Walk To Rivendell" aka "The Eowyn Challenge"

[mark12_30]

I wish Ron Inglis, as well as the BBC, would publish Just The Songs on CDs. I'd love to have them. I bought the BBC thirteen-disc set just for the music-- not cheap!-- and half the songs are only done halfway, or fade off halfway through and you can't hear the end of the tune... argh! And I just priced the Ron Inglis version; upwards of $90 for the whole set. Yeow.

It's enough to make me wish somebody would "rip" the CDs and post a set of MP3s online. I did pick up the Swann song-set online, and that was a start. Then I hunted and found a few midis.

Still, it irks me to know that those songs are out there, but not readily available at a reasonable price just for the songs.

Meanwhile I guess I'll keep using celtic tunes... I've discovered "The Lea Rig" also works for The Road goes ever on.

[Nurumaiel]

I've heard both the BBC and the Robert Inglis CDs and I must say I prefer the BBC tunes more. Of course that's obviously because I've been listening to the BBC versions many years now and I only recently heard the RI versions. For Upon The Hearth I just took the beginning tune and applied it to the rest of the song.

Another thing I find fun to do as I'm walking is sing Irish songs (of course not now, when I have a cough). The Rocky Road to Dublin is one, and then others that aren't really walking songs, like Danny Boy and Red is the Rose. Then there is translating them into Elvish and singing them that way, though the tune doesn't always work as well then.

Recently I've just been singing any hobbit walking song that comes into my head: all of them original, as well. I usually end up repeating the same thing due to not thinking about what I'm singing, but it doesn't matter, really.

Perhaps I could gather up a collection of lyrics to good walking songs, whether LotR or not, and put them on a webpage? LotR songs, definitely, though that would be quite unnecessary, seeing as we all probably own the books; a few Irish songs, mostly walking songs; and compose a few of my own, and other walkers could as well, if they'd be willing. For newly created songs we could just apply whatever tune we liked, unless someone were thorough enough to give a tune, as well. And not just LotR, Irish, and original songs. Does anyone have any favorite walking songs, or even non-walking songs that they enjoy singing while walking?

Snowing a blizzard here with a great big fog, making it near impossible to go walking without getting hopelessly lost in the woods. I don't dare risk it.

[Tinuviel of Denton]

Hello, everybody! Just wanted to let you know that I'm still out here, walking.
O, the cruelty of my older sister. She makes me get up in the morning, to face the bitter cold (this is Texas, by the way), to walk rather than sleep.
Seriously, we've been having fun and I'm getting to know my older sister much better.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Dang, still in Green Hill country. But only 8 more miles to Woody End!! Maybe I'll make it to Rivendell by Christmas....


And I just priced the Ron Inglis version; upwards of $90 for the whole set. Yeow.

Helen: I got my Ron Inglis set on ebay about a month ago for $66, the Silmarillion unabridged for $41 & the Ron Inglis Hobbit for $11.50. I monitored and bid for a couple of weeks before I actually won the auction. Keep checking. You can find it cheaper than $90. I've been listening to the Martin Shaw Silmarillion in the car, and I'm really impressed with his reading.

---------------------------------------
"Well, that's that," he said. "Now I'm off!"
Bilbo chose his favorite stick from the stand; then he whistled. Three dwarves came out of different rooms where they had been busy.
"Is everything ready?" asked Bilbo. "Everything packed and labelled?"
"Everything," they answered.
"Well, let's start then!" He stepped out of the front door.
It was a fine night, and the black sky was dotted with stars. He looked up, sniffing the air. "What fun! What fun to be off again, off on the road with dwarves! This is what I have really been longing for, for years! Good-bye!" he said, looking at his old home and bowing to the door. "Good-bye, Gandalf!"
"Good-bye, for the present, Bilbo. Take care of yourself! You are old enough, and perhaps wise enough."
"Take care! I don't care. Don't you worry about me! I am as happy now as I have ever been, and that is saying a great deal. But the time has come. I am being swept off my feet at last," he added.....
Then without another word he turned away from the lights and voices in the fields and tents, and followed by his three companions went round into his garden, and trotted down the long sloping path. He jumped over a low place in the hedge at the bottom, and took to the meadows, passing into the night like a ristle of wind in the grass.

[mark12_30]

"I am sure you have given me all the heaviest stuff," said Frodo. "I pity snails, and all that carry their homes on their backs."

"I could take a lot more yet, sir. My packet is quite light, " said Sam stoutly and untruthfully.

"No, you don't, Sam!" said Pippin. "It is good for him. ... He's been slack lately, and he'll feel the weight less when he's walked off some of his own."

"Be kind to a poor old hobbit!" laughed Frodo. "I shall be as thin as a willow-wand, I'm sure, before I get to Buckland..."

I don't imagine very many hobbits would be inclined towards much tramping through snow and cold.

When winter first begins to bite
and stones crack in the frosty night
When pools are black and trees are bare
'Tis evil in the wild to fare.

...and not much better when the nipping, biting, and bareness of trees isn't quite over yet! But soon the trees will leaf out, and walking will have more appeal. Courage!

Alatariel, I love the passages of Bilbo (and Frodo) leaving Bag-End; so sad, and so mysterious, and so alike. I've always loved how Frodo followed (if only he had known it) Bilbo down that garden path aand over that hedge! I wonder how many times Bilbo and Frodo had gone that way together, on their way to Woody End looking for Wood-elves.

Earendil sent me a note; she is walking (40 km, attahobbit!) Also heard from Lyra Greenleaf, Eruwen, & Esty.

Looking in a mirror he was startled to see a much thinner reflection of himself than he remembered: it looked remarkably like the young nephew of Bilbo who used to go tramping with his uncle in the Shire; but the eyes looked out at him thoughtfully.

"Yes, you have seen a thing or two since you last peeped out of a looking-glass," he said to his reflection. "But now for a merry meeting!" He stretched out his arms and whistled a tune.

[ April 22, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Nurumaiel]

Walkers,

I've made a journal page where you can write down your adventures. Be Hobbit, Elf, Dwarf, Man!

WtR Journal (http://www.geocities.com/ctbsl/journal.html)

The idea for this was when I found a journal on the official WtR site, but it wasn't really a journal journal. It was just to keep track of all the walking, etc. that you did.

Enjoy!

[Salix]

Hello all! Yes I'm still walking, though very slowly. I'm not counting the amount walked in school, so I'm way behind.

On Saturday, myself, my family and a family friend went for a short hike/walk. We walked rather leisurely, mostly because of the sudden proliferation of crocuses that were sprouting. The only other fellow travellers that we encountered were a group of hobbit children climbing a local large rock. So our walk was neither adventuresome or dangerous, as it was much too sunny for the Black Riders to be out and about. We have had extraordinarily warm weather, almost summer like.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

I just wanted to let you all know, Sophia's still with you smilies/wink.gif (She's talking in third person for a reason unknown to even herself, but...) 22 miles is all I've thus far accomplished, but considering finals are rapidly approaching, it's not too bad smilies/biggrin.gif

Sophia

[mark12_30]

Because she's describing her hobbit-alter-ego. Or is it an elf?

[alaklondewen]

Helen, You are doing so well! I'm very proud of you. I'm glad to see you've made it past that old, nasty Barrow Wight. Did you sing the song yourself to escape, or did you have to call on Tom to save you? smilies/wink.gif

[mark12_30]

alaklondewen, thanks! But I haven't gotten to the Barrow-Downs yet, have I? I'm still on the way there; I think I have three miles left-- hang on I'll check. I've been going by The Barrow Wight's, which puts me not at the Barrow yet, but the other one puts me past it. Hmmm, there are some discrepancies between The Barrow-Wight's version and Ranger Jewel's version...

"Oh, Golly, a Configuration Management Nightmare!" smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

Well, whatever; it's been huge fun, and looks still to be. I'm either listening to Goldberry sing or I'm on the way to Bree. ...Sam? Where am I? And where in Middle-Earth is Gandalf, I'd like to know?

And if I did get past the Barrow-Wight, did I have to sing to do it? Or am I still on my way to-- Sam??? Sam-- where are you???

[ April 22, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Ok, the Green Hill country was beautiful when I first got here, but I'm ready to leave now. Still 5 miles to Woody End. Hey...my hobbit character on another website RPG is from Woody End. That means I'll be able to sleep in a real bed again! Oh yeah!!! smilies/cool.gif

------------------------
Home is behind, the world ahead,
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadows to the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight,
Then world behind and home ahead,
We'll wander back to home and bed.
Mist and twilight, cloud and shade,
Away shall fade! Away shall fade!
Fire and lamp, and meat and bread,
And then to bed! And then to bed!
------------------------

[Raefindel]

I've had an injury but I'm still tromping along at a snail's pace (or an injured elf's pace).

Been doing more gardening than walking, but good news! My hubby said he was going to try to run in the morning, too! Glory and Trumpets! I didn't think he'd EVER see that belly...

[ April 22, 2003: Message edited by: Raefindel ]

[mark12_30]

Rae, this thing does seem contagious.

I've arrived at "Home Sweet Home" smilies/tongue.gif

They heard of the Great Barrows, and the green mounds, and the stone-rings upon the hills and in the hollows among the hills. Sheep were bleating in flocks. Green walls and white walls rose. There were fortresses on the heights. Kings of little kingdoms fought together, and the young Sun shone like fire on the red metal of their new and greedy swords. There was victory and defeat; and towers fell, fortresses were burned, and flames went up into the sky. Gold was piled on the biers of dead kings and queens; and mounds covered them, and the stone doors were shut; and the grass grew over all. Sheep walked for a while biting the grass, but soon the hills were empty again. A shadow came out of dark places far away, and the bones were stirred in the mounds. Barrow-wights walked in the hollow places with a clink of rings on cold fingers, and gold chains in the wind.' Stone rings grinned out of the ground like broken teeth in the moonlight.

[Raefindel]

OOoo! Ya scared me! Brrrrr...

[Niluial]

Ok so I have not been on for a while but don’t get me wrong I have been walking and walking, walking, walking, walking oh and running! Did I mention walking? And my boyfriend took me up Mount Everest! smilies/biggrin.gif he did... well sort of, it was a high mountain what can I say?

[Schmendrick]

Well, I'm still walking, too! smilies/smile.gif
The only problem is that I haven't been able to "recruit" anyone to walk with me and walking alone isn't so much fun...Frodo was very lucky to have Sam with him!!
By the way, I did the "Location Finder"-test the other day and the place where I'd be most likely to live is...Rivendell!
At least I'm heading for the right direction...

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Almost made it to a real bed tonight. I watched Elijah in "Huckleberry Finn" as I walked this evening. It's incredible how much Frodo I saw in Huck...or is it how much Huck I see in Frodo? My 9 year old granddaughter & I watched it this past weekend, and about five minutes into the film, she said "Grandma, that looks like Frodo!"

---------------------
"O! Wanderers in the shadowed land
despair not! For though dark they stand,
all woods there be must end at last,
and see the open sun go past:
the setting sun, the rising sun,
the day's end, or the day begun.
For east or west all woods must fail..."

[mark12_30]

I got a huge kick out of watching "young Frodo" in Huck Finn. (Edit-- no, it wasn't Huck Finn, it was Flipper! Oh, it's funny anyway.) It seemed to me that he put on a real growth spurt during the filming-- I don't think it was all camera angles. And you know how they shoot things out of sequence sometimes. So all the while I was watching "young Frodo" interacting with dolphins, other kids and Crocodile Dundee, I kept thinking... "He's twelve!" "He's sixteen!" "He's twelve!" "He's sixteen!" Hilarious.

[ April 24, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Wooohooo!! Woody End at last!! Only 5 more miles to Stock.

---------------------
But at that moment there came a sound like mingled song and laughter. Clear voices rose and fell in the starlit air. The black shadow straightened up and retreated. It climbed on to the shadowy horse and seemed to vanish across the lane into the darkness on the other side. Frodo breathed again.

"Elves!" exclaimed Sam in a hoarse whisper. "Elves, sir!" He would have burst out of the trees and dashed off towards the voices, if they had not pulled him back.

"Yes, it is Elves," saif Frodo. "One can meet them sometimes in the Woody End. They don't live in the Shire, but they wander into it in Spring and Autumn, out of their own lands away beyond the Tower Hills. I am thankful that they do!"

[alaklondewen]

I've reached Stock, and I'm currently sitting in the Golden Perch drinking some ale to celebrate. smilies/smile.gif Maybe someone else in the area will join me.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Because she's describing her hobbit-alter-ego. Or is it an elf?

Aaah, I think she's a Maia. Who else gets to fling around thunderbolts at random? Such fun... Maybe she's related to Osse.

By the way, this Thunder Mistress has trudged a total of thirty seven miles! *fanfare* (A long weekend of walking about in Chicago will do it...)

Sophia

[Dûrlossiel]

O, the cruelty of my older sister. She makes me get up in the morning, to face the bitter cold (this is Texas, by the way), to walk rather than sleep.

Well, I guess the older sister can defend herself. The two of us walking was completely Tinuviel's idea, so she can't complain. We're up to 28 miles (it'll be 30 in a few hours when I get her up again. smilies/smile.gif )

This is most definately easier with someone, Tinuviel doesn't get up every time and I've walked alone a couple times.

[mark12_30]

Heh, heh, heh-- so we get to watch the duel of wits and wills between Dûrlossiel and Tinuviel? I didn't know that Luthien had a sister, or is Tinuviel named after Luthien...? This sounds like the makings of a story in itself. (Hint, hint.)

[Raefindel]

One of my little Elves had a birthday so I've been busy and not on the Downs. (She got a hampster and is ecestatic.)

I'ts funny, this end of the Old forest looks the same as the other side. In fact the whole tirp seems to look the same. This Elf is ready for some change!

[Salix]

Argh! Just when I'm getting within sight of the next landmark, in the nice +20 degrees C here, yesterday it started raining and didn't go over +10, and today it starts snowing! Snowing? What is with the weather? I think 2 inches have fallen since eleven (our time) last night. I can't even bike to school on Monday, because I hate riding on both snow and gravel, and hiking is our of the question because at our usual hiking spot, the snow is knee deep! If this weather continues this way, then I'll never get to Rivendell.

[peony_foxburr]

Hurrah! only 3 miles to the second campsite.

Had an interesting encounter the other day. I passed an old gaffer sitting by the roadside with his pony, so I greeted him and asked why he was looking so dejected. "I'm not feeling well," he replied. "This pony is too strong for me to ride today, and I'm too tired to walk home." I offered to see him there, so up he went into the saddle with me in front to control the stubborn beast. All went well till we came to a little downhill run ending in a stone wall--and didn't that pony take the bit in its teeth and gallop off, clearing the wall nicely! I managed to pull him up, and neither of us fell off. But then next I heard a great hallooing behind me--a Shirrif, on ponyback himself! He gave me a great scolding about reckless riding and endangerment, and hinted he might have to take me into custody, but the old gaffer spoke up and explained I was doing a good turn, that it wasn't even my pony and--here he whispered: "We always take this stretch at a gallop, and the pony knows it! but don't tell my wife or she'll have my head."
So after that the Shirrif let us ride on.

I have only passed one Black Rider--he barked in an unfriendly manner, but let me by nonetheless without giving chase.

[Vardamar]

Vardamar was very stupid. After staying the night at farmer Maggots, Vardamar prepared to set out on his journey. Before leaving Mrs. Maggot told Vardamar to make sure to wear his coat saying that while it might seem warm, it was cooler then he thought. Vardamar being young and thinking himself very tough, said it was a beautiful day, and went on in a T-Shirt. Needless to say, Vardamar became very sick, and did not move at all for a week. Now the sickness has passed, and Vardamar is building up his strength. He ran another two miles, and has reached Crickhollow (73 miles). He does remember to wear his jacket though.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Spent most of the day at a Hobbit t-ball game and working the concession stand. With all those little hungry Hobbits, we were busier than a hive of Beorn's honeybees. Decided to walk when I got back to my hobbit-hole and I finally made it to Stock. At this rate, I might actually make it to Bucklebury Ferry by the end of next week.

--------------------
Wonderful folk, Elves, sir! Wonderful!"...."Do you feel any need to leave the Shire now--now that your wish to see them has come true already?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. I don't know how to say it, but after last night I feel different. I seem to see ahead, in a kind of way. I know we are going to take a very long road, into darkness; but I know I can't turn back. It isn't to see Elves now, nor dragons, nor mountains, that I want--I don't rightly know what I want: but I have something to do before the end, and it lies ahead, not in the Shire. I must see it through, sir, if you understand me."
"I don't altogether. But I understand that Gandalf chose me a good companion. I am content. We will go together."

[Nurumaiel]

I've reached Frodo's first campsite at 18 miles by walking 2 miles this morning. And I plan to walk 2 more later in the day to make it a 20. smilies/smile.gif

There was a bit of an adventure today. Frodo (the dog) and I. As we were coming to a ridge we saw two Black Riders on top of it, heading down. I knew Frodo would make a big fuss about Black Riders (*cough*other dogs*cough*), so we darted into the forest silently, not daring to crack a twig. Frodo was quite upset at it and threatened to make a lot of noise, so I had to literally clamp his mouth shout with his hand. I don't think we were spotted. smilies/wink.gif

Still searching the WtR site, trying to find the page that told how many miles you'd have to walk each week if you were to start now...

[Niluial]

Hey!
I injured myself today in ice-skating smilies/frown.gif. But it is fine about two days rest then I can maybe walk again. I am just a little confused where does everyone find the things umm e.g. I walked two miles I reached Frodos first camp site... how do you know that???

[Lyra Greenleaf]

If you go to the BD website home page, look under Fun and Games, on the left side, and you'll see walk to rivendell. enter your mileage and it shows you where you are. Isn't the BW good to us?

[Vardamar]

As a sure sign that I am feeling better, I grabbed my running shoes and went for a five mile run today. It was 30*C, or 80*F sunny with a slight breeze. I am now camping in the Bonfire Glade (78miles), and the trees seem to be talking to one another, quite creepy if you ask me.

[ April 27, 2003: Message edited by: Vardamar ]

[mark12_30]

Nurumaiel,

Hobbits and elves are both good at math. (Even Sam, who is really adept at estimating food supplies and the phases of the moon.) Just divide it out. 458 miles divided by (number of weeks left til Dec 17). To me that looks like roughly 33 weeks or so which would be 458/33 = 13.88, or call it fourteen miles per week: that's two miles per day every day.

My tactic is to do more than that daily (I do 3 or 4 or more) so that when I need a rest I can have one. I took this weekend off as my knees were starting to complain a little too much. Tomorrow morning, it's back to Mount Tom (Bombadil??) and the Troll Trail again!

[ April 27, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Live from the Green Hill Country:

Sophia the Thunder Mistress turns and waves good-bye to the Water Valley, just like Frodo did. The difference being that unlike Frodo, Sophia's waving Goodbye and Good-riddance and she's itching to get out of the Shire... smilies/biggrin.gif

Reporting for Barrowdowns News at the 42 mile marker: Your friendly neighborhood Thunder Mistress

[Nurumaiel]

*slaps forehead*

Well.... Thank you, mark12_30! I should have thought of figuring it out myself. Why didn't I? It's quite obvious. They figure it out, why can't I figure it out... why can't I even think of figuring it out. *mumbles something nearly inaudible about reading too many Miss Marples and sitting backstage for hours the day before so that's why her brain is so fried* smilies/wink.gif

It's 20 miles now. Fortunately I don't have to sit backstage for hours again until later in the afternoon, so that means I'll get at the very least 2 miles done tomorrow.

26 miles to the next landmark...

[peony_foxburr]

Peony is so pleased at reaching Stock (52 miles) that she stops in at the Golden Perch and has a beer, which helps her forget her sore muscles and walk 2 more miles...Can't wait for the delicious mushrooms at Farmer Maggot's place!

She sings along with whatever is playing on her elven-gifted ai-podas she walks. This could be anything from the Beatles to The Sacred Harp, so she only hums when there are ear-witnesses.

[peony_foxburr]

Concerning walking (and other)songs...I had another idea about "discovering" tunes that fit some of the songs Tolkien composed. It has to do with the meter of the poetry--the number of syllables per line, basically. An example to illustrate:
The / road / goes / e / ver / on / and / on
Down / from / the / door / where / it / be / gan;
Now / far / a / head / the / road / has / gone
And / I / must / fol / low / if / I / can.

There are eight syllables per line x 4 lines= 88.88, also called Long Meter.
If you are someone with access to a hymnal that has a "metrical index" you can discover tunes which fit the words above. Probably best to use less well known tunes, to avoid unintentional humor! ("I'm Sorry, I Haven't a Clue" on BBC has a hysterical routine called "One Song to the Tune of Another," e.g. "My Old Man's a Dustman" sung to the tune of "Heartbreak Hotel.")

There is also an online resource at The Cyber Hymnal with MIDI files, metrical indices, etc.

I have only classified the following by meter so far. See appendices to ROTK for reference to page numbers.

Common Meter: (86.86)
"In western lands"
"I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold"
"I sit beside the fire and think"

Long Meter: (88.88)
Song of Berien and Luthien
"Snow-white, snow white, O Lady clear"
"Farewell we call to hearth and hall"
Frodo's Lament for Gandalf

My resource is the Hymnal 1982 of the Episcopal Church USA, and some of the tunes for Common Meter I've tried out include "Forest Green," "Kingsfold," Noel," and "The Third Tune." For Long Meter: "Dunedin," "Deo Gracias," "St Patrick's Breastplate," "When Jesus Wept" and "Danby."
[/URL]The Cyber Hymnal (http://www.cyberhymnal.org)

[mark12_30]

Peony, that's GREAT! If you go to Tunes By Meter they have wierd meters by the numbers. I've often put celtic tunes to LOTR songs (there's a thread about that somewhere) and I have a list; but the Old Walking Song stumped me totally because it's WIERD meter. 8 8 8 8 8 8 6 6 6 6. Very wierd. Celtic songs don't do that particular kind of wierd that I've been able to find. But-- there are tunes for wierd meters there. I'm going looking!


EDIT

Y'know, he fooled me. Tolkien and his rythms!! It's 8888888888, and on some of it he just leaves out some syllables. But Frodo's final "coda" or whatever yo ucall it that he sings in The Grey Havens chapter, is 888888.

How's a hiker sposedta put it all together?
Frodo's last verse:

Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate,
And though I oft have passed them by,
A day will come at last when I
Shall take the hidden paths that run
West of the Moon, East of the Sun.

Old Walking Song

Upon the hearth the fire is red,
Beneath the roof there is a bed;
But not yet weary are our feet,
Still round the corner we may meet
A sudden tree or standing stone
That none have seen but we alone.
Tree and flower, leaf and grass,
Let them pass! Let them pass!
Hill and water under sky,
Pass them by! Pass them by!

Still round the corner there may wait
A new road or a secret gate,
And though we pass them by today,
Tomorrow we may come this way
And take the hidden paths that run
Towards the Moon or to the Sun.
Apple, thorn, and nut and sloe,
Let them go! Let them go!
Sand and stone and pool and dell,
Fare you well! Fare you well!

Home is behind, the world ahead,
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadows to the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight.
Then world behind and home ahead,
We'll wander back to home and bed.
Mist and twilight, cloud and shade,
Away shall fade! Away shall fade!
Fire and lamp and meat and bread,
And then to bed! And then to bed!



[ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Schmendrick]

Well, I'm still stuck in the Green Hill Country!!(Will I ever get out of there?)Actually the only reason I wanted to post here, was to show off my new avatar! It's the first time my avatar actually works!!! I'm so happy! smilies/smile.gif

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Ah, I wondered what all those numbers were about, it's how many syllables are in each line, correct? That would be a great help setting poems to music.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Well, I'm still stuck in the Green Hill Country!!(Will I ever get out of there?)

Schmendrick: It sure seems like that when you're there, but you've only got 1 more mile to go before you get to Woody End!! smilies/tongue.gif

I'm just a few miles outside of Stock, but I will make it to Bucklebury Ferry by the end of the week.

--------------------
...but a lane branched right, winding through a wood of ancient oak-trees on its way to Woodhall. 'That is the way for us,' said Frodo.

Not far from the road-meeting they came on the huge hulk of a tree: it was still alive and had leaves on the small branches that it had put out around the broken stumps of its long-fallen limbs; but it was hollow, and could be entered by a great crack on the side away from the road. The hobbits crept inside, and sat there upon a floor of old leaves and decayed wood. They rested and had a light meal, talking quietly and listening from time to time.

Twilight was about them as they crept back to the lane. The West wind was sighing in the branches. Leaves were whispering. Soon the road began to fall gently but steadily into the dusk. A star came out above the trees in the darkening East before them. They went abreast and in step, to keep up their spirits. After a time, as the stars grew thicker and brighter, the feeling of disquiet left them, and they no longer listened for the sound of hoofs. They began to hum softly, as hobbits have a way of doing as they walk along, especially when they are drawing near to home at night. With most hobbits it is a supper-song or a bed-song; but these hobbits hummed a walking-song (though not, of course, without any mention of supper and bed).

[Salix]

This snow here is finally going down a bit. On Saturday, it got to be a foot and a half deep! The snow has been melting, so hopefully I'll be able to start walking again very soon. Tomorrow isn't happening cause my sibling is having her birthday tomorrow.

[LINZIELF]

smilies/cool.gif is anybody else looking around where they live and trying to find places that almost match where they are on their journey
?my little hobbit and I spend ages poring over our maps working out where to go for our walks that seem the best. We've got the ruins of a castle lined up for Weathertop and have already crossed the Brandywine River (ok the harbour entrance) on our own Buckleberry Ferry aka The Bramble Bush Bay floating bridge ferry! We are actually going to walk on the Barrow Downs in the appropriate place! Don't quite know what we'll do for the Midgewater Marshes though!
He loved maps, and in his hall there hung a large one of the Country Round with all his favourite walks marked on it in red ink.

[Schmendrick]

LINZIELF: You have a quote from R.E.M in your signature!? I love it (well, both the quote AND R.E.M, actually!)

Other news: I made it to the Woody End finally!! smilies/smile.gif

[LINZIELF]

smilies/smile.gif Thank you Schmendrick smilies/cool.gif It's my favourite R.E.M track and I just think it's very apt for The Lord Of The Rings and it's my outlook on life.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

It's taken me considerably longer to get here than it did Frodo & company, but Bucklebury Ferry is only 5 more miles. I think I'll stop for lunch tomorrow at Farmer Maggot's...I'm in the mood for mushrooms. smilies/tongue.gif

--------------------
They went on for perhaps another couple of miles. Then the sun gleamed out of ragged clouds again and the rain lessened. It was now past mid-day, and they felt it was high time for lunch. They halted under an elm tree: its leaves though fast turning yellow were still thick, and the ground at its feet was fairly dry and sheltered. When they came to make their meal, they found that the Elves had filled their bottles with a clear drink, pale golden in colour: it had the scent of a honey made of many flowers, and was wonderfully refreshing. Very soon they were laughing, and snapping their fingers at rain, and at Black Riders. The last few miles, they felt, would soon be behind them.

[Raefindel]

Ring-a-dong-dillo! That was a good meal and a good night's rest but the music here is making me crazy! I'm outta here!

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Hello LINZIELF and Raefindel! Looks like old Tom has a houseful today!

The idea of matching where you are on the journey to the landscape you are walking through is wonderful. I only wish I had more diverse surroundings. How are going to find the Barrow Downs? Is it far away LINZIELF?

[Lalaith]

Well, I'm in the Old Forest.
My recent walks IRL have taken me through terrain as lovely as anything Middle Earth has to offer, as my hobbits crossed the Brandywine I trekked alongside the beautiful lake of Ullswater. And my holiday home had the most splendid bath you ever saw, Cricklehollow would have been hard-pressed to better it. Back home now, sadly with very little walking terrain around me to help conjure up the Old Forest. Maybe just as well, mind you.
Congratulations to those hardy walkers who have already reached Tom!

[ April 30, 2003: Message edited by: Lalaith ]

[LINZIELF]

smilies/smile.gif smilies/biggrin.gif
The Barrow Downs are in the lovely Purbeck Hills in the Dorset countryside of England - not too far away? and it's lovely and high nearly 700 feet above (the ever present) sea level.
Tom Bombadil's house is so full of good company and songs that it will be hard to leave but Rivendell calls....
For an elf I sure have some Hobbity tendancies - drinking, second breakfast, maps, music! Will be spending the MayDay bank holiday walking and will hopefully be crossing the BarrowDowns in the right mileage and making my way to the Great Eastern Road. Can only persuade my little Hobbit to accompany me and keep the Barrow-wights at bay.
Suddenly Tom's talk left the woods and went leaping up the young stream, over pebbles and worn rocks, and among small flowers in close grass and wet crannies, wandering at last up on to the Downs. They heard of the Great Barrows, and the green mounds, and the stone- rings upon the hills and in the hollows among the hills.
A shadow came out of dark places faraway, and the bones were stirred in the mounds. Barrow-wights walked in the hollow places with a clink of rings on cold fingers, and gold chains in the wind.

[Raefindel]

I had planned on doing a parody of Tom Bombadil's song, but I guess I just didn't stay long enough. I have a mind to gather some treasure and obtain a Barrow-blade.


Ring-a-dong dillo, I'll gag you with a pillow!

[ April 30, 2003: Message edited by: Raefindel ]

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

BUCKLEBURY FERRY at last!!! Only about 10 more miles and I'll be out of the Shire. Lunch at the Maggot's was great. Mrs. M makes the best mushrooms this side of the Misty Mountains.

Ring-a-dong dillo, I'll gag you with a pillow!

Raefindel: I have to admit that I sometimes feel like that about Mr. Bombadil too.

--------------------
'I want Mr. Baggins. Have you seen him?' said a muffled voice--but the voice was the voice of Merry Brandybuck. A dark lantern was uncovered, and its light fell on the astonished face of the farmer.
...As he came out of the mist and their fears subsided, he seemed suddenly to diminish to ordinary hobbit-size. He was riding a pony, and a scarf was swathed round his neck and over his chin to keep out the fog.
...'Where did you find them, Mr. Maggot? In your duck-pond?'
'No, I caught 'em trespassing,' said the farmer, 'and nearly set my dogs on 'em; but they'll tell you all the story, I've no doubt. Now, if you'll excuse me, Mr. Merry and Mr. Frodo and all, I'd best be turning for home. Mrs. Maggot will be worriting with the night getting thick.'
...He lit his lanterns, and got up. Suddenly he produced a large basket from under the seat. 'I was nearly forgetting,' he said. 'Mrs. Maggot put this up for Mr. Baggins, with her compliments.' He handed it down and moved off, followed by a chorus of thanks and good-nights.
They watched the pale rings of light round his lanterns as they dwindled into the foggy night. Suddenly Frodo laughed: from the covered basket he held, the scent of mushrooms was rising.

[mark12_30]

I have a mind to gather some treasure and obtain a Barrow-blade.

Golly, why didn't I think of that? And here I've been worried about archery instead of fencing. Maybe I'm morphing into an elf. (Shudder)

Linzielf, I really do love your idea about matching the countryside to the hobbits'. Very cool idea.

Last night what could have been a restful evening turned into a late evening with lots of silly music, making an idiot of myself and then disappearing, and a heated discussion with a guy named Strider.

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Swordmaiden of Rohan]

I think this is a great idea, so even though I'm starting late I'm going to go for it.
I'll have to walk a lot to catch up, but hey, it'll be fun.

Romerie, Swordmaiden of Rohan

[Nurumaiel]

Romerie
A hearty welcome from Green Hill Country to you! Since you're starting now you should walk about 2 miles per day, I suppose.

Well, I'm now at 24 miles, which isn't wonderful, considering it's been a month and a day I've been walking, but now I find that even if I can't walk more, I can walk at least 2 miles every day, which was quite impossible before. Today will definitely be a 2 mile walk. Not enough time. Tomorrow? That is yet to be seen.

Ahem! Now I'm rambling! Good for all of you who have reached Tom's house. I feel a bit sorry for him. I bet he didn't expect that many at the same time, eh? smilies/wink.gif And Helen, I'd like to congratulate you on reaching Bree! I'm following far but steadily behind. smilies/smile.gif

Nuru

[mark12_30]

Well, Bree was fun, but it's time to move on, and although it'a damp out, I think just outside the village I'll be detouring off the road and into the hills for a bit.

I hope I won't hit the marshes just yet. But judging by the swarms of midges, they can't be far away.

[Niluial]

I worked it out on the fun and games thing (thanks Lyra smilies/biggrin.gif) I have reached Woody End, ice-skating really helps though I think that I am still very far behind! It is 6 miles to the next landmark. I STILL HAVE You still have 412 miles to Rivendell.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Didn't make it too far today...too many mushrooms yesterday!! I'll spend the weekend at Crickhollow, before heading for the Old Forest next week. I sure hope Merry saved me some hot water. After all this walking, I want to soak for about 2 hours.

--------------------

The ferry-boat moved slowly across the water. The Buckland shore drew nearer. Sam was the only member of the party who had not been over the river before. He had a strange feeling as the slow gurgling stream slipped by: his old life lay behind in the mists, dark adventure lay in front. He scratched his head, and for a moment had a passing wish that Mr. Frodo could have gone on living quietly at Bag End.

[Nurumaiel]

Ever said you were going to do something and then didn't? I said I was going to walk 2 miles.... I didn't.

(I walked 4).

Nearly out of the twenties and into the thirties.

Green Hill Country was extremely pretty on this certain trip. I found a little stream with a stone bridge going over it.... quite beautiful, the scenery and everything. I was pondering on what the scenery could match with and I'm afraid it looks most like Amon Hen from the movie, which isn't on the RtR.

On my way.....
Nurumaiel

[peony_foxburr]

Wow--I made it to the edge of the Old Forest at last. Most days I'm able to get in 4-5 miles, some as many as 7. I'm just hoping the *habit* of walking will remain with me once my LOA is over. Looking for different places to walk (even resembling that part of ME where we're spozed to be)--I like that!

This Pacific Northwest forest gives me a Fangorn feeling:cool rainy climate, evergreens, lots of moss on the trees(supporting little microforests of ferns, fungi, etc), and something called "Old Man's Beard" which reminds me of "Spanish moss." I forget the proper name for what it is though. (Epiphyte?) If I start the TTT soundtrack when I leave the house, am just reaching that woodsy portion of the trail when "Treebeard" begins to play. Any day now, I expect to spot an Ent.

Someone asked about figuring out what meter a song is written in. Yes, it's primarily based on how many syllables are in a line. However, just to confuse things, there can be "extra" notes in the melody, where a syllable is extended over two notes. Thus, when singing new words to a "new" tune, these "slurs" have to be observed in the same spot, and the stressed syllables have to match. Here's an example (don't do this in public or they'll be calling the guys in white coats)to sing: "The road goes ever on & on," to the tune of "It came upon the midnight clear." It's hard to explain concisely, which is where using a familiar tune to illustrate helps. I hope!

[mark12_30]

Peony, I'm glad you brought that up.

(What's an LOA?)

Well, since Mhoram has instituted a Walk To Crickhollow, smilies/biggrin.gif I'm going to mutter something unofficial about a Walk To Mount Doom. I'll probably call it something different...? Something a little more appealing? The Ring Quest, or, I dunno. But I do imagine that there will be a few (perhaps more than a few) who do want to keep going.

Ah, however, if anybody hears of a Barrow-Wightish plot on my account for even mentioning this (I can hear the worthy and noble green penguin howling BANDWIDTH!!! MY BANDWIDTH!!!) then, ah, er, well, don't you know, well, (stammers) perhaps you didn't ... ah... hear it from me??? Or... something. Er, er, er, well, Sam, now, listen, if you love me, you'll tell ABSOLUTELY NO ONE ABOUT THIS, and if you do, then I hope Gandalf DOES turn you into a spotted toad and fill the garden with grass snakes...

**Slinks off to the barrow-downs birthday party trying to stay hidden and whistle casually at the same time**

[ May 02, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Nurumaiel]

Helen,
I seriously think if you don't slow down a bit, you will have to start walking to Mount Doom! smilies/wink.gif But don't worry, I never heard the idea from you.... er.... it was.... Elrond's idea that we should get out of Rivendell as fast as we could.... er.... yes.

Ah, I should have known this would be a dangerous thing for me. It's already become annual, you see. Every year, starting on March 25th (ahem!) and ending December 17th (I won't change the date for my own sake... my head will start whirling and I'll get too confused), I will travel to Rivendel (at least, of course). It is an adventure, and I've never had so much fun walking before. Not that I never had fun before, but this is much more enjoyable in every way. All those adventures, walking to Rivendell. Not that I've ever had an adventure bigger than having five bumblebees circle around me for a long stretch of trail....

It was Elrond's idea.....

Nurumaiel

[mark12_30]

Nuru, I love your idea about starting "officially" on March 25. Love it.

Dec 17 will be hard for me to remember, though, because it's not in the books-- is it?--

Here's a few dates from The Encyclopaedia of Arda-- I may pick one of these... was it the 22nd that Frodo crossed the Ford and passed out? or more like the 19th or... gah. I'll have to look it up at home.

1 October Black Riders raid Buckland in the early morning.
25 October The Council of Elrond.
25 December The setting-out of the Fellowship from Rivendell.

EDIT:
According to this link (http://fin.go.wifl.at.org/tables/html/calendar.htm) it was the twentieth of October that Frodo reached the Fords of Isen. He woke up on the 24th (OK, makes sense) and the council was on the 25th.
That page is a nice resource, by the way. Check it out.
Funduilas (http://fin.go.wifl.at.org/index.htm)'s J. R. R. Tolkien page...

[ May 02, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[peony_foxburr]

"LOA" means "Leave of Absence." I still use my accrued vacation time, but it's either for one's own medical reasons or those of a family member (which is true in my case), or for educational reasons. AND - by law, the employer has to allow it--an issue at my place, where normally nurses can't take more than two weeks off at once, and only one person in my unit can take vacation at a time.

[Nurumaiel]

I rather like the idea of aiming for October 20th - 25th. Ideal, I think, for arriving at Rivendell? First round, though, I'll go for Dec. 17th. '04 will probably be a bit different. Maybe there won't be such a late-coming spring.

Hobbits are made of stern stuff, aren't they? 458 miles, starting Septemember 22nd? That gives them about a month to walk the distance. Especially considering that hobbits tend to be a bit round in the stomach and don't often go on such long treks. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin have my utmost admiration.

Concerning the Fatty Bolger Challenge... I thought that was really wonderful. It was put on as a joke but I think it should be taken quite seriously by those who don't think they can walk 458 miles. That distance is quite a challenge! But I think we should all do what the WtR page told us to: Don't look at it as going 458 miles. Make small goals. Your first goal would be 18 miles, Green Hill Country. Then 46 miles, etc. Not as... overwhelming.

But if any of them find they've made it to Crickhollow and they still have time left, they'll be welcomed here, I'm sure. The name (The Fatty Bolger Challenge) was too cute for me. I could just see Fredegar walking up Mount Doom... er.... not the point, but that was the image that sprang to mind. smilies/wink.gif

Now, a question! I know some of us are 'being characters.' Elves, Dwarves, Men, Hobbits, etc. Is anybody being a character they've made up from a RPG or story, whether the story is published on a fan fiction page or not?

As for myself, my character is Robin Brandybuck from the Long Winter RPG, now Robin Green, of course. She's travelling to Rivendell again to visit her friend Nicrabanwen and on the way she's stopping at Buckland where her husband Dinodas is working. Her two children are back at Hobbiton in the care of her mother, because they're too young to go on this journey but Robin has to make it. On return from each little trip I write what small adventures I had from still young Robin's point of view. I've built up a lot of sympathy for the poor hobbit, so torn in two. Her husband lies one way and her children the other. At the end of the road, I'll be copying it all down to computer and putting it on a webpage for viewing... will most likely be much too long to post here!

But for those of you who are 'playing' characters on this road: What are their names? Why are they going to Rivendell? Perhaps you have an Elf who was in Hobbiton and is now returning to his/her home? I'm interested in hearing!

28 miles,
Nurumaiel

[Raefindel]

Oh, Nurumaiel! If Tom Bombadil can afford to feed 4 hobbits he can afford to keep a two little elves and a hobbit. After all we elves don't eat as much as hobbits, do we LINZIELF?

I managed to cut myself in the barrow, today. They tried to send me home from work but I refused to get stitches when I had SUPERGLUE in my purse! smilies/biggrin.gif

[ May 03, 2003: Message edited by: Raefindel ]

[Vardamar]

Just a quick update...I have done two more five mile runs..bringing my total up to 88 miles. Still in the Bonfire Glade though.

[alaklondewen]

Well, I've as of today, I have completed the Fatty Bolger Challenge! 74 miles and I'm ready for that hot bath. Old Forest here I come!

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

46... heavens, what must one do to catch up smilies/wink.gif. It's much nicer for you who have countryside to walk through, I'm going round and round on the track on campus... hard to imagine the green hill country. More like the black asphalt country (blech...) Does this mean I'm doing Walk Thru Mordor? smilies/tongue.gif

Sophia

[ May 04, 2003: Message edited by: Sophia the Thunder Mistress ]

[mark12_30]

I'm not sure whether one is supposed to rest in the Chetwood forests, but I did today. And my partner emailed with regrets for tomorrow AM... so it's exploration day. Guess I'll go exploring with m'dawgs! Hmmm, where in Chetwood shall I go...?

THinking of you, Rae. My dad is flying out to Seattle to see my aunt. I was planning on going, but we have ameeting to go to that is important, and my hubbie does NOT want me to risk missing it. So it doesn't look like I'll go. smilies/frown.gif

Bummer.

[ May 04, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Ahhhhh...that hot bath was wonderful, Merry!! Well, I've had more of a rest here at Crickhollow than Frodo & company, but now I'm ready to journey on to the Old Forest. No more hot baths till I get to Tom's house.

--------------------

Sing hey! for the bath at close of day
that washes the weary mud away!
A loon is he that will not sing:
O! Water Hot is a noble thing!

O! Sweet is the sound of falling rain,
and the brook that leaps from hill to plain;
but better than rain or rippling streams
is Water Hot that smokes and steams.

O! Water cold we may pour at need
down a thirsty throat and be glad indeed;
but better is Beer, if drink we lack,
and Water Hot poured down the back.

O! Water is fair that leaps on high
in a fountain white beneath the sky;
but never did fountain sound so sweet
as splashing Hot Water with my feet!

[Schmendrick]

Well, I´have been so busy with my studies lately that I don't know if I should switch to the Fatty Bolger Challenge! smilies/wink.gif
But no, not really - I'm not ready to give up just yet, even if I am WAY behind my schedule...
Today it was a wonderful weather here and I walked in the forest (careful to avoid black riders and other evil creatures, though) and on the fields. The birds were singing and I even saw a bunny! smilies/smile.gif
And I have to agree, Sophie: it is MUCH more agreeable to walk in the nature...but I guess it would be even more agreeable with a nice hobbit-companion (sigh)!
Anyway, I'm not far away from the Bucklebury Ferry anymore! Actually, I guess I am at farmer Maggot's...(" It was five miles or more from Maggot's lane to the ferry...")? Mushrooms and bacon!YAY! smilies/biggrin.gif

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

And I have to agree, Sophie: it is MUCH more agreeable to walk in the nature...but I guess it would be even more agreeable with a nice hobbit-companion (sigh)!


it really is, but the good news is that with me gone from home and my distracting friends all summer I'll be able to have more than enough time to do my walking in the black asphalt country. smilies/biggrin.gif I have, btw progressed as far as the Woody End... not much of an improvement, as the country looks about the same, but smilies/biggrin.gif any progress is progress right?

*mumbles under her breath* why didn't I just wait for Walk to the Kitchen? smilies/wink.gif

Sophia

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Ah rainy days and Mondays, in the Barrow Downs. It was a busy weekend and my pedometer stopped working as well. I’ll have to find another among the treasures here!

[Lindolirian]

I was wondering if marching for marching band would count for such a "Walk"? If so, then I may be at the doorstep of Bag End right now, but by October I will have walked to the Orocarni and back. Ok, so more realistically to the Lonely Mountain and perhaps back to the Elven King's Halls, but hey...

[Raefindel]

Anything that can be counted in miles (or kilometers) counts. We have people wearing pedometers at work, dance class, arobics etc.
Even swimming counts (if you can figure out how to measure your miles.) So get your pedometer and go to town! smilies/cool.gif

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Wow, the Old Forest has spread right up to the Hedge. It's really kinda creepy. I would have made it to the Bonfire Glade today, but a tree dropped a branch right on my foot. Barring any more unforeseen tree attacks, I should be at Tom's house in a couple of weeks. At least I don't have to worry about Black Riders in here. It's a good thing Elves can rest their minds and still keep watch....

--------------------

Merry: "But the Forest is queer. Everything in it is very much more alive, more aware of what is going on, so to speak, than things are in the Shire. And the trees do not like strangers. They watch you. They are usually content merely to watch you, as long as daylight lasts, and don't do much. Occasionally the most unfriendly ones may drop a branch, or stick a root out, or grasp at you with a long trailer. But at night things can be most alarming, or so I am told. I have only once or twice been in here after dark, and then only near the Hedge. I thought all the trees were whispering to each other, passing news and plots along in an unintelligible language; and the branches swayed and groped without any wind. They do say the trees do actually move, and can surround strangers and hem them in."

[Nurumaiel]

38 miles and 8 more to Woody End! I'll get there in 2 - 4 more days, I think. I feel as though I'm finally catching up. Isn't it wonderful to find how much free time you have? I can't wait to reach Crickhollow. Merry! Are you preparing a nice hot bath and a good, hearty meal?

A mile or two further south they hastily crossed the great road from the Brandywine Bridge; they were now in the Tookland and bending south-eastwards they made for the Green Hill Country. ......When the light of the last farm was far behind, peeping among the trees, Frodo turned and waved a hand in farewell.

[LINZIELF]

smilies/biggrin.gif
This elf is now enjoying the fabled hospitality of Mr Butterbur and looking forward to a restful stay. The beer is of a particularly fine vintage and goes exceptionally well with lembas! I was hoping to find some walking companions staying here but....my hobbit child has given up accompanying me so I am all alone smilies/frown.gif smilies/frown.gif Walked the BarrowDowns with no signs of the BarrowWights but did find some of their treasure - a gold cross and chain. Hoping to leave Bree and head off on my way very soon - hopefully taking some supplies of this most excellent beer to keep me company!

It comes in pints? I'll take the lot!

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

The undergrowth in the Forest is so thick, it makes the going really slow. And the humidity in this part of the Forest must be 90%...I feel all sticky & icky. Only 35 more miles to Tom's house. Hey, Goldberry, break out the strawberry bubble bath!

--------------------

There was not as yet any sign of a path, and the trees seemed constantly to bar their way. Pippin suddenly felt that he could not bear it any longer, and without warning let out a shout. "Oi! Oi!" he cried. "I am not going to do anything. Just let me pass through, will you!"
The others halted startled; but the cry fell as if muffled by a heavy curtain. There was no echo or answer though the wood seemed to become more crowded and more watchful than before.
"I should not shout, if I were you," said Merry. "It does more harm than good."
Frodo began to wonder if it were possible to find a way through, and if he had been right to make the others come into this abominable wood. Merry was looking from side to side, and seemed already uncertain which way to go. Pippin noticed it. "It has not taken you long to lose us," he said. But at that moment Merry gave a whistle of relief and pointed ahead.
"Well, well!" he said. "These trees do shift. There is the Bonfire Glade in front of us (or I hope so), but the path to it seems to have moved away!"

[Kalel]

IS ti too late to join up? (I know I'm extremely late in asking, but this sounds like much fun, and is a way to get some excercise. And I think I can make up for lost time.)

[mark12_30]

Kalel, it is certainly not too late to join. Welcome! You'll do fine. Just divide 458 miles by the number of days left til the RotK premiere and that's how many miles you have to do per day. Sounds like around 2?? Have fun, print out some maps and enjoy the road. Are you a hobbit or an elf (or a dwarf or something else?)

--mark12_30 (a Frodo; I'm sure there are more than one...)

[Kalel]

Who knows? Half-elf I think. And it's approximately 2.1 miles a day. I think I can do that...now to get my hands on some equipment. Thanks for the welcome, and I'll do my best!

[Nurumaiel]

Here's another one.....

Welcome, Kalel!

smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

Two welcomes. smilies/wink.gif

Yes, if you walk 2.1 miles a day, you should be getting there. You should be walking about 14 miles a week.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

I can see the Bald Hill off in the distance, but it will probably take 4-5 more days before I reach it. I just want a breath of free air...the heat and humidity in here just saps my strength. I could really use one of Merry's ponies right now.

--------------------

But after a while the air began to get hot and stuffy. The trees drew close again on either side, and they could no longer see far ahead. Now stronger than ever they felt again the ill will of the wood pressing on them. So silent was it that the fall of their ponies' hoofs, rustling on dead leaves and occasionally stumbling on hidden roots, seemed to thud in their ears.

[mark12_30]

Alatáriël,

I so love your posts. What a breath of fresh Middle-Earth air!

And Nurumaiel, I'm not sure what to say, but thanks. We should talk about Frodo sometime. It's nice to find the other Frodo-addicts, lurking... If you ever get the chance to read Bolco's Return to the Shire, let me know what you think. I've been looking for Frodo-experts to read it and critique it.

...I guess that just turned into an open invitation. Okay! smilies/wink.gif I'm up for it.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a fine day (today is drizzly) so I look to make some good distance tomorrow. I am constantly amazed that four little hobbits did far more distance "carrying their homes on their backs."

Midgewater marshes are looming (stinking? buzzing??) ahead.

[Kalel]

Yeah! I just came back from my bike ride (my self-propelled method for the day). I managed to get about 5 or 6 miles! And I dragged two other friends into it...very fun. This is great! Two more days of this, and I'll be at the first milestone! smilies/biggrin.gif

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Dang...that Bald Hill doesn't seem any closer today than it did yesterday! If anyone ahead of me happens to see Tom, tell him to send Fatty Lumpkin thisaway. I need a ride!!

I so love your posts. What a breath of fresh Middle-Earth air!

Helen: Thank you...what a nice thing to say!

--------------------
Just behind them a large branch fell from an old overhanging tree with a crash into the path. The trees seemed to close in before them...
He (Merry) spoke cheerfully, and if he felt any great anxiety, he did not show it. The others did not answer. They were depressed. A heavy weight was settling steadily on Frodo's heart, and he regretted now with every step forward that he had ever thought of challenging the menace of the trees. He was, indeed, just about to stop and propose going back (if that was still possible), when things took a new turn. The path stopped climbing, and became for a while nearly level. The dark trees drew aside, and ahead they could see the path going almost straight forward. Before them, but some distance off, there stood a green hill-top, treeless, rising like a bald head out of the encircling wood. The path seemed to be making directly for it.

[peony_foxburr]

Betcha didn't know hobbits could get blisters on their toes. It must have been walking on a couple of rainy days that irritated her feet. Well, she's now at Tom Bombadil's place, according to the Barrow Downs mileage guide, so perhaps soaking her feet will help.

BTW, Peony has always had a major crush on Frodo, so when her alter ego gets back to her unlimited hours high speed Internet connection in Massachusetts, she will enjoy reading the Bolco Took stories in their entirety smilies/smile.gif.(Just skimmed the first couple of chapters of BOlco in Massachusetts)

[alaklondewen]

My little hobbitlass and I have finally made our way into the Old Forest and to the Bonfire Glade. I have always been intrigued by the story of the Bonfire Glade. Just think...trees were attacking the hedge! I hope the trees in my yard don't any funny ideas.

They do say the trees do actually move, and can surround strangers and hem them in. In fact long ago they attacked the Hedge: they came and planted themselves right by it, and leaned over it. But the hobbits came and cut down hundreds of trees, and made a great bonfire in the Forest, and burned all the ground in a long strip east of the Hedge. After that the trees gave up the attack, but they became very unfriendly. There is still a wide bare space not far inside where the bonfire was made.'

[Ilsanie]

Hey! I just started this like last night...umm at 10 o'clock at night... I calculated my stride so that during school I can get an estimate of about how much I've walked.. I just got back home and ...wow! I've walked just over 1/2 a mile...lol i'm going walking later few miles of soo... but hey i got a start...484.48 miles left..lol smilies/rolleyes.gif lol well I can't wait till I DO finnish the whole trip... well I got to do some homework and then walk.walk.walk...hehe smilies/cool.gif
Ilsanie
Good Luck to every one
Aure entuluva!

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Linzielf are you still in Bree? I have a feeling that you have started out by now. If so I believe I’m at your heels! How was your trip through the Barrow Downs? Sufficiently Misty? smilies/biggrin.gif

And hello Kalel, welcome to our company, rather scattered as we are in Eriador. Hope you enjoy the trip!

What about the Walk to Mt. Doom? I’m undecided and was wondering how we all felt about it? Would we really try to get there all in one year? Ack! How many miles is it really? Has anyone figured it out? So many questions....

[Naz]

This sounds really interesting! smilies/smile.gif I want to start... But when I said to my dad "We're only allowed to walk on the street, though!" (we live on a dead end street), he laughed at me & said, "Well then, you better get started!"

Well, we do run around a field for "warm up" in gym, and before that we walk around the gym... Wonder if that'll help any. I really, REALLY want to try.

Maybe I'll take lembas, too. (the graham crackers in leaves suggestion) smilies/wink.gif

~Naz (yes... I'm a newbie...)

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Welcome to the Downs Naz! It’s suprising sometimes the places were you can fit a walk in. I manage two miles in the parking lot at work at lunch! Yes, it is a rather large parking lot. smilies/biggrin.gif

[LINZIELF]

Hilde Bracegirdle,I've left Bree now and am making my lonely way ever onwards... smilies/frown.gif
There wasn't any mist on the Barrow Downs -in fact it was the hottest day of the year so far, hardly the right atmosphere I required! smilies/cool.gif
I'm up for walking to Mount Doom - anything a hobbit can do - elves can and will do better!
I am now making my way to the Midgewater Marshes and hoping that as an elf I will not be eaten alive! "What do they live on when they can't get hobbit?" smilies/biggrin.gif

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Ooo, I think Helen and Linzielf both have wings on there feet! Keep up the good work! Now I wonder were Raefindel has got to.

[Kalel]

Mount Doom sounds like fun. I'm currently in Bywater....with a loooong way to go. Total distance: 7.82 miles in 2 days...sheesh, more walking to get to Mount Doom. Here we go...and a little trail song for all of us, from my book "Nine Heroes":

"Pack up you gear,
Dawn is broke.
Though tired you may be,
It's time you awoke.
It's time to travel,
Once again.

The day is new,
The sun is shining. We cannot spend more time abiding here.
We must move on,
And travel far,
All across the land.

So, my friends,
Shall we go?
See what wonders
We will find?
Let's try the trade
Of travelling.

Tonight we'll find a place to stay,
An inn maybe!
We'll have our fill of atmosphere.
And when we awaken,
We'll travel on,
As far as we can go.

And I'll be singing this song.
And I'll be singing this song."

Happy trails!

[Ilsanie]

I love smilies/smile.gifthe idea of walking all the way to Mt. Doom althought that is VERY smilies/eek.gif far from where I am... I just reached Bywater... I wish i wasn't stuck inside my house all day working on this stupid project for history class... but once i'm finnished I'm taking my only walking compainon Kirby,my dog, and setting off to walk a few miles... I MUST get off my lazy butt... Well back to that project.... smilies/rolleyes.gif

Ilsanie

[Raefindel]

Hi Hilde, thanks for thinking of me. I had a grueling 2 weeks at work and it kept me off the Downs. The good news is I continued to walk despite the long hours. I feel like I've already been to Weathertop and been stabbed by the Black Riders.

Helen, I'm sorry you couldn't come again. I missed Peony while she was here (well, actually she won't leave till Monday) Peony I hope to meet you next time you come.

Safe Journeys to you all!

[Tira O Alata]

Hiiiii everyone!! lol it's 3:017 am soo escuse me if I sound nutts...well I am nutts but thats besides the point. Anyway I am a new member and I am totally lost lol! But I love LotR why else would I be here? lol I am really interested in doing this walk which my friend, Ilsanie, told me about. I am not exactly sure on how I am going to recored how much I walk but I will find a way! hehe Wish me luck everyone and i hope i can do this! Well that's all I can think of this early in the morning! lol smilies/smile.gif smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/wink.gif smilies/tongue.gif smilies/cool.gif c-ya!

[Kalel]

grrr.....was supposed to go walking or niking with a friend...but cursed gods, did it have to rain?! Oh well...I'll brave the damp and the dark anyways. Grabbing my walking stick, off I go. Around the block. smilies/confused.gif It'll do. I'm off, see you all!

[peony_foxburr]

Peony's blisters are better, so she did a short (3.5 mi)walk yesterday. Took a ride southwards to try to see Mt St Helens, but there was so much cloud cover that we turned back about halfway. Who knew what was lurking in that fog---Barrow Wights or worse... smilies/smile.gif.
It will soon be time to find the Eagles and get a lift back to more familiar territory. I'll have walking companions there, at least
--hobbits on 4 legs, as it were. (Hmm, we'll have to visit the name generator to give them proper names)
Raefindel will get another chance soon--my sib & I have decided the Gaffer & Gammer need (and deserve) frequent visits!

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Around here Barrow wights are good things!

I passed 100 and I'm so happy now. Yay!

[Lalaith]

Lyra, looks like we're neck and neck at the moment. I did 7.5 miles walking round a theme park today - not much around that was terribly Middle-Earth but there you go. I went on a dragon rollercoaster so I suppose that was something.
Incidently, there seems to be a discrepancy between the milometer at the Barrowdowns and the one on the Eowyn Challenge website. According to the former I've not yet reached Old Man Willow, but according to the latter I've bid farewell to Tom Bombadil and am heading towards the Barrow Downs...

[LINZIELF]

How did the Hobbits manage 18 miles in one day? smilies/rolleyes.gif This elf managed 17 and ran out of time (and enthusiasm) for any more miles!!
Have reached the Edge of the Midgewater Marshes, no more midges or Neekerbreekers thankfully and now on my way to Weatherhill keeping an eye out for those Black Riders. Still can't manage to persuade the Hobbit child to come walking with me (she's muttering something about important GCSE exams!) so will be walking alone again. Elves are never truly alone and I shall sing to keep me going. smilies/redface.gif

PS do you know that pedometers can't swim? mine fell into the marshes and has died - even my Elvish knowledge was unable to give it life again! smilies/frown.gif

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Well, that Bald Hill is definitely looking closer today! Still hoping to make it to Tom's by next weekend. I could reallllly use that hot bath...

I'm going to mutter something unofficial about a Walk To Mount Doom. I'll probably call it something different...? Something a little more appealing? The Ring Quest, or, I dunno. But I do imagine that there will be a few (perhaps more than a few) who do want to keep going.

What about the Walk to Mt. Doom? I’m undecided and was wondering how we all felt about it? Would we really try to get there all in one year? Ack! How many miles is it really? Has anyone figured it out? So many questions....

Well, if I added the mileage from my Atlas correctly, it's approximately 1,606 miles from Bag End to Mt. Doom. That's a whole lotta walkin'...shouldn't be a problem for Helen, Linzielf and some others. I'm not sure I can make it by December 17, but I'll give it my best shot. After all, Elves should be able to outwalk Hobbits, right? right? Well, maybe not outwalk, but at least keep up?? smilies/tongue.gif

--------------------

They now hurried forward again, delighted with the thought of climbing out for a while above the roof of the Forest. The path dipped, and then again began to climb upwards, leading them at last to the foot of the steep hillside. There it left the trees and faded into the turf. The wood stood all round the hill like thick hair that ended sharply in a circle round a shaven crown.

[alaklondewen]

Wow, walking to Mt. Doom! And I thought what we're doing now was an accomplishment. I'm sure, Alatáriël, we would have longer than Dec. 17 (I would hope), but when the time comes, you can count on my being a part of the fellowship that leaves Rivendell.

[Tinuviel of Denton]

Fifty-six miles now.

My other sister is starting to walk with us now. Argh. Durlossiel is okay, for a sister, I mean, but this one, well, let's just say that she is very annoying. Oh, well. This too shall pass.

[Raefindel]

Wow, Alatáriël it was cool of you to figure up that mileage. If anyone is serious about a walk to Mt Doom we would have to make an extended date for it. Didn;t the Ringquest end on Mar 25th? How does that sound to everyone?

18 miles a day sounds like a lot,LINZIELF, until you consider the Hobbits didn't go to work or school while walking.

[mark12_30]

1606 from Bag End to Mt. Doom sounds about right, Alatáriël; but now remember that we'll already be at Rivendell. So we don't have to go to Rivendell *again*. (Phew...)

The Encyclopedia of Arda has this to say:

Dates: 25 December III 3018 - 25 March III 3019 (92 days)
Location: A journey of roughly 1,200 miles from Rivendell to Orodruin in Mordor
The quest of the Wise to bring the One Ring to Orodruin, and there destroy it. Nine set out on the quest, the Company of the Ring, but only two succeeded in reaching Mount Doom: Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee.

Note the phrase "roughly 1200 miles". Alatariel, if you figured 1606 from Bag End to Mount Doom, then we can subtract Rivendell from that-- right?-- and we get:

1606 - 458 = 1148 from Rivendell to Mt. Doom.

Which is not that far off from 1200.

(And they did it in 3 months or 92 days, which works out to about 12.5 or 13 miles per day.)

I doubt we could do it in three months smilies/eek.gif in winter smilies/eek.gif smilies/eek.gif smilies/eek.gif but if we give ourselves some time, it sure would be fun.

Fun, did I say? What will we do for the Mordor section?!? Yeeek!

Rae has a point about the extended date, though. What about the release of the Collectors' Edition Video, which will probably be sometime in November 2004? Or even, Bilbo and Frodo's birthday, 22 September 2004?

At that rate we could keep up our current paces, more or less. 2 or 3 miles a day.

[ May 12, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Does that exclude winter? I hope so, don't want to find frozen elves or hobbits strewn about. It would be rather discouraging. smilies/tongue.gif

Good gracious! So many people have been doing plenty of walking...I'm feeling I've been rather lazy. (And it's yet another cold and rainy Monday, with more rain tomorrow!)

Glad to hear your back Raefindel and that you survived Mother's Day. But I'm assuming that the grueling time at work was holiday related. (I've once had worked at a greenhouse during Mother's Day...never seen so many geraniums!) smilies/smile.gif

[Lindolirian]

I just did the Tour of the Scioto River Valley (TOSRV) in Ohio on my bicylce. Now that would usually be 210 miles, but because of the excessive winds and stormy weather, I was only able to complete 120 miles. Tha puts me a little past Tom Bombadil's house in the.... BARROW DOWNS!!! smilies/biggrin.gif

[mark12_30]

Serious kudos! Put the mileage under "FROM" in your profile!

Are some folks forgetting to do that or do folks not know how, or just not want to? Not wanting to is fine; if you don't know how, it's in your profile under "View/Update Profile." Not hard to do.

It makes it easier for me to update the list in the first post. It's getting so long, I update it less frequently!

[LOTRMASTER02]

I love the idea of walking to Rivendell. And thinking about it I have to decided to also run the distance that Legolas, Gimli, and my favorite person...Aragorn!when they were following Merry, Pippin and the Uruk-Hai. I figured out that it's about 155 miles and I want to try to do it in the 4 days that they took.. I'm going to have to do it in the summer when I have nothing to do and found out that I must finnish 39 miles a day... My sister Ilsanie says that because I am 3/4 thier size I should shoot for doing it in 6 or 7 days because it will put a real strain on my body but I WILL do it smilies/eek.gif .. what can I say I'm a real stuburn person... smilies/evil.gif smilies/biggrin.gif Wish me luck...

The newest member as of 9:39, May 12th

LOTR Master
No I do not need all of the mental therapy that you think I do smilies/tongue.gif

[Ilsanie]

Wow I just came back from a walk and relized how out of shape I am.. ughhh... but I guess as I go on it will be easier.... I still have a ways to go till the next land mark...12.53 miles to be exact but I have benn doing almost a mile at school so that lessens the load...By the end of the school year I wil have ummm 31 miles that I did just by walking from class to class... smilies/biggrin.gif wow that feels good... well I gtg to bed just checking in....


Ilsanie

[ May 18, 2003: Message edited by: Ilsanie ]

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

If anyone is serious about a walk to Mt Doom we would have to make an extended date for it. Didn't the Ringquest end on Mar 25th? How does that sound to everyone?

What about the release of the Collectors' Edition Video, which will probably be sometime in November 2004? Or even, Bilbo and Frodo's birthday, 22 September 2004?

It would definitely have to be an extended date. I'd like to say that I'd meet Frodo and Sam at Mt. Doom on March 25, but I'm not sure I could make it by then (maybe if I could float down the river rather than walking??). I think that Frodo and Bilbo's birthday would be a reasonable date to strive for. (I agree Helen, let's NOT go back to Bag End and start again.)

1148 miles...piece of cake. At least we won't have Black Riders and orcs chasing us (not to mention Gollum).

[Raefindel]

Hilde, I alluded to my Flower shop experience in the "when spring unfolds the Beechen Leaf" thread, but simply put; I got canned.

I'm happily unemployed once again. My kids are very relieved. smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

(Oops, got so carried away with the Walk to Mt. Doom that I forgot the Rivendell part.)

Aaah!! The Bald Hill at last! The view is a bit hazy from up here. I can see some smoke away off in the distance. Must be Tom's house. Either that, or Old Man Willow is on fire. Maybe someone needs to call the Withywindle VFD to check it out.

--------------------
The sun on the hill-top was now getting hot. It must have been about eleven o'clock; but the autumn haze still prevented them from seeing much in other directions. In the west they could not make out either the line of the Hedge or the valley of the Brandywine beyond it. Northward, where they looked most hopefully, they could see nothing that might be the line of the great East Road, for which they were making. They were on an island in a sea of trees, and the horizon was veiled.

[mark12_30]

LOTRMASTER02, welcome! Enjoy the Road to Rivendell! We **are** having fun, I must say.

And as far as running across Rohan-- wow, that's extremely ambitious. It's over a marathon a day. I'm not sure ANYONE has ever done that, without genuine Lothlorien-baked lembas anyway!

How are you planning to go about this? You do know the difference between muscular pain and joint pain, right? And the warning signs for respiratory distress, heat stroke & sunstroke, and all that? Do you have a coach or trainer? I'd ask some experts before I went ahead and risked injury or worse.

Please be very careful and get somebody to help you plan your running. I'd rather see you take extra time to do it, and stay out of the hospital! If you did it over several weeks, you'd still have an accomplishment to be extremely proud of.

In the meantime, enjoy walking with the rest of us!

Either that, or Old Man Willow is on fire. Maybe someone needs to call the Withywindle VFD to check it out.


When I laugh this hard at work, people want me to "share the forward." But nobody here will get this. Too bad!

Chortle, chortle, chortle. Snort, chortle....

[ May 13, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

About the walk to Mt. Doom... Sorry to be a persnickety hobbit, but I really do think September 22nd 2005 is more realistic, and rather a nice number too! I can’t see doing over 600 miles per year and still keeping any semblance of a normal life (unless driving counts smilies/wink.gif).

[ May 13, 2003: Message edited by: Hilde Bracegirdle ]

[mark12_30]

It sounds worse than it is. If you do it in one year, then it's
1148 / 365 = 3.1 miles/ day which isn't too bad.
But if you want to do it in 2 years, then
600 miles per year / 365 days/year = roughly 1.6 miles/ day, which is less than what we are shooting for now. smilies/smile.gif

[ May 13, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[ May 13, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

That would be if we walked through winter (about 91 days long), plus if we are aiming at Sept. 22nd we will lose a good deal of the second year.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Let's see...from June 1, 2003 to September 22, 2004 is 479 days. 1606 miles/479 days = 3.35 miles per day. So even leaving Bag End on 6-1-03, it is still an attainable goal to reach Mt. Doom by 9-22-04. "I think I can...I think I can..."

When I laugh this hard at work, people want me to "share the forward." But nobody here will get this. Too bad!

It's not nearly as funny when you have to explain it. Especially when even after you explain, they still don't get it!!

These poor non-Tolkien people--they just don't know what they're missing!!

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

I really wish I had a pony to ride like Frodo and company. It would sure be easier on the feet, especially having to go up and down hill so much. But the trees are so thick in here, it's probably easier to get through on foot.

--------------------
But after a time the trees began to close in again, just where they had appeared from a distance to be thinner and less tangled. Then deep folds in the ground were discovered unexpectedly, like the ruts of great giant-wheels or wide moats and sunken roads long disused and choked with brambles. These lay usually right across their line of march, and could only be crossed by scrambling down and out again, which was troublesome and difficult with their ponies.

[Vardamar]

You have walked 99 miles.
You have reached the bald hill in the Old Forest (110).
It is 11 miles to the next landmark. You still have 359 miles to Rivendell.

Yippe!...359miles to go...359miles! And if I were to run a mile...358miles to go

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

It sounds worse than it is. If you do it in one year, then it's
1148 / 365 = 3.1 miles/ day which isn't too bad.

Ah, so I shouldn't wait until December to "kick it up a notch", if I intend to continue after Rivendell.

Many thanks!

[mark12_30]

Hilda, Hilda, do the math, you silly girl! You've gone 182 miles in 48 days judging from your first post on March 28 (3 March days, 30 or so April days and fourteen or so May days-- so 182/(3 + 30 + 14)-- looks to me like right now you're AVERAGING 3.8 miles a day. What's your worry?? You'll be in Rivendell by (458-182)/3.8 = 73 more days-- right?? check my math-- Which is another 2.5 months (The rest of may, then june & july) which gets you to the beginning of August or so.

Relax.

Just don't get injured!

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

smilies/eek.gif smilies/eek.gif smilies/eek.gif I don't know about this Mordor thing, I'm having enough trouble with Rivendell smilies/wink.gif.

But, it is amazing how far I walk at work. I never thought about it until I measured it. I have to go from my computer to this room with the archive folders in it, grab the folders and walk all the way back (it's very very annoying), it's three hundred feet round trip. smilies/biggrin.gif I walked six miles at work this week. smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

Plus with all the walking I did moving... :roll eyes: brings me up to the grand total of 72! Must go check to see where in ME I am.

Sophia

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Didn't make it very far today. I think I've developed a blister. (I need some elvish medicine.) That's what happens when your elf slippers wear out, and you have to walk in dwarf boots for two days. I'll have to go to Elf-Mart tomorrow and get a new pair if I want to make it to Tom & Goldberry's for the weekend.

--------------------

After an hour or two they had lost all cear sense of direction, though they knew well enough that they had long ceased to go northward at all. They were being headed off, and were simply following a course chosen for them--eastwards and southwards, into the heart of the Forest and not out of it.

[mark12_30]

In the vernacular:

I *so* love all you guys. Elves, hobbits, and whatnot, alike.... Rae, I am SO glad you had me start this thread.

*warm fuzzy*

smilies/smile.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

[mark12_30]

This morning I went exploring a new section of woods,and it was SO beautiful I kept thinking "Frodo would have loved this!" There were ridges, rocks, hills and streams, swamps, and multitudes of stone walls (of course)... and one particular stony hillock (they're called "drumlins" around here) with a huge (huge-- 20+ ft diamter??) boulder precariously perched on top of it. It looks like you could push it with one hand and it would roll off and wreak indescribable catastrophe below... but depending on your theology, it's clearly been there since either the ice age or The Flood.

It's like the rock in Maine on the sunrise side-- "Lookout rock"-- I was tempted to call it Weathertop. Not that it gave you a clear view-- too many trees-- but it was just so sudden and distinctive in the woods.

And this (well-marked) path went over big rocks and ridges-- clearly a footpath. Impossible on either an RTV, a mountain bike, or horseback. Just incredible.

So now i have to figure out what section of the book it is most like. Right now it's called Lookout Rock, but it needs a Middle-Earth name, for sure. Maybe "Treebeard's Hill." Ooooooo....... Ooooo.... Oh! I like it!

Hoom, Hom!

[ May 15, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

March 28,2003 - September 22,2004 = 543 days - 91 (winter) = 452 days
1606mi./452 days = 3.55mi. per day

March 28,2003 - September 22,2005 = 908 days - 182 (winter) = 726 days
1606mi./726 days = 2.21mi per day

I had worked on this yesterday before I posted. smilies/biggrin.gif

I think I'm in, but may become a straggler. A bit weary.

[mark12_30]

Attagirl, Hilde! You'll do fine. We don't shoot stragglers anyway, do we? Great math, by the way.

As far as weariness goes-- I do hear you... That's why I try to do five or six miles on some days, and then take at least one day-of-rest a week. Sometimes two. And when I turn into a dragon once a month, I curl up in a cave, and mercilessly deal out fiery death to any who disturb me...

Just kidding. Although my husband wouldn't think it was funny at all...

smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Lyra Greenleaf]

I'm feeling I've been rather lazy

With over 180 miles done? What does that say for me *sniff*
And I thought I was doing quite well!

[mark12_30]

Lyra, you ARE doing quite well. You've gone a lot further than if you had never set out-- which is really the point, isn't it? Besides, you're still likely to be in Rivendell on time for the ROTK premiere. But even if you weren't, you've still gone further than if you hadn't set out at all.

Don't let the zoomies get you down. You just keep going, and keep making progress. To put it another way-- keep it Tolkien-focused-- "stay on topic".

smilies/wink.gif

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

It's like the rock in Maine on the sunrise side-- "Lookout rock"-- I was tempted to call it Weathertop. Not that it gave you a clear view-- too many trees-- but it was just so sudden and distinctive in the woods.

What rock are you talking about, Helen (I can call you that, right? smilies/smile.gif) I'm from Maine, though right now I'm wandering in a distant land smilies/wink.gif. Are you familiar with my home?? *gets hopeful and excited*

[mark12_30]

check your PMs (I hope you've got room!)

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Yes, let’s not forget tortoises have a legendary track record compared to hares!

I think my weariness comes for from trying to fit in walking rather then the walk itself.
Someday I would like to find a nice hobbit sized rut! smilies/wink.gif

[Raefindel]

That's what happens when your elf slippers wear out, and you have to walk in dwarf boots for two days. I'll have to go to Elf-Mart tomorrow and get a new pair if I want to make it to Tom & Goldberry's for the weekend.

Hilde, that sounds so much like Little Bilbo wearing the Dwarf's hat & coat!

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Raefindel, I can’t claim credit for Alatáriël’s creativity, much as I would like too!
Besides after after Marileangorifurnimaluim’s infamous exposition on hobbits, the very mention of shoes makes me feel rather uncomfortable. (Let alone boots!) smilies/wink.gif

[ May 15, 2003: Message edited by: Hilde Bracegirdle ]

[Nurumaiel]

51.5 miles and half a mile to Stock, where a rest at the Golden Perch awaits me. I have a blister which slows me down a bit, but for tomorrow's walking I'm going to go searching around for my Elf boots which are just a teeny bit loose, therefore not scraping against my feet as much. *casts foul look at dwarven boots, which were the cause of the blister*

Let's see, with 215 days to the deadline and 406 miles left to go, I should have to walk close to 2 miles per day. Yes, that sounds about right. What this hobbit has already been doing.

Do any of our BD walkers ever visit the official WtR page and read the newsletters? Or anything else there? I myself am waiting for the song results to be out.

Walking is very dangerous for me at the moment. It gives me such wonderful ideas for various books I'm writing and I can't put them down, for my writing computer currently has no keyboard. I wonder if Bilbo ever found inspiration in simply getting out of doors and on the road? Colorful and beautiful descriptions for his book? Reawakened memories of his journey to the Lonely Mountain?

[mark12_30]

Nuru, it wouldn't surprise me if walking was a big part of Bilbo's artistry, and Frodo's in the long run. Frodo was a hiker long before he left the Shire; didn't he spend from April to September saying "Goodbye" to his favorite haunts?

All I know is, it's been a long time since I've been this happy and content... there are numerous contributing factors, but exploring the "wild" like I've always wanted to, is a part of it; and tramping with a fellow hobbit (a fellow Frodo, what's more) is also a large part of it.

I've gotten very fond of following deer trails. It's a challenge, and I've gotten my share of scratches (including one glorious red one across my forehead smilies/rolleyes.gif ). Deer are shorter, thinner, and more agile than I am.

The paths are fun to follow, because thy go for a short while (30 to 60 feet, usually) and then they disappear. That means you've gotten to a feeding or sleeping area. A bit further, and another trail will begin, run for a short ways, then end... but if you can connect enough of them, one, you'll learn more about the deer, and two, you might even get a passable trail.

(Aragorn & co-- "Strider guided them confidently among the many crossing paths, although left to themselves they would soon have been at a loss"... I always thought that was SO COOL.)

And m'dawg is great at following deer trails. So if I brag about being able to follow trails as well as a Ranger just remind me that half the credit goes to Chonea. (http://members.cox.net/hrwright61/chonea.JPG)

[mark12_30]

If an elf or a hobbit were walking to Rivendell and saw **TONIGHT'S LUNAR ECLIPSE** (check it out!) what would they do? Sing? Dance? Eat? Party?

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Hi, everyone! I'm still walking and have reached Bree by now, over 150 miles total. However, I like the eleventy-one in my location line so much that I'm leaving it there for a bit...

[Nurumaiel]

Helen,

Well, I'd imagine an Elf would probably sing. Hobbits, depending on what type they were, could do various things. This one stood and stared in awe and wonder (omiting the part where one of the youngest thought a murderer was slinking around near him) and thanked God for such a beautiful home as He gave us, and imagined what it might look like in our true and eternal home with Him.

The sun is shining and I have found my Elven boots. I'll say goodbye to Woody End today and hello to Stock. I'm aiming to walk four miles today. I recently remembered that I had a walking stick buried away which had been most useful in earlier walks: a great source for imaginitive ideas, and perfect for this hobbit. I do feel strange calling myself a hobbit, though, as I'm more the height of an Elf. Ah well, if that's the only thing against me...... my personality is all hobbit (Frodo-type-hobbit), though my appearance might not be. smilies/biggrin.gif

Farewell we call to hearth and hall, though wind may blow and rain may fall...

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

I do feel strange calling myself a hobbit, though, as I'm more the height of an Elf.

Nurumaiel: I feel strange calling myself an elf, since I'm more the height of a hobbit. Maybe I'm half-elf/half-hobbit, since I have characteristics of both?? smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

My blister has been playing havoc with my walking, but the new elf slippers are definitely a success. I managed to sneak past Old Man Willow today while he was otherwise occupied. The Fire Marshall & insurance adjusters were there questioning him about the fire that occurred earlier this week. *Arson is suspected.*

Once I reach Tom's, I'll have a nice hot bath and just lie around the rest of the weekend. (Now if I can just keep him from singing...)

--------------------

Too surprised and too relieved to talk, the hobbits followed after him as fast as they could. But that was not fast enough. Tom soon disappeared in front of them, and the noise of his singing got fainter and further away. Suddenly his voice came floating to them in a loud halloo!

Hop along, my little friends, up the Withywindle!
Tom's going on ahead candles for to kindle.
Down west sinks the Sun: soon you will be groping.
When the night-shadows fall, then the door will open,
Out of the window-panes light will twinkle yellow.
Fear no alder black! Heed no hoary willow!
Fear neither root nor bough! Tom goes on before you!
Hey now! merry dol! We'll be waiting for you!

[Vardamar]

Well, Im now at 104 miles. Still on the bald hill. I'm just wondering, how do you guys just so many miles? Do you count what you walk at home/work?

[mark12_30]

Vardamar, good going! Almost a quarter of the way there.

Regarding distance walked at home or at work, you could count it if you could measure it.

The reason I don't is that Frodo didn't get to either. The extra bits of distance he walked at Bree, or at Tom's house, or at any campsite (getting water, etc) didn't get him closer to Rivendell.

So if I am intentionally putting on some distance, like walking a couple of miles at noontime (which I do regularly, to clear my head. Core-clear, we used to call it...) then I count that. But running around the lab I don't count.

But that's just me. Some people do count that distance and if you want to, that's fine. The thing you want to watch for healthwise, is that the percentage of your walking should be weighted towards the distance work, for health reasons. Steady walking is better for you than fits and starts, although the fits and starts contribute. Make sense?

Anyway, I hike every morning in woods of some sort (either the local state park, or the back woods here in my neighborhood) and that usually gets me three to five miles; then add the two-to-three mile walk at noon, when I can take it (been too busy lately smilies/frown.gif ) and it does add up.

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

I have truly been enjoying watching the different flowers blooming. I only wish I knew all their names. Some I have never noticed before! Seems that April was the month for yellow and May is decidedly heavy on purples.

[Nurumaiel]

Helen, I also only count what I walk outside, not around home, but sometimes when I'm in town all day and I have absolutely no time leftover to walk, I count how far I go when I'm shopping.

Hilde, how odd, for where I am May seems to be the month of yellow. I haven't seen anything but yellow flowers one my walks. Now I have to wait for later in the summer nearing fall when those large beautiful pinkish purple flowers appear on the cliffs. *sighs dreamily* I am currently, as well as walking, planning out my own little garden near the side of the property that shall be all mine and nobody else's. I can take care of it myself. *sighs deeper* smilies/biggrin.gif

BTW, Helen, I'm reading Bolco's stories right now as I write, and I love them! Currently reading about Bolco's confusion over the Christmas tree. smilies/biggrin.gif

[Naz]

I'm so behind only one mile & 3/4! But I'm horrible with measurement, so the only time I'm sure of what I'm doing is when we run as a "warm up" in gym class... :P

ribbit... How am I gonna make it?!

[mark12_30]

Naz-- same as the rest of us-- one furry (or elvish) foot in front of the other! smilies/wink.gif
(cue song from Rudolph) smilies/rolleyes.gif

If it helps, estimate your walking distance by guessing three or four miles an hour. I actually do closer to 3 miles an hour-- I'm slow... For me, it's about fresh air and sunshine more than distance. (I'm a heliotrope.)

Yeah, it's not about competition, it's about encouragement and cameraderie. Lots of people seem to have walking songs they like.

Y'know, I'm seriously thinking of setting up a site for hobbit walking songs. If I had an MP3 recorder I'd sing 'em myself, once I got the tunes down. How about the rest of you?

(Maybe the BW might even let us do it here if we can keep it small and VERY hobbitty; otherwise, I can mount it on my own site. Although I would still insist on Very Hobbitty, or Elvish would be fine. You know-- ME, On Topic, Tolkien Only... Yeah, like that.)
'
Nuru-- you're going to have a garden?!?!? Oh, you HOBBIT you! (Oh, all right, elves and men garden too.) Keep me posted! Whatcha gonna put in it?

Need at least one little corner for violets of some sort, dontcha think? And cosmos in the back, and ... oh, all right, I'll let you design it... smilies/wink.gif :P but you gotta tell us. If you get too flowery go to the "When Spring Unfolds The Beechen Leaf" thread and put it there! Samwise would be thrilled.

[ May 17, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Nurumaiel]

I think walking songs is a great idea. I do write walking songs, but most of them are very sad walking songs. We want cheery, uplifting songs! Hmmm....

I'll keep this short, and I will make sure to head over to that thread as soon as my garden get a little further along (at the present moment I've only just finished plotting out where and how large the garden will be). I'm not exactly sure what I'll put in it. The soil here isn't the best, but if I can struggle past that.... and some flowers wouldn't go to well with the mountain terrain. smilies/biggrin.gif I know for sure there are some wild flowers that are going in there no matter what they say about it. *stubborn look at the wild flowers* I'll have to find my flower book and see what I want there. There will be about three - five sunflowers growing up next to one of the two little ( smilies/rolleyes.gif little) trees that are near the back of the garden. Somehow I like having trees somewhere in the garden, it makes it more complete. I'm also collecting myself some rocks to build a little stone fence near the back of the garden which will not be the entrance, in between the two trees. *is cut off because she has gone off topic* Yes, I'll visit the thread, most certainly.

*ponders how she can get back on topic* Well, as I was walking yesterday I arrived in Stock, and I tried to visualize it. All I could see was green and an inn looming up behind a hill. The Golden Perch. *sighs along with Pippin and Sam*

Now I'll be running off to find out how Tolkien described this part of the Shire, and do some more work on preparing my garden.

[Lindolirian]

Chalk up another fifteen for me. Great biking weather we've had here. Until today that is...

You have walked (biked) 135 miles.
You on the Barrow-Downs! (132).
It is 9 miles to the next landmark. You still have 323 miles to Rivendell.

[Raefindel]

Well, goodness! I must have missed Bree! Shoot! I was looking forward to a brief (or is it BREE-f) rest and a cup of coffee with Elven cream.

Alatáriël , I'm glad you got some new Elf-slippers. It can make all the difference.

I only hope the weather clears up a mite before HELEN COMES TO VISIT ME AGAIN!

** Rae smiles smugly at having 2 visits from that Hobbit in a few months**

We have at least two hikes planned. The one to Caradhras should not prove disasterous, as it was for the Fellowship as it is Summer (or at least it should be if the weather would co-operate) Helen, do you wish to wear cloaks for the hike?

We will also spend a day shopping in the Emerald City and perhaps a day at the Bay of Belfalas.

**Rae sands hands together in eager anticipation**

Note to self: Stock up on Hobbit Food. Wash Cloaks. Find the walking sticks.

**Oooh, Goody, Goody, Goody!**

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

If I had an MP3 recorder I'd sing 'em myself, once I got the tunes down. How about the rest of you?

Helen: I like the idea of walking songs. However, you definitely do not want me singing on there. I obviously did not inherit the singing ability of my elvish ancestry (or hobbit for that matter). Maybe I have a dwarf or possibly an orc ancestor?? smilies/eek.gif

*****************

I got to Tom's this morning and Goldberry had a hot bath with strawberry bubble bath waiting for me. After soaking for almost an hour, I've been lying around with my feet up. The slippers Goldberry gave me are so soft and kind to my blister. I had to arm-wrestle Tom for possession of the Laz-E-Boy, but I took pity on him. I got the recliner, but I let him keep the remote control (as long as he promised not to sing). smilies/rolleyes.gif

--------------------

Tom clapped his hands and cried: 'Tom, Tom! your guests are tired, and you had near forgotten! Come now, my merry friends, and Tom will refresh you! You shall clean grimy hands, and wash your weary faces; cast off your muddy cloaks and comb out your tangles!'

He opened the door, and they followed him down a short passage and round a sharp turn. They came to a low room with a sloping roof (a penthouse, it seemed, built on to the north end of the house). Its walls were of clean stone, but they were mostly covered with green hanging mats and yellow curtains. The floor was flagged, and strewn with fresh green rushes. There were four deep mattresses, each piled with white blankets, laid on the floor along one side. Against the opposite wall was a long bench laden with wide earthenware basins, and beside it stood brown ewers filled with water, some cold, some steaming hot. There were soft green slippers set ready beside each bed.

[Tefalathiel]

Hy everybody!
I'm new here and this my very first post made on the net! So I don't know how it horks actually. Would any of you valliant elves/men/hobbits/dwarves/ents... out there help an elfmaiden (in training) in distress?
I've already walked 80 miles smilies/smile.gif !
Green hill was gorgeous this time of the year. However, I've just entered the Old Forest and allthough I LOVE forests, this one is really weird! Alas, I have to face it alone! No one around here wants to walk with me! smilies/frown.gif
By the way, did you know my country, Romania, has a lot of places that remind me of LOTR? Would you like to hear about it?
Well, I have to go. Old Man Willow is waiting somewhere for me and i will try sneak past him or charm him with my voice!(did you think only Tom Bombadil can do it?)

[Raefindel]

Welcome to the Downs,Tefalathiel. 80 miles is great! Good for you!

You can delete one of the duplicate posts by clicking on the "edit post" icon (the hammer and chisel at the top of your post) and selecting "delete".

Enjoy your time on the Downs.

[Nurumaiel]

Rae, I'm jealous, and, Helen, I'm jealous. You two get to meet each other? And you have before? *sighs*

I just returned from a 2-mile walk and after I finish writing this it'll be off to my garden! The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and everything was beautiful.... aside from when the dog barked at a hobbit working in her yard. Less than 400 miles to go. Actually, 399 miles to go.

[Vardamar]

Well...chalk up another 5 mile run, Im still in the Bald Hill, with 108 miles.

[Nurumaiel]

I've reached Maggot's farm now. To tell the truth I was a little hungry and was just starting on my third mushroom when I was attacked from behind. Farmer Maggot was quite prepared to beat me but relented, muttering something about not having the heart to beat a young female hobbit like myself. I hastily told him I was a friend of Mr. Frodo Baggins and told him how hungry I had been. I then unashamedly lied and told him I was planning to stop by his house and explain the absence of the mushrooms, but I don't think he quite believed me.

I'm now sitting and finishing writing it while Mrs. Maggot makes a hearty dinner. Mushrooms, I hear, are on the menu.

[mark12_30]

Nuru, mushrooms are indeed one good reason to cook. I'm finally discovering that the kitchen doesn't HAVE to be a center of misery. Mushrooms and onions... two good reasons to cook.

Rae, I am SOOOOO looking forward to visiting, and hiking. My mileage this week has been curtailed due to pressure at work-- gotta get this done so I can relax out west! Cloaks sound good. Walking sticks, good. But, oh, boy, I want to see MOUNTAINS again, MOUNTAINS, Raefindel! Can't wait. Can't wait....

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Having wandered into the Bonfire Glade, Sophia stops and stares around her. She comes to the stunning realization that she's finally left the Shire! Since this has been one of her goals, she dances a small jig on the spot before ducking quickly behind a tree, startled by an approaching shadow.

Fortunately, it's not a black rider, Sophia didn't think it was, as the most valuable ring she's currently carrying is a mood ring she picked up at the Dollar Store a few weeks ago.

Having come 78 miles, Sophia's getting used to this walking business, and she heads off into the trees. She's promised to eat with Alaklondewen in Bree, but she has a little catching up to do if they're to be there at the same time...

(That's fun Alak, thanks for the idea! It's not as fun as meeting in person, but definately fun still. smilies/smile.gif)

[Raefindel]

I'm taking a break to let an injury heal or I won't be able to climb Caradhras with Helen the Wonder Hobbit.

I've been to the local farmer's market to obtain the makings of some hobbit meals; we elves just don't seem to eat the same way! smilies/wink.gif

I'm all set and waiting for Helen...

Helen, I can't wait!

[mark12_30]

Injury? Rae?!?! Don't you MOVE!!! Hot towels! Ice packs! Aethelas by the handful! STRIDER!!!

You ride Bill the Pony from now on 'til you're better-- Uh, you're an elf, how about Asfaloth. Right.

Erm-- Rae? Take care of yourself. Please?

smilies/wink.gif

[ May 19, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[alaklondewen]

Hey dol! Derry dol!
Alaklondedillo!
Merry dol! Derry dol!
At Tom Bombadillo's!

Yes, I'm finally with Tom and Goldberry and let me tell you...the food is great! Although, Tom's dancing about can get a little old when one is worn out from a long journey.

Sophia, I am looking forward to meeting you in Bree, but you better hurry. smilies/wink.gif We can tell stories and sing songs as long as neither of us gets on a table. smilies/wink.gif

[Raefindel]

Yes, Injury! I pulled a muscle over a month ago and then aggrivated it last Friday on a fanily night out. but it seems much better now, so I'm taking it easy till you get there.

Greycloak wants to know; Mt Doom or Caradhras? (Mt St Helens or Rainier?) Friday should be around 70 degrees (YES! FINALLY SOME NICE WEATHER!)

[Vardamar]

After stumbling along for some way along the stream, Vardamar came quite suddenly out of the gloom. As if through a gate Vardamar saw the sunlight before them. Coming to the opening Vardamar found that he had made his way down through a cleft in a high steep bank, almost a cliff.

110 miles, and I have reached old man willow. I’ve been drinking lots of caffeine drinks, so I don't fall asleep against any trees. smilies/tongue.gif

[mark12_30]

Mt. Doom, so I can get rid of this blasted ring.

smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/wink.gif smilies/rolleyes.gif smilies/tongue.gif

Good going, Vardamar!

[ May 20, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]

[Lalaith]

It's been such miserable weather in my neck of the woods, I'm still lurking in the barrowdowns waiting for things to clear up a bit.

[mark12_30]

smilies/wink.gif The Barrow-Downs is a good place to lurk! smilies/biggrin.gif

[LINZIELF]

Having finally left the Midgewater Marshes behind, I am now climbing up into the Weather Hills and Weather Top is in sight. smilies/smile.gif I will not light any fires and will only munch on the lembas that I had the foresight to prepare earlier!(here's one I prepared earlier!) This elf was accompanied by her hobbit child yesterday but as exams now loom she will be back to walking by herself again smilies/frown.gif
I shall occupy myself by trying to work out locations and mileage for The Very Long March to Mordor whilst I walk!(without falling over/walking into the sea/getting lost etc!)
For the hobbit horticulturists amongst us - Dorset is full of bright yellow Gorse bushes and scarlet poppies. The morning glories will soon be flowering and pansies are cropping up everywhere! So April is not any one particular colour here.
My new pedometer now has waterwings and hopefully will not be jumping in any more water and needing elvish medicine!

[Tarvasa]

Stickle-backs! How long ago was it since I last posted? Sorry. My mum had sugery this month, and shes having it again next week. There goes my walking partner. Still in Green Hill Country. Getting depressed.... 37 miles *gasp gasp* shock shock!!! Hope you guys are having a better time. New daily schedule for me.

Walk 40 min. - 2 miles

Bike 60 min. - 3 miles

Swim 60 min. - have no idea how many miles..lol...

I might drop the biking, it's not helping with my flab issues. lol.

'scuse me if I say lol too much.
Finished the Silmarillion. What a great book. Might start the Fellowship again. Has any one seen the new ROTK pics on the official movie website. Eek, they are so awsome!!

[Tarvasa]

*surgery

still don't think i got it right...

[Raefindel]

I'll say a prayer for your mom. Those things are tough on a family. If you need to talk to someone, send me a PM.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Had to leave Tom's early...his singing was driving me nuts!!! I'd rather be caught on the Downs by Barrow Wights that listen to that "ring a ding dillo" any longer. Goldberry decided to come with me as far as Bree. She wants to do a little shopping, have her hair done, get a massage, maybe see a movie (I hear there's a really good movie currently playing that has elves & hobbits). **I think she just wants to get away from that singing for awhile**

--------------------

By his advice they decided to make nearly due North from his house, over the western and lower slopes of the Downs: they might hope in that way to strike the East Road in a day's journey, and avoid the Barrows. He told them not to be afraid--but to mind their own business.

"Keep to the green grass. Don't you go a-meddling with old stone or cold Wights or prying in their houses, unless you be strong folk with hearts that never falter!" He said this more than once; and he advised them to pass barrows by on the west-side, if they chanced to stray near one. Then he taught them a rhyme to sing, if they should by ill-luck fall into any danger or difficulty the next day:

Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo!
By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow,
By fire, sun and moon, harken now and hear us!
Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!

When they had sung this altogether after him, he clapped them each on the shoulder with a laugh, and taking candles led them back to their bedroom.

[Raefindel]

LOL that was a kick, Alatariel! I can certainly agree that Tom was never my favorite character, either!

I'm certainly ready to get out of this swamp! the Neekbreekers are almost as bad as Tom Bombadil's singing!

The next day was little better and the night almost comfortless. Though the Neekbreekers (as Sam called them) were left behind, the midges still persued them.

[Tarvasa]

Thanks Raefindel! Lol, thats hilarious Alatáriël!

[Kalel]

Okay then....at 32 miles. Only a few more until I see the elves! Yay! erm...anyways...hope everyone else is holding out.

[Arafangwen]

Hello all! I have recently picked up this fun little hobbit habit(the fact that I'm not a hobbit but an elf intregues some of my friends smilies/wink.gif) and have decided to join you all in your walk to Rivendell! I am currently in Stock, at 52 miles!
*walks off singing to herself*
The road goes ever on and on, out from the door...

[ May 21, 2003: Message edited by: Arafangwen ]

[Eruwen]

I just passed bucklyberry ferry about 3 miles ago. 70 miles doesn't seem that long. Though after a long, some few weeks rest, I've decided to pick up my walking stick and head on out again. Only 388 more miles to Rivendell! Maybe I should borrow a horse from someone... smilies/frown.gif

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Goldberry & I spent too much time dawdling along the path today, enjoying the silence of the hills. We'll have to camp on the other side of the Barrow Downs, as it doesn't look like we'll make it to Bree for the weekend. We definitely won't stop for a nap until we make it to the Road. smilies/tongue.gif

--------------------

Eastward the Barrow-downs rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and vanished out of eyesight into a guess: it was no more than a guess of blue and a remote white glimmer blending with the hem of the sky, but it spoke to them, out of memory and old tales, of the high and distant mountains.

They took a deep draught of the air, and felt that a skip and a few stout strides would bear them wherever they wished. It seemed fainthearted to go jogging aside over the crumpled skirts of the downs towards the Road, when they should be leaping, as lusty as Tom, over the stepping stones of the hills straight towards the Mountains.

[Niluial]

Sorry it has been long since I wrote in here but I have been extremely busy. But don’t get me wrong I am still in this challenge! Like everyone knows I am in South Africa t the moment on a holiday and business trip! And I love it! There is lot to do here. I have climbed Table Mountain… up and down, I have walked allot in forests and fun places! I have been exercising and exercising allot for a walking sense!!! Wow am I tired!!

[peony_foxburr]

Peony's alter ego is back in home territory now but missing the beautiful Pacific Northwest already. As for Peony, it took her a while to get off the Barrow Downs--5 days of no walking or only short jaunts--but she made it to Bree and is a few miles down the road, looking over her shoulder nervously for Black Riders in pursuit. Yesterday was a fine summery day, but today was more drizzle and clouds smilies/frown.gif. Oh wait, Peony doesn't like being sweaty anyhow smilies/smile.gif!

[Tinuviel of Denton]

Just letting everyone know that I'm still walking. I think I have about eighty miles now.

[Vardamar]

The grass under Vardamar's feet was smooth and short, as if it had been mown or shaven. The eaves of the Forest behind were clipped, and trim as a hedge. The path was now plain before him, well-tended and bordered with stone. It wound up on to the top of a grassy knoll, now grey under the pale starry night; and there, still high above him on a further slope, he saw the twinkling lights of a house.

Ak!...16miles of Tom's house to go. His singing is like the music of an ice-cream truck, it just plays over and over in your head! smilies/tongue.gif

On a side note, this is my last post as a Haunting Spirit, with my next post I will be a Wight!

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

His singing is like the music of an ice-cream truck, it just plays over and over in your head!

Vardamar: Kinda like a ride at a well-known amusement park? smilies/eek.gif "It's a small world after all, it's a small world after all..." arrrghhh **runs off screaming**

____________________________

While walking through the Downs today, who should Goldberry and I see but The Barrow Wight! smilies/cool.gif He was sitting in a lounge chair just outside the door to his house, with a large pitcher of lemonade on the table beside him. We stopped and chatted for a bit, and he invited us to stay for dinner. However, we decided not to push our luck and headed on down the path. We'll make camp when we get closer to the East Road.

--------------------

Then their hearts rose, for it seemed plain that they had come further already than they had expected. Certainly the distances had now all become hazy and deceptive, but there could be no doubt that the Downs were coming to an end. A long valley lay below them winding away northwards, until it came to an opening between two steep shoulders. Beyond, there seemed to be no more hills. Due north they faintly glimpsed a long dark line. "That is a line of trees," said Merry, "and that must mark the Road. All along it for many leagues east of the Bridge there are trees growing. Some say they were planted in the old days."

"Splendid!" said Frodo. "If we make as good going this afternoon as we have done this morning, we shall have left the Downs before the Sun sets and be jogging on in search of a camping place."

[Bulelainwen]

I so far have 108 miles...a little hobbit like me really gets a lot of miles running around the house looking for homework. Then of course the evil teacher makes me run, though today she did take us running to pick berrys today. smilies/smile.gif Hope you all are doing well also. Until Next time...

[Tefalathiel]

Hey, how come I'm not on the walkers list? Would somebody fix that, please?
I may not "visit" quite often, but I'm a very good walker!
Just the other day, for instance, I arrieved at Tom Bombadil's house for a little chat with Goldberry and refreshing after standing Tom's loud saving-from-oldman-willow method. Now I know why that tree has to obey him and did not react to my beautifull ( smilies/smile.gif ) songs! Ouch, my poor pointy little ears!
So, you see, I DO deserve to be on that list!

P.S. Would someboby please tell me the significations of these icons you use at the begining of each post? Thank you!

[ May 24, 2003: Message edited by: Tefalathiel ]

[mark12_30]

Dear Tefalathiel, I would be delighted to put you on the list. I seem to update it about every two weeks, but I'm not sure when I'll get my next chance. I am out of town now, and don't have my usual software here with me. However, when I do, I will certainly add you in, and anyone else that is on this thread and not yet added.

In general, it is extremely helpful to me if people do post their mileage in their "FROM" section in their profile, so that your milage is continually ipdated as you post and I don't have to search the thread for it. If you don't know how to do that, it's simple; go to your profile and edit it, and enter your milage in the "FROM" section (perhaps it's called location.)

Thanks, everyone! Hopefully Rae and I will get a chance to write up a nice report soon. We've been having a blast. We're off to the zoo and the aquarium in a few minutes.

Later, --mark12_30

[alaklondewen]

I'm sure we all know how nice it is to have something to show when we've accomplished a goal. So...I have created a certificate of recognition for all those who complete the Walk to Rivendell. Remember, it's not a race, so whenever go get there you have completed something that was worthwhile.

We (mark12_30 and I) have discussed either emailing it to each participant as they enter Rivendell or linking it to her web site. If we email, it will be easier for me to add each of your names on my computer, so they are complete when you receive them. However, if we post it elsewhere, you can print it yourself and put your own name on it.

Well, let us know what you think, and happy walking everyone!

[bain_edhel]

Wow, I just discovered this idea a few days ago, and I think it's a really good one. I've walked 12 miles now, so I still have a long way to go, but it helps when you have to walk to school about 4 times every day (my school is about a mile from my house). smilies/smile.gif

[peony_foxburr]

Peony thought we were all going downtown to get tattoos when we reach Rivendell..kinda like that icon of "JRRT" without the "J?"
Peony's alter ego, shocked and horrified, is making her edit the post thusly smilies/biggrin.gif
while Peony tells her alter ego to "live it up, you're not even fifty yet!"

[ May 25, 2003: Message edited by: peony_foxburr ]

[Raefindel]

LOL! That's a date, Peony!

Alaklondewen, That's a GREAT idea, too!

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Been seeing quite a few rabbits on the morning walks. I wonder if the hobbits saw as many. I counted 8 in 1 mile! No wonder Tolkien didn’t mention a food shortage at this point! Also have been hearing those “hidden birds”. One of them sounds like a cross between a crow and a badly played high note on a cello. Hear it first thing in the morning. Pretty eery.

The certificate sounds like a good idea!

The tattoo sounds good too, but only if it temporary. I could put it next to the eye on my right ankle. This is not exactly true, but any Lemony Snicket fans might find it amusing. No, I am not a follower of Sauron!
smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/eek.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

[ May 27, 2003: Message edited by: Hilde Bracegirdle ]

[Arafangwen]

I'm now at Crickhollow and am at 74 miles right now. I have recently been in Mississippi(Bucklebury Ferry) walking all over in the forests and around the lakes with my cousins. I also permenantly impressed The road goes ever on and on.... in their minds.
*walks off singing to herself* The road goes ever on and on, out from the door...

[Vardamar]

Vardamar had heard of the Great Barrows, and the green mounds, and the stone-rings upon the hills and in the hollows among the hills. Sheep were bleating in flocks. Green walls and white walls rose. There were fortresses on the heights. Kings of little kingdoms fought together, and the young Sun shone like fire on the red metal of their new and greedy swords. There was victory and defeat; and towers fell, fortresses were burned, and flames went up into the sky.

Hehe…I ran 18 miles in 5 days(3 5mile runs, and 3 1mile runs) just to get away from the infernal racket that some call Tom’s singing. I’m up to 134 miles now, and am wandering the Barrow-Downs! Tomorrow I start my cycling, for I must be ready for the local triathlon this fall…

On a side note, I am now a Wight with 101 posts!

[Raefindel]

Way to go, Vardamar!

How Hobbit-like of you Arafangwen; walking with cousins. smilies/cool.gif

[mark12_30]

Zounds, I am being left in the dust! Some of you hobbits and elves are traipsing along at amazing speeds. I have updated the list (in the first post) as best I can. Please put your miles in your profile, it makes it MUCH easier for me! Thanks to those of you that are already doing that.

[Lindolirian]

I've been forgetting to tell you all my progress! I have now biked 170 miles. Hoorah! Hm, I wonder how my TREK would really hold up in Chetwood.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

I have created a certificate of recognition for all those who complete the Walk to Rivendell.

alaklondewen: What a great idea!! smilies/cool.gif I like the idea of e-mailing them to us with our names already printed in. Of course, you know you'll need to do another one when we reach Mt. Doom....

____________________

What a relaxing weekend!! Goldberry and I just lazed around the campsite, chit-chatting and having a pint or two. We did take a short hike down to the river and bathed our feet in the water, but that's about it. I saw a gold ring lying on the side of the path, so I picked it up and put it in my pocket. (Don't tell Gollum!!) Only 6 more miles to go before we get to the East Road, and then it's on to Bree!! smilies/tongue.gif

--------------------

While they were eating Tom went up to the mound, and looked through the treasures. Most of these he made into a pile that glistened and sparkled on the grass. He bade them lie there 'free to all finders, birds, beasts, Elves or Men, and all kindly creatures'; for so the spell of the mound should be broken and scattered and no Wight ever come back to it. He chose for himself from the pile a brooch set with blue stones, many-shaded like flax-flowers or the wings of blue butterflies.
...For each of the hobbits he chose a dagger, long, leaf-shaped, and keen, of marvellous workmanship, damasked with serpent-forms in red and gold. They gleamed as he drew them from their black sheaths, wrought of some strange metal, light and strong, and set with many fiery stones.

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Somehow I always thought Goldberry the white wine type.

[peony_foxburr]

Peony begins to wonder if the logo on her sneakers stands for "Nazgul Balance" as that pesky blister on one heel WON'T go away!!! And the Elvish medicine doesn't seem to keep it from opening up smilies/frown.gif...Back to lots of big Bandaids over the heel...She does have to walk very fast for her short hobbit legs to keep up with that Longshanks Strider fella. As it began raining quite hard in the Forest today, she walked even faster and estimates she was cruising along at 1 mile in 14 mins. Go Peony!

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Go Peony, go! Wow a 14 minute mile...I have been averaging in at 3 miles an hour even in the rain!

I figured that if I were trying to walk 17 miles a day, like our friends, it would take close to 6 hours or more with out any breaks. Then one would have to set up camp, cook, break up camp and so on in there too. Sounds like a realistic distance to me. Barring blisters and other unscheduled events of course! Hope yours will heal quickly!

[ May 29, 2003: Message edited by: Hilde Bracegirdle ]

[Rochelle]

Hi all!

I've been a bit aloft lately due to the continuing education. However summer is at my door, and I hope to be able to run my way to Rivendell before winter sets in! I have a few miles to add to my total...but I'm sure I'm way behind the rest.

I'm like that little hobbit who always ends up dawdling at the back of the pack smilies/wink.gif

[Nurumaiel]

Glad to see you're still around, Rochelle, even if you haven't had time to walk.

I'm taking a rest at Crickhollow, I suppose. Since there is absolutely no time to walk and nowhere to go, I've been counting the miles walking around the small cabin and retrieving ping-pong balls for the kids. Now I understand how Frodo must have felt when he arrived at Crickhollow. Everything was being done to make it comfortable and like home, but it isn't home just the same, and you wish you were back. But home is 75 miles away.... (or, if I were to be realistic, 25 - 30 miles). I am also missing my garden, so I can sympathize with Sam as well.

Needless to say, I am still walking, though I haven't had the time to post here.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Wow, it sure took a long time to reach the Road. But now we're only 8 miles from Bree...I think I'll join Goldberry at the Butterbur Day Spa & have a massage too.

Somehow I always thought Goldberry the white wine type.

That's just a front she puts on in public. She likes a pint of beer as well as (or better than) any hobbit I know.

--------------------

...at last they saw a line of tall trees ahead, and they knew that they had come back to the Road after many unexpected adventures. They galloped their ponies over the last furlongs, and halted under the long shadows of the trees. They were on the top of a sloping bank, and the Road, now dim as evening drew on, wound away below them.
...They rode down the bank and looked up and down. There was nothing to be seen. 'Well, here we are again at last!' said Frodo. 'I suppose we haven't lost more than two days by my short cut through the Forest!'
...only now when it lay beneath their feet did they remember the danger which pursued them, and was more than likely to be lying in wait for them upon the Road itself. They looked anxiously back towards the setting sun, but the Road was brown and empty.

[Tarvasa]

Took a break, but the last time I was out on the road I kept stumbling, which is way too much for this fat hobbit. I met some high elves, and I am now staying at thier home for a while, I don't want to leave! But, there is that other lovely elven home farther away, I must reach it! Now at 43 miles....Now I am going to go curl up and read the Silmarillion.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Sophia finds herself trudging and trudging. She's still in the Bonfire Glade, though she's come seven miles since her last post. Fortunately with the weekend coming up she should get in a big old hike (around an amusement park).

Stopping to peer into the distance Sophia thinks she spots Alaklondewen a good thirty miles up the road. She hauls up her pants (which aren't noticeably looser, but it seems that they should be with all the running about she's been doing) and sets off in the wake of the quickly vanishing Alak. She has a long way to go if she's to catch up by Bree.

[Gorwingel]

Hey Helen I finally added my milage to my location. I estimated that with all my running, warming up, and races for track, my walking to and from school, walks with my Mom and the dogs in the evening, the work outs on the treadmill, and the two 12 km races that I have completed, that I have probably traveled about 289 miles. Better than I thought I could have done.

[ May 30, 2003: Message edited by: Gorwingel ]

[Nurumaiel]

Journeying on through the Bonfire Glade, Miss Robin Brandybuck caught sight of Sophia, walking only ten miles ahead of her. Maybe if Miss Brandybuck hurries, the two can walk together for a ways!

Yesterday I took a three mile walk and it was absolutely beautiful. I walked along the lakeside on this beautiful, completely empty trail well-worn from the horses that have passed over it through the years. It took my breath away, especially when me and the young hobbit lad walking with me came to what I call a 'sand-cliff' -which is basically the trail atop the sand which slopes down a long way into the water- with spider plants all over it, making me feel just as though I were on a mysterious and abandoned isle...

[Arafangwen]

Rushing to leave Crickhollow(she hated crickets) Arafangwen passed through Bonfire Glade and saw Nurumaiel not far ahead but running quickly away. She decided to try and catch up with her and walk with company for a change(even though the urge to stay at the excitingly large fires was extremely tempting). She had decided that walking with her cousins was meriting her as a hobbit, and this she did not like(she was an elf after all smilies/wink.gif ). *walks off singing, what else!?* (82 miles! Yeah me!)

[Niluial]

Hey.. Ok I am still walking... beeing dragged out of bed by my boyfriend.. running, ice-skating and going to the gym... does it ever stop? Ok I worked it out I have done 138 miles.. not bad smilies/biggrin.gif

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Hey look, Goldberry!! There's Bree-hill off in the distance. We'll be there tonight. It's a good thing I called Mr. Butterbur yesterday for reservations. He also promised to have supper ready in our rooms when we get there. I don't think I'll go into the Common Room with this ring in my pocket.

--------------------

"I am sorry to take leave of Master Bombadil," said Sam. "...But I won't deny I'll be glad to see this 'Prancing Pony' he spoke of. I hope it'll be like 'The Green Dragon' away back home!" ..."It may be all we could wish," said Frodo; "but it is outside the Shire all the same. Don't make yourselves too much at home! Please remember--all of you--that the name of Baggins must NOT be mentioned. I am Mr. Underhill, if any name must be given."

They now mounted their ponies and rode off silently into the evening. Darkness came down quickly, as they plodded slowly downhill and up again, until at last they saw lights twinkling some distance ahead.

Before them rose Bree-hill barring the way, a dark mass against misty stars; and under its western flank nestled a large village. Towards it they now hurried desiring only to find a fire, and a door between them and the night.

[Tinuviel of Denton]

Just to let everyone know, Durlossiel and I are still walking. I've about 100 miles, and Durlossiel about 90. (I do more walking than she does.)

I hope swimming counts.

[Vardamar]

Whether because of Vardamar's skill or for some other reason, they saw no sign and heard no sound of any other living thing all that day: neither two-footed, except birds; nor four-footed, except one fox and a few squirrels.


164 miles, boy you travel much faster on the bike then on foot smilies/biggrin.gif

[peony_foxburr]

Peony was very curious about all the strange new flowers and plants they had passed in the Chetwood Forest, but no one had time to identify them to her (even if she hadn't been nearly breathless keeping up with the rest of the party!). When they camped for the night, she spied a beautiful vine, as colorful as the autumn leaves, climbing a tree, and pointed it out to Strider. "Don't touch it!" he warned her, and she snatched her hand back. "It is poisonous, and you would break out in a terrible rash of boils that would itch until you scratched yourself bloody."

"Mercy me!" said Peony. "I never saw that growing in the Shire. Only the Enemy would make such an evil plant so beautiful." And she busied herself smearing more ointment on her blistered foot.

[Nurumaiel]

Having just walked 4 miles, Nurumaiel spots Sophia only that many miles ahead. She begins to hurry forward, stopping for a moment to let the misty spray from the large waterfall hit her in the face, marvelling at the beautiful sight. Then onward she hurries towards Rivendell, and, at a closer goal, Sophia.

[Tefalathiel]

I made it through the Old Forest and the Barrowdowns smilies/smile.gif . But I still have a long way to go. And the upcomming exams are surely not going to help!
Well, even if I have to slow down for a while, the holliday will arrive. Just wait for it!

[Arafangwen]

Arafangwen watched as the scenery passed by at a much slower, but more peaceful pace than normal, the Century plants had only just begun to bloom on the path she was taking and she wanted to enjoy the sweet fragrance of them as long as she could. On the other hand, she had just sighted Nurumaiel only a mile or so ahead of her, mabey if she sped up only a little.....

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Aaah!! What a great massage! I didn't realize how many sore muscles I had...I feel much better now. Mr. B had our rooms ready when we arrived, with bread & butter, cheese, mushrooms and a wonderful onion soup for our dinner. And, of course, The Pony's excellent beer. Goldberry was going to do some shopping this morning before heading home, so I left on my own just after breakfast. Even with my new elf slippers, there's still a mighty long way to go. I heard some sniffing outside last night, so I'll cut across country to hide from the Black Riders.

--------------------

It was dark, and white stars were shining, when Frodo and his companions came at last to the Greenway-crossing and drew near the village. They came to the West-gate and found it shut, but at the door of the lodge beyond it, there was a man sitting. ..."What do you want, and where do you come from?" he asked gruffly.

"We are making for the inn here," answered Frodo. "We are journeying east and cannot go further tonight."

..."We are hobbits from Buckland, and we have a fancy to travel and to stay at the inn here," put in Merry. "I am Mr. Brandybuck. Is that enough for you?"

..."All right, all right!" said the man. "I meant no offence. But you'll find maybe that more folk than old Harry at the gate will be asking you questions. There's queer folk about. If you go on to 'The Pony', you'll find you're not the only guests."

[Raefindel]

After Helen and I hiked we both checked our pedometers; Her's said 3 1/2 miles Mine said 2 1/2. Now, a week later mine just bit the dust- stupid thing!

I'm now in the Weather Hills and I see Weathertop in the distance. My injury is slowing me but not stopping me. I guess I'm just too stubborn.

[ArwenBaggins]

Hi Again Guys!
My life's overwhelmed me the last couple of months, so I haven't posted. Never Fear, Fëa is here! I haven't quit walking!

My total so far is approx. 120 miles after a 3 1/5 mile hike this morning. Yay! I've finally made it just past Tom Bombadil's House!

I will try to post more often, with this week being the last week of school. smilies/wink.gif

-Fëa

[ June 01, 2003: Message edited by: ArwenBaggins ]

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Sophia pauses, from the top of the bald hill and looks back. Robin Brandybuck is hurrying along not too far from her. She grins and hopes Miss Brandybuck will catch up soon. Sophia's tired of walking alone.

But, she's found out that a day at the amusement park is good for a whole lot (10) of miles... especially a day in the rain where the waits are minimal. smilies/biggrin.gif This elf's discovered she loves rollercoasters...

[Neferchoirwen]

*phew!*

I'm still walking!
I haven't been going online, but I've been loyal to my treadmill...so far, I've got around 30 plus km on my mileage, which makes about 21.5 miles...long way to go, but i've got some more walks that i haven't added up.

Plus...it's raining...no afternoon walks for me for about two more weeks smilies/frown.gif

[ June 02, 2003: Message edited by: Neferchoirwen ]

[Faenaduial]

The elf looked back at the twinkling lights of Hobbiton with fond thoughts of the merry hobbits snug and safe behind their doors.

Sorry for not posting regularly. Unfortunately lifes unexpected happenings have gotten in the way of both posting and walking but I am getting back on track. I've posted the 30 miles I walked before things got crazy.

It's a beautiful day here today and I can't wait to get out late this afternoon and sing some walking songs!

[mark12_30]

Good to see so many of you returning to the thread and/ or to the road! Welcome back, you've been missed!

I'm glad to leave those neekerbreeking marshes behind! Is that lightning on the horizon? I wonder where Gandalf is.

[Lyra Greenleaf]

It's been lovely weather here in London. In fact, just a little too lovely. I may have to start complaining about British weather in reverse. At least it hasn't been headachey since the thunderstorm...
The problem with good weather is it attracts every Black Rider for miles around. And take my word for it there are many more than 9 around here! They all seem to be topless men who think I'm only going for a walk to be wolf-whistled at, or asked out in an Eastern European accent. Not that I have a problem with Eastern European accents, (it's the idiots their attached to that I mind), it's just...Aaargh! smilies/mad.gif . I don't WANT to have to walk around the streets instead to get away from them! Why do so few women walk around here? Maybe it's them...

So, I think I've fgured out why the Nazgul King thought he was safe from women. He was a sexist piG!

[Tinuviel of Denton]

Well, Lyra, I seem to have the same problem (minus the accents. I get Texas/Mordor drawls.)

Anyway, does anyone know what 1500 km translated into miles is?

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Here I thought I was the only one! Walking in lousey weather does have it's advantages.

In my corner of Middle Earth they are scruffy and toothless ruffians (read rednecks) asking if you are a damsel in distress. One doesn't generally like to discourage geniune concern, but in these cases the sincerity and sobriety is a bit doubtful. smilies/frown.gif

[mark12_30]

I heartily recommend a large ferocious dog. Wolf, Fang, Grip... mine is named Chonea (http://members.cox.net/hrwright61/chonea.JPG)-- what can I tell you, she smeared her mascara-- but the black riders keep their distance anyway.

Oh, and don't forget Killer, The Terror Of Richmond. (http://members.cox.net/hrwright61/trace.JPG) Look out, Wargs, you don't have a chance.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

LOL! Walk in a sweatshirt, it helps, if you can stand the heat.

Around here the Nazgul have a generic midwest sort of accent and yell from cars parked at stoplights. They're generally much younger than the undead version, around 17, I'd guess, and they think they're real cool if the rap music emanating from their car is louder than the next guy's engine. And since the next guy is likely another Nazgul, it's a real contest at times. *Sighs* Why can't I live in Rohan, where cars haven't been invented yet and there's not really anyplace to go in them anyway? (Since I don't go anywhere anyway it wouldn't be much of a loss on that count smilies/wink.gif).

Sophia

I love your various Stitch Avatars, Helen!

[Horse-Maiden of the Shire]

Hoo dogey! I've been on the lam for a few weeks, for the crebain have been following me and they just wouldn't let up! Luckily I shook them off in the Old Forest. Heh heh heh. And then I spotted a Black Rider. Which was scary. I've made it to the Great East Road, however--not far to Bree! Good ol' Barley.

Luckily, in my corner of M-E there are NO Nazgul like that. The one I spotted was a real Nazgul, and it was at night, and I took off running like Sauron himself was after me. And I do have a large dog. Unfortunately, she isn't ferocious. Sticklebats.

[ June 02, 2003: Message edited by: Horse-Maiden of the Shire ]

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

They all seem to be topless men who think I'm only going for a walk to be wolf-whistled at, or asked out in an Eastern European accent.

I get Texas/Mordor drawls.

...scruffy and toothless ruffians (read rednecks) asking if you are a damsel in distress...

Fortunately, I don't have that problem. There is no place to walk or bike-ride out where I live (in the middle of Wilderland), unless you want to take your life in your hands. Only a narrow two-lane blacktop with no shoulder, people who drive like maniacs and packs of roaming dogs. No beautiful hikes through the woods or along the beach. I have to do all my walking on my treadmill.
____________________

These woods around Bree are much prettier than the Old Forest (and much friendlier too). Unfortunately, Strider wasn't in Bree this weekend so I'm on my own right now. Which means I got lost and went in circles for a while. I left a message for him with Mr. Butterbur, so I hope he catches up to me soon. I don't want to have to navigate the Marshes on my own.

--------------------

"Well," said Strider, "with Sam's permission we will call that settled. Strider shall be your guide. We shall have a rough road tomorrow. Even if we are allowed to leave Bree unhindered, we can hardly hope now to leave it unnoticed. But I shall try to get lost as soon as possible. I know one or two ways out of Bree-land other than the main road. If once we shake off the pursuit, I shall make for Weathertop. ...After Weathertop our journey will become more difficult, and we shall have to choose between various dangers."

[Neferchoirwen]

*yay*
I reached 59.4 km! Which makes 37 miles! And i was able to do 10km in half an hour! go me!

Tinuviel: there's a tool on the eowyn challenge site that has a tool that converts km to miles. 1km is equivalent to .68something.

Thanks for the welcome Mark...as well as for the pm smilies/smile.gif wish i could walk with my dog...he's the moody sort.

[ June 03, 2003: Message edited by: Neferchoirwen ]

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Helen, I actually think a 2 handed broadsword procured on the Barrow Downs might be a welcome deterrent, but than I’d have to deal with men in uniform wouldn’t I? (Whether that uniform was a nice white coat or badge and firearm wouldn’t matter much! It would delay.) Such a picture! A hobbit with a broadsword trailing behind it, dragging on the ground.

As far as dogs go…mine is a rather longhaired hand-me-down mixed breed that is molting at the moment. This is not to say she is chicken, though she may very well be, but that she is soon to be shaved. Somehow I don’t think I should take her out after she is shaved and thus damage her dignity, as she closely resembles a Dr. Suess animal after the process! I should try first to see her reaction, she might enjoy the breeze, though she might draw attention rather than discourage it.

[ June 03, 2003: Message edited by: Hilde Bracegirdle ]

[peony_foxburr]

Encounters on the Road: one day a teenager asked Peony if she had a cigarette (she refrained from giving him a lecture on the evils of smoking--too time consuming) and if she had a gun(!) under her rain cloak. When she showed him my water bottle, he giggled and said he was only joking. Another day, a group of girls stopped her and asked if she would stand in front of the Westford firestation and sing the national anthem with them, as finding a "stranger" was an item on their scavenger hunt list! Peony is trying to get her 8th cousin once removed, Pearl Millbanks from Waymeet, to join the Walk. Pearl has one leg a bit shorter than the other and is subject to muscle strain--though she knows regular exercise would be helpful! She and Peony used to do a 20 mile charity walk every May, which got them both into the exercise mode, but they got out of the habit when Peony's work weekend schedule started interfering. Age, weight gain, and laziness had NOTHING to do with it...

[Lyra Greenleaf]

So it's not only me then... smilies/wink.gif

Today I made a HUUUUGE sacrifice for my walk. Frodo only went on a dangerous quest to the very fires of Mount Doom. I missed 15 minutes of Neighbours. (Heehee- that's going to mean nothing to most of you!) Oh and someone listened to my complaints and provided a handy cloudburst when I was a mile from home. Oh, and a Black Rider wiv orfentic Eastend accent. Fanks a bunch.

[mark12_30]

Perhaps I could gather up a collection of lyrics to good walking songs, whether LotR or not, and put them on a webpage? LotR songs, definitely, though that would be quite unnecessary, seeing as we all probably own the books; a few Irish songs, mostly walking songs; and compose a few of my own, and other walkers could as well, if they'd be willing. For newly created songs we could just apply whatever tune we liked, unless someone were thorough enough to give a tune, as well. And not just LotR, Irish, and original songs. Does anyone have any favorite walking songs, or even non-walking songs that they enjoy singing while walking?

Nurumaiel asked this a while back. Responses?

Nuru, are you still up for this? Where should we send the songs, or should we just post them here?

[ArwenBaggins]

Ahh! Rain!
Walking in lousey weather does have it's advantages.
What are they? I was walking around the school after our baseball game, and swoosh! I'm drowning in rain.

My mileage is now 137 though! I'm goin' over to see the Barrow-Wight for dinner! smilies/wink.gif

[ June 03, 2003: Message edited by: ArwenBaggins ]

[Horse-Maiden of the Shire]

Ai! Guilt, guilt, guilt! I have been slacking off on my miles! eek! i vowed to do at least 2 per day but im not even doing that! *sob sob* Slacker!

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Walking in lousey weather does have it's advantages

It keeps down the the numbers of 2-legged pests. And gives a hobbit rainwater soft feet!

[peony_foxburr]

As they drew nearer to the Midgewater Marshes, Peony checked her backpack to be sure she still had her jar of Bug Dope handy.

[Faenaduial]

I know the hobbits had to slog through the rain on their way to Bree but it seems all we have had here in New Jersey lately is rain. Another rainy night and rain forecast for tomorrow. Arrgh!!

Guess I'll have to use the treadmill when I get off the computer.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Hi, all you fellow walkers! I'm back home, so I'll be on the Downs more often to report my progress. I have now reached the edge of the Midgewater Marshes without even noticing any discomfort! smilies/wink.gif

[Arafangwen]

Whistling to herself, Arafangwen once more caught sight of Sophia not far ahead of her as she crested the hilltop. Not far ahead of Sophia, she noticed another person, Tinuviel of Denton as far as she could make out. "Now wouldn't it be fun to walk with them!" she thought to herself as she unconciously sped up a little after passing the 103 mile marker.

[The Barrow-Wight]

In hobbbit disguise, I have finally sauntered out of Bag End and made it only as far as the other side of Bywater (2.09 miles). Though I have no aspirations to be like Eowyn, I thought I would join in on the traveling fun.

** NOTE* This is a continuation of the original Walk To Rivendell (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=14&t=001014&p=2) topic. That one had grown quite large and was a bear to load sometimes.

[The Barrow-Wight]

This thread has gotten very long, so I have continued it HERE (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=14&t=001081).