Day 10: Lugo to Ferrier

 Just 100km to go and it is all change on the Camino.  100km is the minimum distance required to be eligible for a ‘compostela’ and today’s walk saw an influx of new faces.  Large groups walking with small daysacks and loud music.  At the same time my Camino family is fragmenting. Maura and the two Carols have chosen to have a couple of shorter days, as has Rapha, Paulo is pushing on to the next village. Styn from Belgium (previously wrongly identified by me as Sven from Sweden) has taken a bus to Santiago as he wants to walk to Finisterra, and the albergues in the village of Ferrier are so spread out that even if I was in the same village as the rest of the group I am unlikely to bump into them.  I think, given the time he had available, Styn chose wisely.  He got the early part of this Camino, which was tougher, quieter and with stunning scenery.  

Today’s 27km stage was relatively straightforward. As evidenced by the fact that there are a group of us sitting outside the Albergue waiting for it to open so we can check in.  A 27k stage in the earlier stages of this Camino would have taken far longer, there would have been more hills and more swearing!  

Last night was spent at the Hospedería San Froilan.  The price of a single room included breakfast ‘from 7am.’  I knew I’d be on my way by then so didn’t think too much about it.  I woke to find a message from Styn, also staying in tne Hospederia, to say that he’d not been able to sleep and when he’d wandered down to the breakfast room everything was set out already.  For the first time I managed to have a coffee before I started walking. And to make a sandwich for later.

There was a vending machine rest stop at one of the early villages we passed through, selling snacks and coffee. A nice shelter and a toilet.  It was all so clean and tidy despite the constant steam of people passing through.  Another short stop for coffee in San Romano de Retorta and more old and new faces. I checked in on the trio of school boys - they are doing well.  

This is a short Camino.  Just three more days until Santiago.  Two are shortish and one long day left.  Not 100% sure what I’ll do next.  For now I am just relaxing on my bunk bed, hoping that the newbies realise that dorm time is quiet time  This is one of the villages where finding the three legged cat might be the most exciting thing that happens!