Saturday 25 September 2010

Day 5 – Hospital de Bruma to Siguieros (15 miles)

I checked on Angela at 4 in the morning and she had decided to stay in bed a little longer and leave with Sue and Angela T and Dave in daylight hours.  Me and Martin got ready in the dark and made our way out of the Albergue.  First problem – all doors were locked and we didn’t know how to get out.  Just like cat burglars we removed our rucksacks, pulled up a chair and climbed over a wall to freedom! 

It was lovely walking along in the early morning but unfortunately there were no cafes open,  so only water, banana and do-nut to sustain us.  When we hit a T junction with no signs as to which direction to go in we chose and went the wrong way and this brought our spirits down. 

There was no-one to ask and so we tried to flag cars down but no-one stopped.  We continued forwards in the hope that we would find some kind of main road and finally a car stopped and told us we were completely in the wrong direction.  By the time we made it to Buscas only 8kms on our route but having walked at least 12km we were feeling a bit rough.  We wrapped up in sleeping bags in the bus stop to have a nap to feel better and to wait for the cafe to open.   

The trouble was that unlike other early starts there was no cloud cover and so we were actually very cold and damp all the way through from the dew.  At 7.30 we found someone  to speak to and found out that as it was Sunday the cafes were not opening until 10 or 11.  This was going to be another totally rural day and the next cafe was 6km away.  If this was closed too then we might find ourselves in a dodgy position without any option but to go on.  It was probably due to a build up from the day before as well, but we both were feeling quite unwell, chilled and exhausted so we took an executive decision to call a cab and go straight to our destination.  We were proved right about the cafe and so knew that we had made the right decision. 

It was still very early when we arrived and went to a cafe to get a hot drink and breakfast.  It was a really strange set up as at one end of the cafe there were loads of drunk young people who were still enjoying their Saturday night out.  It was a bit surreal to be sitting there with our rucksacks feeling like death warmed up (and completely sober) watching them falling over drunk, drinking our hot chocolate and cakes.  We sat there for a little while and then families with young children came in and sat there as well. How bizarre!

We found a place for us to stay in Sigueiros in rooms above a bar / restaurant.  We did investigate the option of staying at the sports hall but we went for the rooms as they were pretty cheap.  Me and Martin laid out our sleeping bags in the park and slept for a couple of hours until the rooms were ready and then proceeded back to the bar to wait for the others.  We were feeling quite restored by now and as you do thinking what was the fuss about but there you go! 

The weary wanderers turned up, beers and dancing followed as a group of musicians turned up stopping at all the bars in the town.  Angela got her massage oils out and I massaged feet and shoulders in the bar as the beer did its magic.  Staggered back down stairs after showering for a really good meal.  Sue claimed her foot massage then and there as she had been too busy

 dancing and had missed out earlier! 

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