I cycled the route from Samos to Sarria in Sept 2015. The leaves had just started to turn; it was a magic place; so quiet (especially when compared to the last 1-2 km into Sarria).
My wife and I loved it. The major crowd wants to save 5 k and go direct on the nice San Xil path, but miss both Samos and the route that are magical. We have now done both and Samos is a gem.