Day 26 Gutted beyond belief.

• Wake up and to my horror instead of feeling ready to walk the leg feels worse



• Head to breakfast and Al immediately picks up that I am struggling to put my weight down on the leg and the swelling is worse.



• Later Al informs me (although I am relieved) that he has got the address of a Dr's Surgery in Ambleside and an appointment.



• The G.P is'nt completely convinced that the lump on my leg isn't a break, so off to Kendal Hospital for an X-Ray



• The X-Ray shows no break, but the lady asks me to go to A&E to see a Dr.



• There the problems are explained to me. The Shin bone base is seriously bruised and the joints at the base of the shin and ankle extremely badly inflamed. Also both joints apparently show wear and tear well above that expected for someone of my age. In addition I have blood poisoning around the lump and they fear skin tissue poisoning.



• Suddenly having thought it would only be emotional issues that might make me want to stop a cold reality is hitting me



• The Dr has to go to an emergency, in that time I decide to ask her advice when she returns to me and accept it whatever it is. Unusual for me, because I normally listen then still try to do what I want!



• She returns and is dreadfully blunt. She say I need 2 weeks complete rest with the leg elavated and to be near a gp or hospital in case the infections spread. Then 2 weeks being very gentle to allow the internal injuries to completely heal. Only then can I start walking and only then a very slow build otherwise the thing will just re-occur.



• So faced with 6 weeks sat in a tent, on my own, doing nothing and not being able to travel easily to a G.P or hospital I take the most difficult decision of the entire walk. I will need to suspend the walk and return home. It feels devastating, actually it feels a bit worse than that, it feels like its all been pointless.



• After a lecture from Al who points out that around £10,000 for the Hospice and having achieved 456 miles is actually not a bad effort, the red mist slowly breaks.



• To those who rang yesterday when I was too upset to speak, really sorry, just raw emotions



• Thankfully David and Jane were waiting at the Hotel so they offered to bring me home. Many thanks to them for their support over the three days, guys you were fantastic



• Al you were blinding, as ever, thank you so much.



• SO NOW THE GOOD NEWS



• As long as my G.P, when he sees the X-Rays is happy, Phase 2 of the walk will begin late summer. It would be inappropriate to fix a date until we really know the extent of the damage and recovery times.



• What I can assure everyone is that whatever happens THE WALK WILL BE COMPLETED. I hope to start again late summer. Dates are fluid, a bit like my ankle! but once everything has healed and the G.P is happy I WILL FINISH WHAT I STARTED.



• Hopefully we can still make a massive success of the "not quite" post walk meal for the sake of the Charity on the 31st July, then just have an old fashioned piss up when I eventually finish.



• Will temporarily close the blog at this point and will let everyone know when we are starting again.



• To all who offered to join me on the second half of the walk, really sorry, maybe we can still tie up when the phase 2 dates are sorted



• To all who have supported me so fantastically, thank you. But remember this is a medical adjournment not the end of the journey