A tough decision

I have been humbled today by the messages I've received on my birthday. Many many thanks!
But today, and with more disappointment than I can convey I have had to take the decision to return to the UK to recuperate.

I haven't mentioned this before, as I didn't want people to worry, but I have been walking for over a week with seriously cracked heels ( one of which has been bleeding) and very sore achilles tendons. But the final straw was turning my left ankle for the second time descending from Col des Ayes. I had slipped and injured it on loose rock 3 days previously. I had hoped it had recovered after a rest day in Ceillac but unfortunately carrying was just to make it worse.

My decision then was whether to wait 7-10 days in France, or return to the UK to try and recover and consider my options. I've reluctantly decided on the latter as even if my ankle recovers sufficiently to take a pack, on past experience there was no guarentee that my tendons would have done as well.

After all the support and efforts all around it is a terrible disappointment. My timetable in retrospect was too challenging, but to carry on could well put me in serious danger as there were exposed days ahead.

I hope to be back up in Yorkshire sometime over the weekend to think about what I should do next.

Lastly once again many thanks for all your support.