The Germans have a word for being alone in the woods

The Germans have a word for being alone in a forest. I've been alone in a German forest and I think, frankly, they need to go further and be more specific.

Waldeinsamkeit a sort of wooded-loneliness, is one of those words we don't have in English (there are lists of these pleasures on the thingyweb).

Years ago I walked down the Rhine south of Koblenz, alone. I loved it.

Walkers and follow-your-nose runners will know if you don't know an area then certain things help you not get lost: hills, landmarks, clear lines of sight.

Woods can be very disorientating. A lost path with no reference points is confusing.

I found on my Huensruck ramblings that pine forest is worse. It's quieter. There are fewer things living there than in English broadleaf so no comforting chirp and scamper. The needles or their acidic drop undergrowth inhibitors also muffle.

Yes, I did just write acid drop undergrowth inhibitors and shame on you, you are still reading.

So a German forest is altogether worse for getting lost in, when you are alone. And everyone knows some sort of Grimm hag or goblin oven fate awaits you in the Teutonic arboreal.

Just saying they need to beef their word up a bit.

Augurs well that ends well

The phrase 'it augurs well' comes from the Roman augurs who predicted things. They told the future by watching the flight of birds (amongst other things) and so this phrase and the word eagle are linked in their origin.

So there's me having a run around Ickworth National Trust grounds in Suffolk and having to make a decision. There was a shorter 6km route or a longer 11km route and I was approaching the junction at which I'd have to make the call.

Fortunately a little egret (a white bird like a small heron) was on hand (on wing) at the junction to clearly point me left by flying and facing that way. Remembering my Romans I did as advised but did actually say out loud that I'd hold him responsible if he'd led me to boggy fiendishness.

It chose the longer route, the eejit egret.

All this is amusing if not entirely rational though there are sound principles at work here. Running experts will tell you that you can break up a hill or a long slog by distracting yourself. Checking clever timing devices, aiming for a certain point, speeding up, all take your mind off the breathlessness and joint throb. I'd used my augur for that purpose.