Everything came to a head on that Thursday evening at my campsite at Glebe Farm, Kings Ripton. I knew then that I had to make decisions about my walk as I had to let people know in good time when exactly I would be finishing. My schedule was already two days behind and I knew now that my original itinerary was not working. Also the Trail Runners I had bought to replace the walking boots I had worn out in Spain just weren’t working with my feet and this walk. My blisters were not improving. That evening as I hobbled down to the toilet block I recognised there was no way I could continue like this. I was also sure that there was no way I could not finish this walk.
I had known I would have to revise my finish day almost since I cut short my walk at Watton at Stone, somehow I couldn’t see making up the time as an option. I had considered all kinds of options as I now had a booking at the Premier Inn in Peterborough on Friday which I couldn’t change. I could maybe get a bus into the city then back out and walk back there on Saturday.
The problem was that, I wasn’t sure I could physically walk even a shorter distance. So I made the decision on Thursday evening. I would get a taxi to Huntingdon on Friday, then get bus to Peterborough. I had now two nights booked at the Premier Inn. I would then get the train to Newcastle on Sunday where I could pick up my boots. Rev Danie had offered me a lift back to Peterborough on the Monday. I would then be able to visit the Oasis Community Housing Project in the afternoon then bus back to Huntingdon and taxi back to campsite. Hopefully my feet would have healed enough to continue walking on Tuesday. All in all that would mean four days rest for my feet, I hoped that this would be enough.
It all went to plan on Friday and I checked in at the hotel. One of the first things I did was have a long hot bath. This was the first one I had had in years. It was good to soak my feet. I replaced all the dressings and plasters and apart from a quick trip to the shops to stock up on more medical supplies the only time I left that room was to eat.
I got a taxi to the railway station on Sunday, then the train back to Newcastle and a taxi at the other end. I was determined to stay off my feet as much as possible. It was weird being at home when in my head I shouldn’t be there. I took the opportunity to do some washing, and re-pack my backpack. I got my boots and re-proofed them and also changed my tent. I was also quite ruthless in leaving behind things I thought I could do without. I was surprised when I weighed my pack it was lighter than I started out with even with a heavier tent.
There was still a nagging feeling in all of this that somehow I had failed, ridiculous I know, but my expectations of this walk had been well and truly shattered.