the best on the VDLP, very clean, roomy, with social spaces and excellent toilets and showers. It also has a washing machine and a tumble dryer, worth every euro.

The hospitalera told us that the albergue in Campobercorros was closed, and the next place to stay was Laza, 40km away. I have never walked that far before, I don't know if I could even walk that far, but I have no choice. I had an early night because it was going to have to be an early start.Read more