Footware

In the event it turned out not to be broken but merely heavily bruised. It came as something of a relief, but the pain was awful and equal to anything previously experienced. The Doctors had given their opinion and there it was – Strap it up, rest it as much as possible; but mostly - bad luck, look where you are going in future.

I look back and wonder at the silliness of it. I can see it happening and thinking – there, it was bound to happen. My excuse is I wanted to get out there. I wanted to experience some of that ‘wilderness’ that is supposed to occupy this planet. The forest looked inviting and it beckoned. So we went in.

Eduard Besson was born with the spirit of the mountains in his blood. His Father had climbed and conquered them and Eduard followed. His record of climbs growing with his years. When his brother died on a climb he lost the taste for the perilous predicaments he put himself in and he moved away from his home town and settled in the forests that surround Basle. From there he could take a short trip in the car and gaze upon the awesome peaks at his leisure and take comfort from the knowledge that they endured. It was habitual and almost ritual with him to take a walk in the forest at some point during the day. It didn’t matter what time particularly, just as long as he got at least an hour in.

He set off at lunchtime, taking a sizeable hunk of bread and a thick slice of cheese with him. By 3pm he had covered a good few kilometres and when he spotted a fallen tree he stopped and, sitting astride it, he had a late lunch. Languishing in the warm sun that filtered through the gap in the tree canopy where the tree had fallen. The sun and food and the delicious quietness of the forest turned languid into an art-form and he dozed as the forest life went on all around him.

There is something about an Old Forest. It has a presence, a sense of wonder that is apparent when the canopy closes overhead as you enter. Once embraced in the arms of the woodland it becomes incumbent to let the fears go. All those Issues or Worries we carry with us; dissipate as we adapt to the chronology of an Endless Forest. We learn to whisper and still manage to hear above the cacophony of sound that the woodland reveals in return for our impudence in entering. Birds call out a warning that humans are abroad. Deer prick up their ears and follow the heavy-footed humanity by sound as the alien species tramp through. Insects and bugs feel the ground tremble as we pass.

The airport was a relative ‘quiet haven’ after Heathrow, where we had embarked. The flight itself had been relaxed and short and within five hours from setting out from home, we had been safely ensconced in the flat and itching to get out to get a grip on the local surroundings; try to get a handle on the geography on the land; Switzerland.

We saw the forest approaching as we walked across the allotment area that is in use by the local tenants and farmers of the district. We had slipped our way through the labyrinth of paths and byways (each clearly marked with signposts and distances) with some degree of authority. We knew the name of the place we had come from so it would be easy to follow the signs pointing the way back. Meanwhile, the sun made itself known by filtering through the lush growth of summer and lit our way as countless footpaths opened their way for us.

Yes, I know…, we should have waited. We should have changed into more appropriate attire.. We should have stocked up on glucose tablets and a supply of water and a decent pair of walking boots and all those things that make a trip out - a Journey. Nevertheless, excited, we embarked outward… we were on a holiday, a trip out from base camp was essential to get a perspective on the local topography. WE didn’t even know of the forest until it presented itself, As we crested a sloping hill we looked down upon the vast woodland that smothered the valleys below. In the far distance we could see mountains rising, a grey presence against a green foreground. The nearest thing available to shelter from the warm sun was the forest and we ventured within. The climate changed as we walked and we felt the cooler air that gathered in the valley surround us as we descended in the fringes of the forest.

Just a short way in the path forked; WE turned to the right. At the next fork we turned left. Very soon we encountered a crossroads that presented a dilemma, so we took a chance and turned toward the direction of the silence… It was to the right I think… The birds sang all around us and we paused to listen and I adjusted the strap on my shoes. We kept the pace slow, the path was by no means an obstacle course but with the wrong shoes it became close. An hour later we paused to simply soak in the sound of a forest at work and that simple act caused the fall as my heel caught and over went my ankle resulting in the worst pain I have ever known. I screamed out and my continued cursing and ineffectual efforts to get up only served to scare the whole woodland area with a flurry of activity as animals ran and bird took flight. I think I was crying in pain.

Eduard came to from his doze, aware that not all he could hear was wildlife. His suspicion was confirmed almost instantly when he heard human voices. In his head the voices represented a violation of what he had come to think of as His forest; in reality he recognised the sound of someone in pain. He became fully awake and tried to locate the sound and succeeded when another cry came from his left just down the path. He set off to find the source of the anguished sound.

His German was of course excellent. My English is Very good. but the reverse could not be said. Whilst I can count to ten in German and say hello, goodbye and a smattering of swear words; My conversational skills are, sadly, lacking. Eduard, I think would agree.

He carried me. After a quick inspection of my ankle he hoisted me to my feet and almost slung me over his shoulder. I sort of protested but he could NOT understand me at all. I thought that maybe he thought his luck was in and he was carrying me off to his lair… Z hurried along behind. Trying to keep up with fast pace he set and trying to keep her feet to prevent another incident with a wayward ankle.

There was a firm purpose in his step and in short time we came out of the forest and past a few houses that I looked at with some longing thinking of a simple bathing of my ankle in cool water. He ignored the suggestions I made and continued with purpose until we came to his car, a rather battered Mercedes, parked at the end of a field of sunflowers, each of which seemed to watch as he dropped me into the passenger seat and waited with some patience for Z to arrive before starting the car and heading off to the nearest Hospital.

The Doctors tutted and shook their collective heads at the stupidity of an Englander in the forest wearing stupid shoes for such an excursion. Or, that is what I surmised from the way the efficient, but rather ‘cold’ way my treatment was conducted. Nevertheless, I have no complaints about the outcome. No bones broken and with it strapped up well I was able to hobble. I could expect some discomfort for a while but the painkillers would help there. All I need do is keep as active as possible and NOT let the foot atrophy through neglect. It was a lesson in humility – You went to far, now start again. And, wear suitable clothing!

The rest of the holiday was spent without incident. Visits to Basle and Lucerne and the walks around the two places revealed a delight of food and drink and friendly people who responded well to a crippled Brit in, by now, a semi-fit state and the whole served to make up for a rather splendid aside from the everyday life ‘back home’.

On the day before we were due to fly home we decided that we just had to take another walk across the fields to the forest. Despite the injury, which by now was a shadow of its former self and was fading into the mists of time, a nice walk would be good and allow us to catch up with the magic that the forest had presented. I donned a pair of trainers designed for the arduous task of walking (it said so on the box, and should anyone doubt the Brand with the swoosh?).

We spent the day well. We had taken our lunch with us. We even had a good supply of water. We walked for miles. And the return journey proved even better as we trusted the signposts and veered some way off course. We came upon deer. We stopped and attracted woodpeckers by tapping the trunk of a tree with a stone. The deer seemed to keep us company as we slowly made our way back through the vast expanse of woodland. They knew that we posed no threat and continued their browsing without regard to us. The woodpeckers got agitated by spurious signals (sent by us) and gathered around argueing among themselves… The sun shone though a filtered layer of leaves and all was well with the world.

All days end and as we left the forest and wearily trudged our way back for the last night in Switzerland, the fields near to the flat gave way to the houses and, as evening closed, we gave thanks for the sight of electric lights.. It would mean a warm bath and clean sheets on a comfortable bed.

We waited at the pedestrian crossing for some time. In Switzerland and Germany it is considered BAD form to cross against a red light even if no traffic was about. So we waited. Just before the lights changed and the green Go light came on, a silver, battered Mercedes that looked familiar somehow, came up the road. We waited for its passing but instead the driver drew to halt beside us. We tutted at the silliness of this and proceeded to walk round. The window came down and a voice called out in broken-English. The voice was known to me and carried with it a message.

After delivering the words the driver pulled away. Though not before recognition arrived, and NOT, sad to say; before the window was closed and the car drew away leaving me unable to respond and utter thanks to a Good Samaritan.

Eduard waved out of the window and vanished around the bend. Each syllable was carefully enunciated and hung in the evening air; The words still echo in the mind. "Those are Sensible shoes!”