Walk To Rivendell" aka "The Eowyn Challenge"

[Nurumaiel]

Congratulations, Linnamalle! By the time I make it I'm sure you'll be already gone, but leave some little note behind for me. smilies/smile.gif Or, if you prefer, a note for all the walkers still making their way to the Hidden Valley. I plan to, as well as leaving some little cakes of a secret Shire recipe!

You have walked 302 miles.
You are still south of the Road (300).
It is 12 miles to the next landmark. You still have 156 miles to Rivendell.

Very thrilled at making it over 300 miles. My walk today could not be considered entirely pleasant, however. All of the hobbits fell silent in their laughing and talking and Strider's face became grim as we passed a place where, in the distance, we could see trees being torn and beautiful green being destroyed to 'make a city of my town.' It actually brought tears to my eyes (but no wonder, as in actual life this is very difficult for me to see happen), and I cannot say anyone else in our small company looked exactly pleased. "Thank goodness it's not back home," Pippin said. "I couldn't stand it there." Sam was in silent agreement. I wouldn't like to be someone destroying the Shire while he's about.

I believe I've walked five miles thus far today. Unlike usual, after dinner we'll keep walking at least two miles further. Strider says we should definitely eat dinner or we might collapse, but he prefers a better place to camp rather than the one we are currently stopping in. I can smell Sam's cooking from where I write, so I'm off to see what he's made today.

[Raefindel]

Congratulations Linnamalle! Relax a while in that hot spring over there, It'll do ya wonders.

[Linnamalle]

Thank you Raefindel, Nurumaiel, Alatáriël, Naz, ArwenBaggins, and Sapphire_Flame! Golly, that's a lot of support. Thanks!

[Sapphire_Flame]

We've left Crickhollow. We've got just about three miles, and we should get to the Bonfire Glade by the end of the day (hopefully).

The forest in unbearably eerie; when Merry told us that he'd been in here before I hardly believed him. He'd better not get us lost.

**We have walked 75.77 miles.
We have passed Crickhollow (73).
It is 2.23 miles to the next landmark.
We still have 382.23 miles to Rivendell.**

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Each night we walk and walk, until we're stumbling with exhaustion, but when we stop in the morning to make camp and cook breakfast, the surroundings look just the same. I hope Strider and Gandalf aren't leading us in circles..

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

Gandalf walked in front, and with him went Aragorn, who knew this land even in the dark. The others were in file behind, and Legolas [edit: and Alatáriël] whose eyes were keen was the rearguard...At first it seemed to the hobbits that although they walked and stumbled until they were weary, they were creeping forward like snails, and getting nowhere. Each day the land looked much the same as it had the day before.

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Just saw your "From:" Linnamalle. Congratulations! And enjoy your stay with the elves!

[ArwenBaggins]

I do believe we're walking in circles! Gandalf insists that he knows where he's going, but I think that deep down he's just a grumpy old man.
***
-Melilot
-Fëa

[Sapphire_Flame]

Just reached the Bonfire Glade. I WILL BE SO GLAD WHEN WE GET OUT OF THIS STUPID FOREST!!! I just *know* we're gonna get lost, I can feel it. Have not mentioned this to the others. Feeling curiously stifled...

**We have walked 78 miles.
We have reached The Bonfire Glade (78).
It is 20 miles to the next landmark.
We still have 380 miles to Rivendell.**

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

I do believe we're walking in circles! Gandalf insists that he knows where he's going, but I think that deep down he's just a grumpy old man.

Arwen, I would like to second that opinion! I don't know what happened to make him like that. He didn't used to be so grumpy. I think it's that dratted dwarf's fault...

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

"Hurray!" cried Pippin, springing up. "Here is our noble cousin! Make way for Frodo, Lord of athe Ring!"

"Hush!" said Gandalf from the shadows at the back of the porch. "Evil things do not come into this valley; but all the same we should not name them. The Lord of the Ring is not Frodo, but the master of the Dark Tower of Mordor, whose power is again stretching out over the world! We are sitting in a fortress. Outside it is getting dark."

"Gandalf has been saying many cheerful things like that," said Pippin. "He thinks I need keeping in order."

[Naz]

total: 42.10

total for today: 3.91 mi!! I'm happy! (Am I doing good??)

[Lindolirian]

I've finally calculated the average miles of marching for an hour during practice, combined it with my biking, and now have a total of 362!

[Tefalathiel]

370 miles.... I don't belive it!!....And I supose you won't believe it!
But...I've just returned from France, where I went with my parents to visit some friends. I've seen Lyon and Strasbourg and Puy-en-Velay and, of course, Paris... I think this has been the most beautifull part of walking to Rivendell.
Well, I actually feel like a traitor, enjoying so much beauty, while Frodo gets hurt and suffers so much. But you just can't feel like you're chased by ringwraiths while visiting the Louvre museum...
This is certanly a journey I WILL remember and I have my parents to thank for this. I dedicate the 126 miles I walked in France to them!
By the way, if the journey continues to Lothlorien, are we suposed to get there untill the ROTK movie comes out? And how many extra miles are there?

[ September 12, 2003: Message edited by: Tefalathiel ]

[Sapphire_Flame]

(Am I doing good??)
Yep! smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif Go Naz!!!

Ya know, it's really amazing how far you walk just to get around to all your classes at school... I'm up to 80 miles because of it! Heh... smilies/rolleyes.gif

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[LINZIELF]

smilies/biggrin.gifWell I finally got round to leaving Rivendell,althought I did stay to write my journal and enlisted the help of Bilbo and Elrond to stick the photos in! After spending 2 weeks there and generally eating, drinking and making merry, I thought I'd better be on my way. Elrond begged me to beware of Caribbean pirates but unfortunately they side tracked me with TTT dvd - sigh. never mind I am now fully focused on the quest - or is that thing? and am making good progress(even with the dwarf around). I keep looking for others on this long road but cannot see them - maybe I should take off my sunglasses? As the nights draw in this elf might find it hard to leave her hot chocolate behind and venture out in the cold?! smilies/cool.gif

[Naz]

49.45 miles in all

only 0.15 miles today, since it's still early & I'm on the net... ^ ^;;;

I wonder where I am...

[Goldberry]

I have a couple questions. I can't get the original thread to open, so I don't really have a full explanation of this thread, although I get the overall idea.

Where do you start from, and what is the destination? I know it's Rivendell, but then what once you've got there? I guess that's about it...thanks. smilies/smile.gif

[Sapphire_Flame]

Hey Naz!:
You have walked 49.45 miles.
You have passed Woody End (46).
You are only 2.55 miles from Stock.
You still have 408.55 miles to Rivendell**

Are you un-lost now? smilies/biggrin.gif

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Goldberry, the idea for the Walk to Rivendell originally came from the Éowyn Challenge (http://home.insightbb.com/~eowynchallenge/Walk/walk.html) site, so please click on that link for explanations. The whole idea is just to encourage walking or other exercise in a Middle-earth context. We start from Bag End in Hobbiton, and Rivendell is the goal, though some of us who have already reached that are walking on to Lothlórien. On the Éowyn Challenge site, you can record your miles on the Milestones Celebration (http://eowyn.perceive.net/milestones/default.asp) page. Be sure to register that you are walking for the Barrow-Downs!

[ArwenBaggins]

The dratted dwarf and the Elf are still going on about everything! The yelling and bickering continue into the long hours of the morning, when we find a place to hide and get in a little sleep.
***
We have walked 504 miles.
We have passed Fords of Bruinen (480).
We are only 21 miles from Wild Path!!!
You still have 418 miles to Caras Galadon in Lothlórien.
***
Congrats to everyone in and near Rivendell! I'll see you on the Road!

[Nurumaiel]

I haven't been walking as much as of late but I try to keep up the pace. Strider says Rivendell is very, very close and we should be there very soon if we walk a lot. He also convinced me to start a journal that I'll actually write in every day, not just for a few days before I stop again.

BTW, the mileage list is updated. If you don't display your mileage in your FROM: space I'm now begging you to do that. I've been updating those who don't, but soon I'm going to give it up. It's getting too difficult to read through all the posts each time I update the list. Thanks!

Oh, and Naz, just to make sure you don't get lost again (I was rather lost once, and it wasn't too enjoyable), here is your official 'map', or Mileage Tracker (http://barrowdowns.com/walktorivendell.asp) (I refer to it as my 'map' smilies/smile.gif) created by the BW. Just type in how many miles you've walked and you'll find out where you are. Hope that helps.

Welcome, Goldberry, and I hope you enjoy yourself walking.

Everyone is doing great; keep up the good work!

[ September 14, 2003: Message edited by: Nurumaiel ]

[Linnamalle]

I posted this on the Coming of Age thread but I had to post it here too...

At Borders today, I found the two-CD set, Evening in Rivendell and Night in Rivendell by the Tolkien Ensemble. It was the last one. The songbook for The Starlit Jewel also arrived in the mail. So: Linnamalle is deliriously happy, and feels that she truly has arrived in Rivendell and that the walk was worthwhile! Ah, the singing, the singing!

[Naz]

You have walked 52.13 miles.
You have passed Stock (52).
It is 13.87 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 405.87 miles to Rivendell.

'All right!' said Pippin. 'I will follow you into every bog and ditch. But it is hard! I had counted on passing the Golden Perch at Stock before sundown. The best beer in the Eastfarthing, or used to be: it is a long time since I tasted it.'

*drags Pip* Come on...

Pip: NOOOOO!!!! I DON' WANNA GOOOOO!!!

[Tinuviel of Denton]

You have walked 254 miles.
You have passed the Weather Hills (246).
You are only 4 miles from the ancient fortress of Weathertop.
You still have 204 miles to Rivendell.

In the morning they found, for the first time since they had left the Chetwood, a track plain to see. They turned right and followed it southwards. It ran cunningly, taking a line that seemed chosen so as to keep as much hidden as possible from the view, both of the hill-tops above and of the flats to the west. It dived into dells, and hugged steep banks; and where it passed over flatter and more open ground on either side of it there were lines of large boulders and hewn stones that screened the travellers almost like a hedge.

+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+

Well, I may make it to Rivendell by January--of 2005, probably. If that.

[Sapphire_Flame]

Right on, Naz, you're catching up with me! smilies/biggrin.gif You definitely keep accurate distance measurements. Pedometers are fun things, aren't they?

**We have walked 82 miles.
We have passed The Bonfire Glade (78).
It is 16 miles to the next landmark.
We still have 376 miles to Rivendell.**

'I don't know what stories you mean,' Merry answered. 'If you mean the old bogey-stories Fatty's nurses used to tell him, about goblins and wolves and things of that sort, I should say no. At any rate I don't believe them. 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. 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.'

Trees: LOOM!

Sapphire: Squeak! smilies/eek.gif

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Anything but Arwen]

Good Eru, how have I managed to miss this? Can I start now? PLeeese? 458 miles...does that count any horseback riding? I ride every week, and hey, Frodo got a lift while he was ill. If so, I'm definately going to join on in. *calls* Floofy! Woofums! WALKIES! *is knocked over by bounding warg-things*
We're going walking!

[Naz]

55.06 miles in all

2.71 mi. in today alone

Sapphire: Yea, pedometers are fuuun smilies/biggrin.gif

[Nurumaiel]

Anything but Arwen

Welcome! And horseback riding certainly counts. Otherwise I'd have to be taking away many, many miles from my current count. Have fun walking!

We managed to walk one mile today and then I had to stop because I grew strangely sick. Strider said I didn't have a fever, but I felt terrible. For my sake we went no further (thank you so much, Strider), and I've been resting all day singing hobbit (read= Irish) ballads and listening to them (Merry and Pippin were kind enough to sing some for me). I'm feeling better now, but still so weak that I couldn't possibly walk (I just barely made it up and down the driveway) and sitting is about all I can do. That's why I have the time to write.

Sam promises to make me one of my favorite meals, and it happens to be rather healthy, as well. I apologized to Strider so many times, but this small hobbit is just beginning to see how kind this man of the Big Folk is. He merely smiled at me and made no answer, but his smile was so kind and encouraging that I was truly touched.

Keep walking, everyone! I'll continue when I can gain the strength. Where's my pony, Strider? Frodo gets Bill, what about me? smilies/wink.gif

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Trees: LOOM!

Sapphire: Squeak!

Sapphire: [SNORK] smilies/cool.gif

______________________________

The cooler weather has definitely made walking more pleasant, especially at night. However, I fear that as the temperature begins to drop, that travelling will become much less 'pleasant'. Pippin gave Gandalf some of his Longbottom Leaf this morning when we stopped and camped, which made the 'Big G' much less grumpy. Pippin said he'd continue to share his pipeweed with Gandalf as long as I continued to share my food with him. I just hope the other hobbits don't find out...

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

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.

[Lyta_Underhill]

Good day to all! I have trudged my way 123 miles, and I'm almost to the Barrow-Downs! A couple of days ought to see me there! I had better learn Bombadil's rhyme before I land!

I just wanted to post the voting results for the 3rd House Contest for the Eowyn Challenge, since I didn't see it here yet, and add my congrats to Pyroclastic and mark12_30 for jobs well done on behalf of the Barrow-Downs!

From the "Walk to Rivendell" Yahoo Group, Monday Sept.15 :
First Place: "Eowyn Defies the Ringwraith Lord: the Updated Version"
by Arylin of WWEC. 100 points to WWEC.

Second Place: Tie between "The Further Adventures of Legloas and
Gimli" by Pyroclastic of Barrow Downs and "A Chance Encounter" by
Aibrean of WWEC. However, because no House can get place points
twice in one contest, the second place points go to Barrow Downs. 50
Points to Barrow Downs.

Third Place: "A Shared Dream" by Mark 12_30 of Barrow Downs.
However, since no House can win place points twice in one contest,
the points go to the fourth place winner, "A Surprising Turn of
Events" by Celefinniel of TORN. 25 points go to TORN.

Cheers,
Lyta

[Sapphire_Flame]

**We have walked 83.25 miles.
We have passed The Bonfire Glade (78).
It is 14.75 miles to the next landmark.
We still have 374.75 miles to Rivendell.**

~*~*~*~
[Scene: The four usual hobbits riding through the Old Forest]

Merry (loudly): Yes, most of these trees will have to come down. The new expressway will be going through this way <waves hand> It'll make a loop from the bridge, over the Withywindle and then down toward Haysend, then back over the Brandywine where it'll hook up with the old road in Deephallow.

Trees: [Loom]

Merry (continuing loudly): That'll open up this whole area. First we're going to put in Brandybuck Mall right in this area, here.

Trees: [LOOM]

Merry (still rather loudly): Then I think Withywindle Estates is next, that'll be the pricey homes by the river.

Trees: [LOOM!!!!]

Frodo: Merry?

Merry: Yes Frodo?

Frodo: Shut up!
~*~*~*~

***above quote courtesy of the Stupid Ring Parody...***

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 58.82 miles.
You have passed Stock (52).
It is 7.18 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 399.18 miles to Rivendell.

4.49 miles in today alone! smilies/biggrin.gif

[Goldberry]

Thanks for the explanation, Estelyn. I registered with the Eowyn Challenge website (which has my avatar picture on the front page smilies/biggrin.gif ) and have walked a grand total of two miles today! smilies/rolleyes.gif

One more question...do I update my miles on both the Eowyn Challenge website and on this thread?

EDIT: I forgot I had gym class today, where I ran. That would add about one mile, so my grand total is now three! smilies/wink.gif

[ September 17, 2003: Message edited by: Goldberry ]

[Naz]

Pippin: Where did that random kiosk randomly come from?

Me: I dunno:

Random Kiosk person: Here's you miles paper!

Me: ? *takes paper*

You have walked 62.51 miles.
You have passed Stock (52).
You are only 3.49 miles from Buckleberry Ferry.
You still have 395.49 miles to Rivendell.

*eyes light up* YESSSSSS!!!!!!! COME ON GUYS!!! *runs, dragging hobbits*

Hobbits: GYA~~~!!

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

fer all I know, I'm there already :P 3.79 miles today...

You have walked 66.30 miles.
You have passed Buckleberry Ferry (66).
It is 6.7 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 391.7 miles to Rivendell.

They turned down the Ferry lane, which was straight and well-kept and edged with large white-washed stones. In a hundred yards or so it brought them to the river-bank, where there was a broad wooden landing-stage. A large flat ferry-boat was moored beside it. The white bollards near the water's edge glimmered in the light of two lamps on high posts. Behind them the mists in the flat fields were now above the hedges; but the water before them was dark, with only a few curling wisps like steam among the reeds by the bank. There seemed to be less fog on the further side.

YES!!!!!!!!! *drags hobbits to Crickhollow*

Merry: HOW'D I GET ROPED INTO THIS?!

(edit: BUT I'M CONFUSED!!! The Landmark page at the Eowyn place says at 70 miles I'll be at Buckleberry Ferry.... I'm so confu~~sed!!! help, anyone??)

[ September 17, 2003: Message edited by: Naz ]

[Nurumaiel]

Goldberry, You needn't post on the thread at the end of each day to update us with your mileage (I never do unless I have a lot of time), but if you go to the first page of this thread to the second post, you'll see there's a list of BD walkers that is updated every so often. If you want your mileage displayed on that list, the surest way to do it would be to put how many miles you've walked in your 'from' space. This isn't a necessity but it will ensure that you get your name on the list.

Happy walking!

~Nuru

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Although our Fellowship is still wandering in the Wilderness following Moses..I mean Gandalf..I am hitching a lift from Gwaihir tomorrow. He will transport me directly to the Misty Mountains, and I will spend the next two weeks hiking the paths there with other companions. Hopefully, the Fellowship will be in Hollin or possibly even Moria by the time I return. Arwen, keep an eye on that dwarf for me!!

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

"But go now with good hearts! Farewell, and may the blessing of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you. May the stars shine upon your faces!"

[Sapphire_Flame]

**We have walked 86.5 miles.
We have passed The Bonfire Glade (78).
It is 11.5 miles to the next landmark.
We still have 371.5 miles to Rivendell.**

Sapphire and Pippin: Are we there yet?

Merry: No.

Saph & Pip:Are we there yet?

Merry: No.

Saph & Pip: Are we there yet?

Merry, Sam, & Frodo: [plug their ears and hum]

Saph & Pip: *snork!* smilies/biggrin.gif

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[peony_foxburr]

At once they went on again. They crossed the Bridge in safety, hearing no sound but the water swirling against its three great arches. A mile further on they came to a narrow ravine that led away northwards through the steep lands on the left of the Road. Here Strider turned aside, and soon they were lost in a sombre country of dark trees winding among the feet of sullen hills.

First camp in the Trollshaws--hurrah!

[Linnamalle]

Yay, Peony, you go, girl!

[ArwenBaggins]

Walking in the cool nights is very pleasant, and sometimes we stop in the middle of the night to walk before sunup. (I have to have something to do before the bus comes!)
The dwarf has been happier lately, and I believe I am the only one that knows why. Last night, I heard him singing, "The other elf is gone! The other elf is gone!"
Who could not like Alatáriël?
***
We have walked 515 miles.
We have passed Fords of Bruinen (480).
We are only 10 miles from Wild Path.
We still have 407 miles to Caras Galadon in Lothlórien.

[Naz]

You have walked 69.12 miles.
You have passed Buckleberry Ferry (66).
It is 3.88 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 388.88 miles to Rivendell.

But shouldn't it be....

63
Traveling in the Marish, a fertile boggy area*

70
Buckleberry Ferry

Almost to the Ferry!! *drags hobbits*

Pip: HELLLLP!!

[Horse-Maiden of the Shire]

We have reached the final camp in the Trollshaws! Today the weather was chilly, windy, and rainy. It chilled us through and through, and Strider let us stop to crouch under some thick hedge and light a small fire to warm us. 383 miles though...heartening! And welcome to all the newbies! Have fun!

[elfearz1]

You have walked 132 miles.
You have reached the Barrow-Downs (132).
It is 12 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 326 miles to Rivendell.

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.
---------------------------------------------
Hooded in my Elven cloak I walk along quietly, secretly wishing for some trees or other beautifull bits of nature. As we passed into this land it grew eerily silent. We walked on for some time.

[ September 18, 2003: Message edited by: elfearz1 ]

[Naz]

You have walked 71.66 miles.
You have passed Buckleberry Ferry (66).
You are only 1.34 miles from Crickhollow.
You still have 386.34 miles to Rivendell.

yay!

[Sapphire_Flame]

***You have walked 90 miles.
You have passed The Bonfire Glade (78).
You are only 8 miles from the Bald Hill in the Old Forest.
You still have 368 miles to Rivendell.***

YES!!! And then Trogdor comes in the NIIIIIIIIIiiiiiiiiiiiIIIIIIIIIIiiiiiiiiiiiiGHT!!!! !! *passes out* smilies/wink.gif

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 73.35 miles.
You have passed Crickhollow (73).
It is 4.65000000000001 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 384.65 miles to Rivendell.

At last they came to a narrow gate in a thick hedge. Nothing could be seen of the house in the dark: it stood back from the lane in the middle of a wide circle of lawn surrounded by a belt of low trees inside the outer hedge. Frodo had chosen it, because it stood in an out-of-the-way corner of the country, and there were no other dwellings close by. You could get in and out without being noticed. It had been built a long while before by the Brandybucks, for the use of guests, or members of the family that wished to escape from the crowded life of Brandy Hall for a time. It was an old-fashioned countrified house, as much like a hobbit-hole as possible: it was long and low, with no upper storey; and it had a roof of turf, round windows, and a large round door.

Pip: HOW far to the next landmark?!

me: O_o;;;; um.. uh... - -;;

[Naz]

Me again - -;;

You have walked 75.68 miles.
You have passed Crickhollow (73).
It is 2.31999999999999 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 382.32 miles to Rivendell.

Gettin closer smilies/biggrin.gif

[ArwenBaggins]

We have finally crossed the Wild Country Path, but again we are in the wild. We have stopped just a bit to eat dinner, but we are departing any minute now.
***
We have walked 526 miles.
We have passed Wild Country Path (525).
It is 44 miles to the next landmark.
We still have 396 miles to Caras Galadon in Lothlórien.
***
The country was much rougher and more barren than in the green vale of the Great River in Wilderland on the other side of the range, and their going would be slow; but they hoped in this way to escape the notice of unfriendly eyes.

[Naz]

You have walked 79.26 miles.
You have passed The Bonfire Glade (78).
It is 18.74 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 378.74 miles to Rivendell.

'I don't know what stories you mean,' Merry answered. 'If you mean the old bogey-stories Fatty's nurses used to tell him, about goblins and wolves and things of that sort, I should say no. At any rate I don't believe them. 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. 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.'

^ ^ Yay! Though my little brother is dead certain I will not make it... - -;;

[Pyroclastic]

Thanks for the congrats, Lyta! I read your story, and it was awsome! A round of Root Beer for all of the Barrowdown Contestants and Voters!
I'VE REACHED THE BARROWDOWNS! Another round of root beer to my lousy class schedule, whom whitout, this never would have been possible. smilies/wink.gif
~Pyroclastic~

[Raefindel]

Hello everyone. I'ts been a while since I've updated, but then, I have very little to report (except mileage). I'm at 535 miles.

[Anything but Arwen]

Oh, Eru, Ive been n offline for a while but plenty of walking and riding! So, as I slope laaaazilly out of the Shire, Ive already made 16 miles. Not bad for a few days riding and stuff...

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 91.4 miles.
You have passed The Bonfire Glade (78).
You are only 6.6 miles from the Bald Hill in the Old Forest.
You still have 366.6 miles to Rivendell.**

*pshoo...* I think I'm gonna do a whole lot of walking later today... smilies/rolleyes.gif

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 80.29 miles.
You have passed The Bonfire Glade (78).
It is 17.71 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 377.71 miles to Rivendell.

SAPPHIRE!!! YOU COPYCAT!! *points to sig*

Pip: ^ ^;; *drags Naz away* Don't mind her; she's excitable...

BarrowDowners: (thinking) Noooooooo.... REALLY?

Naz: But see? It's Rath! smilies/biggrin.gif You got it from DK Sancuary, ne?

Oh, in just today I have 2.78 miles... woo hoo. : p

I MUST MAKE IT!!!!!!!

Hobbits: - -;; Ohhh dear....

[Dûrlossiel]

Well, I'm still south of the Road, though my phys ed class (JOG/WALK 1101) is definately making a difference.

[Sirithheruwen]

You have walked 66 miles.
You have reached Buckleberry Ferry (66).
It is 7 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 392 miles to Rivendell.

They turned down the Ferry lane, which was straight and well-kept and edged with large white-washed stones. In a hundred yards or so it brought them to the river-bank, where there was a broad wooden landing-stage. A large flat ferry-boat was moored beside it. The white bollards near the water's edge glimmered in the light of two lamps on high posts. Behind them the mists in the flat fields were now above the hedges; but the water before them was dark, with only a few curling wisps like steam among the reeds by the bank. There seemed to be less fog on the further side.
_____________________________________________

Ah, it's going to be quite a long haul, I'm afraid. To tell you the truth, I've hardly walked at all since school started, but we have a demon volleyball coach who makes us run 3 miles a practice. My milage has actually almost doubled since I started volleyball!
smilies/cool.gif Go me! I am so good! smilies/cool.gif
Naz:Keep it up! You're doing awesome! you started way after me, yet here you are way ahead of me! Congrats! *mumbles to herself about getting a pardomo-thingy*

[Naz]

You have walked 83.61 miles.
You have passed The Bonfire Glade (78).
It is 14.39 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 374.39 miles to Rivendell

[Lyta_Underhill]

Thanks, Pyro! I enjoyed yours quite a lot as well! smilies/biggrin.gif I've finally made it past Bree! (157 miles), watched Sam peg an apple at Bill Ferny (waste of a good apple, but still, its good fun!). My knee is just about out of commission, so I may have to backtrack and stay awhile at the Prancing Pony before I can start again... smilies/mad.gif I HATE delay! Oh, well! It's better than not being able to walk at all (which will happen if I try to go my traditional daily 4-6 mile distance anytime soon...). See y'all around as you make it into the Prancing Pony! I'll be the one with a pint and a big knee brace in the corner!

Cheers,
Lyta

[Sapphire_Flame]

SAPPHIRE!!! YOU COPYCAT!! *points to sig*
smilies/confused.gif smilies/confused.gif What did I do?

**You have walked 98 miles.
You have reached the Bald Hill in the Old Forest (98).
It is 12 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 360 miles to Rivendell.**

WooHoo!! New landmark! smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif Wheeee! *Saph hops up and down in hyper-type excitedness*

Hobbits: -,-;;;; Who invited her anyway?

Pippin: Ehm...

[b]Saph: smilies/biggrin.gif Okay guys, let's get to the next landmark quick! It's only another twelve miles! [starts skipping down the hill]

Hobbits: -,-;;;; [follow Saph, while giving Pippin looks-of-death]

Abedithon le, a hebo gladhad!

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

Sapphire, I was just overly hyper at your Rath avatar, & why isn't he working now?

I have 86.72 miles (will I make it? smilies/frown.gif )

[Nurumaiel]

Mileage list on the first page is updated! Sorry it took me a bit longer than usual.

I haven't been posting as much, but Strider tells me we don't really have that much time. I've only been doing two miles a day because of an ankle that I don't want to aggravate, but playing football with the 10yo helps add it up. smilies/smile.gif

[Naz]

You have walked 90.42 miles.
You have passed The Bonfire Glade (78).
You are only 7.58 miles from the Bald Hill in the Old Forest.
You still have 367.58 miles to Rivendell.

Yay!

[Naz]

You have walked 93.96 miles.
You have passed The Bonfire Glade (78).
You are only 4.04000000000001 miles from the Bald Hill in the Old Forest.
You still have 364.04 miles to Rivendell.

^ ^ *drags hobbits along*

Pip: Y'know if we weren't following her, we'd be at Tom Bombadil's house already...?

me: - -;;

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Wow Raefindel, you are way ahead of me now!

Just checking in to say that I have joined a band of RPGer's at the moment and will be a bit delayed in reaching Lothlorien. Hope that you all are enjoying yourselves, and keep up the good work! I'll be a long as soon as we can bring a couple of those pesky roving bad guys to justice! smilies/wink.gif

[ September 30, 2003: Message edited by: Hilde Bracegirdle ]

[Sapphire_Flame]

You're catching up fast, Naz! Rock on!

**You have walked 100.4 miles.
You have passed the Bald Hill in the Old Forest (98).
It is 9.6 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 357.6 miles to Rivendell.**

^^ *skips along with hobbits in tow*

Hobbits: -,-;;;

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Lyta_Underhill]

At last! I have managed to hobble my way into the Chetwood Forest, and perhaps I'll be at the abandoned robbers' den in a couple of days! 165 miles so far...I've had to cut down from about 4.5 to 6 to about 2.5 to 4 miles a day to save my poor joints, but I WILL make it!

By Elbereth and Luthien the Fair, you shall have neither my knees NOR me! (heh heh!) smilies/biggrin.gif

Cheers,
Lyta

[Naz]

You have walked 103.95 miles.
You have passed the Bald Hill in the Old Forest (98).
It is 6.05 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 354.05 miles to Rivendell.

The hobbits led their ponies up, winding round and round until they reached the top. There they stood and gazed about them. The air was gleaming and sunlit, but hazy; and they could not see to any great distance. Near at hand the mist was now almost gone; though here and there it lay in hollows of the wood, and to the south of them, out of a deep fold cutting right across the Forest, the fog still rose like steam or wisps of white smoke.

YAY!! I'M IN FRONT OF SAPPHIRE NOW! *grin grin Sapphire^ ^;;;*

Pip: Run away! Run away!

(yah I watched Monty Python for first time lasta nighta! ^ ^ funny)

[ArwenBaggins]

The cool nights are becoming cold, and walking is no longer pleasant. Gandalf pushes us on, with frozen ears and frozen spirits.
***
We have walked 545 miles.
We have passed Wild Country Path (525).
It is 25 miles to the next landmark.
We still have 377 miles to Caras Galadon in Lothlórien.
***
Sorry I haven't been on for over a week. Been busy with the Breelanders All! RP.

-Melilot
-Fëa

[Sapphire_Flame]

YAY!! I'M IN FRONT OF SAPPHIRE NOW! *grin grin Sapphire^ ^;;;*
Only barely...

**You have walked 103.94 miles.
You have passed the Bald Hill in the Old Forest (98).
It is 6.06 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 354.06 miles to Rivendell.**

*sneaks up and steps on the backs of Naz's shoes* smilies/evil.gif

Bwaha, Trogdor strikes again!

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Sirithheruwen]

You have walked 78 miles.
You have reached The Bonfire Glade (78).
It is 20 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 380 miles to Rivendell.

'I don't know what stories you mean,' Merry answered. 'If you mean the old bogey-stories Fatty's nurses used to tell him, about goblins and wolves and things of that sort, I should say no. At any rate I don't believe them. 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. 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.'

I've finally borrowed a barometer for one day, and now I can add a couple more miles to my daily 1-3 miles.

[Naz]

Whoops. Mistake. Weird. This is why Naz was it Foundations math in 7th grade... - -;;

My total thus far is actually 103.69. - - gomen, minna. Sorry everybody. *tries to catch up to Sapphire*

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 107.3 miles.
You have passed the Bald Hill in the Old Forest (98).
You are only 2.7 miles from Old Man Willow.
You still have 350.7 miles to Rivendell.**

Saph: Old Man Willow? smilies/eek.gif Must not let him steal my hobbits...

Merry: Since when are we her hobbits?

Pippin: *shrugs*

F, S, & M: -,-;;;

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 110.15 miles.
You have passed Old Man Willow (110).
It is 4.84999999999999 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 347.85 miles to Rivendell.

After stumbling along for some way along the stream, they came quite suddenly out of the gloom. As if through a gate they saw the sunlight before them. Coming to the opening they found that they had made their way down through a cleft in a high steep bank, almost a cliff. At its feet was a wide space of grass and reeds; and in the distance could be glimpsed another bank almost as steep. A golden afternoon of late sunshine lay warm and drowsy upon the hidden land between. In the midst of it there wound lazily a dark river of brown water, bordered with ancient willows, arched over with willows, blocked with fallen willows, and flecked with thousands of faded willow-leaves. The air was thick with them, fluttering yellow from the branches; for there was a warm and gentle breeze blowing softly in the valley, and the reeds were rustling, and the willow-boughs were creaking.

3.46 miles in just today

Tom: Hey dol, derry dol--

Me: RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!

Pip: That Tom is dynamic!

[Faenaduial]

Mile 305.
You are still South of the Road.

Just imagine having to stumble on and on, tired, injured, frightened...
The journey from Weathertop to Rivendell is one of my favorite parts of the book. We can't wait to meet up with Glorfindel.

The past 70 miles has been logged walking, dancing and playing soccer. BlingBling and I love being outside in the Fall. It sure makes the miles go by fast. By the time we ge to Rivendell it will be cold at night. I hope someone is saving a hot drink for us.

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 110 miles.
You have reached Old Man Willow (110).
It is 5 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 348 miles to Rivendell.**

*~*~*~*~
OM Willow: Come this way.

Pippin: Let's go this way!

Merry: No that's the wrong...

OM Willow: Yes, come this way.

Merry: ... I mean right, yes, that's the right way.

OM Willow: To the river.

Frodo: Let's go to the river.

OM Willow: That's a good idea.

Sam: That's a good idea.

Frodo: Finally, we found the river!

OM Willow: Time for a nap.

Pippin: I'm sleepy, let's take a nap.

Merry: Yes, a nap would be great.

OM Willow: Here's a good place for a nap.

Frodo: This looks like a lovely place for a nap.

[M & P & F settle down for a nap under the Willow.]

OM Willow: Pippin had a great idea, a nap would be wonderful.

Sam: Pippin had a great idea... Huh? Pippin had a great idea?!?! HEY! WHAT AM I SAYING!

OM Willow: Uh oh... went a little too far there, huh? No matter! [SNAP] [SNAP] [SPLASH]
*~*~*~*~

Saph: *shrieks with unnatural fury* GIVE BACK MY HOBBITS, YOU %$*#&@ TREE!!! *begins pounding on OM Willow; refuses to stop until Tom shows up and saves Merry and Pippin*

Sam: -,-; Well, everyone's safe now, at least. I think...

Saph: *has latched onto Pippin's arm and refuses to let go*

Pippin: Heh. *not looking entirely displeased with that*

(note: the bit between the *~*~*~*~'s is from the Stupid Ring Parody)

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 127.60 miles.
You have passed the House of Tom Bombadil (115).
You are only 4.40000000000001 miles from the Barrow-Downs.
You still have 330.4 miles to Rivendell.

The grass under their 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 them, 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 them on a further slope, they saw the twinkling lights of a house. Down again the path went, and then up again, up a long smooth hillside of turf, towards the light. Suddenly a wide yellow beam flowed out brightly from a door that was opened. There was Tom Bombadil's house before them, up, down, under hill. Behind it a steep shoulder of the land lay grey and bare, and beyond that the dark shapes of the Barrow-downs stalked away into the eastern night.

[Neferchoirwen]

Omg!
I've been gone and there's a new thread for the walkers!
Great job on keeping it on to Lorien, BD!

Hope I get to Lorien by New years!

[Naz]

You have walked 130.47 miles.
You have passed the House of Tom Bombadil (115).
You are only 1.53 miles from the Barrow-Downs.
You still have 327.53 miles to Rivendell.

Yay! *drags hobbits along*

[Naz]

You have walked 135.10 miles.
You have passed the Barrow-Downs (132).
It is 8.90000000000001 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 322.9 miles to Rivendell.

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.

Me: O_o;;; LET'S RUN!!

Hobbits: O____O;;

*drag drag drag*

Had to get a new battery for me pedometer today. Woke up this morning & it was dead! So I won't be getting a lot of mileage today, hmm...?

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

I'm glad to see that Gandalf & Aragorn didn't get us totally lost while I was gone. It was sooo nice in the Misty Mountains..golden aspens, dark pines & firs, herds of elk & bighorn sheep..so different from these barren hills we're now travelling through. I really missed everyone -- even the dwarf. Wait! What's that, Arwen? He was singing because I was gone? But he gave me a hug when I got back and said he was glad to see me!?!? smilies/confused.gif He's got some serious explaining to do now...

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

At first it seemed to the hobbits that although they walked and stumbled until they were weary, they were creeping forward like snails, and getting nowhere. Each day the land looked much the same as it had the day before. Yet steadily the mountains were drawing nearer. South of Rivendell they rose ever higher, and bent westwards; and about the feet of the main range there was tumbled an ever wider land of bleak hills, and deep valleys filled with turbulent waters. Paths were few and winding, and led them often only to the edge of some sheer fall, or down into treacherous swamps.

[Sirithheruwen]

You have walked 96 miles.
You have passed The Bonfire Glade (78).
You are only 2 miles from the Bald Hill in the Old Forest.
You still have 362 miles to Rivendell.

'I don't know what stories you mean,' Merry answered. 'If you mean the old bogey-stories Fatty's nurses used to tell him, about goblins and wolves and things of that sort, I should say no. At any rate I don't believe them. 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. 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.'

I will be to the Bald Hill in the Old Forest by the morrow, if not further.

Me thinks my goal to get to Rivendell by Dec. 17 is highly unrealistic, so I've changed it for the moment. It's to get to my 111th mile my ROTK. Get it? Eleventy-one? Whatever...

EDIT: New goal...I went back to the R2R page and 111 isn't a landmark, so I'm changing it to 115, Tom Bombadil's house. A nice place to rest and watch ROTK with my feet up instead of constantly on the R2R. But...like you really care..... smilies/rolleyes.gif

[ October 09, 2003: Message edited by: Sirithheruwen ]

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

EDIT: New goal...I went back to the R2R page and 111 isn't a landmark, so I'm changing it to 115, Tom Bombadil's house. A nice place to rest and watch ROTK with my feet up instead of constantly on the R2R. But...like you really care.....

Sirithheruwen: Tom's house is pretty good for watching movies & relaxing. He's got a great Laz-E-Boy recliner and always offers it to guests. However, he is very possessive of the remote control. I was able to work out a deal with him when I was there -- I got the recliner; he got the remote but only if he promised not to sing.

______________________________

It is so nice being back with the fellowship again. We talked and laughed so much last night while walking that Aragorn had to "ssshhh" us a dozen times or more. Gandalf was really grumpy at first. Then I realized that nobody had been sharing their food with Pippin, so he hadn't been sharing his pipeweed with Gandalf. I remedied that this morning when we made camp. And Gimli apologized for the singing. He said he was initially glad when I left, but then realized how much he missed my jokes and stories (not to mention my cooking). It's nice to be missed..

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

I sit beside the fire and think
of all that I have seen,
of meadow-flowers and butterflies
in summers that have been;

Of yellow leaves and gossamer
in autumns that there were,
with morning mist and silver sun
and wind upon my hair.

[Naz]

Tom's house is pretty good for watching movies & relaxing. He's got a great Laz-E-Boy recliner and always offers it to guests. However, he is very possessive of the remote control.

Heheh, I wasn't there long enough^ ^;; prolly a good thing...

You have walked 149.58 miles.
You have passed the Great East Road west of Bree (144).
You are only 2.41999999999999 miles from Bree.
You still have 308.42 miles to Rivendell.

They climbed down and out of the dike and through a gap in the wall, and then Tom turned due north, for they had been bearing somewhat to the west. The land was now open and fairly level, and they quickened their pace, but the sun was already sinking low when 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. At this point it ran nearly from South-west to North-east, and on their right it fell quickly down into a wide hollow. It was rutted and bore many signs of the recent heavy rain; there were pools and pot-holes full of water. 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! But perhaps the delay will prove useful - it may have put them off our trail.'

YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!! I'M ALMOST TO BREE!! *grabs hobbits & RUNS, leaving a confused Tom & Fatty Lumpkins in the dust...*

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 115 miles.
You have reached the House of Tom Bombadil (115).
It is 17 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 343 miles to Rivendell.**

Saph: heehee, and next it's the Barrow Downs! HUAH!!!!

Hobbits: Huah?

Saph: *shrugs and continues skipping along*

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Horse-Maiden of the Shire]

Sorry, I've been away for so long!

We finally reached the Great East Road, and I must admit that having Glorfindel here makes me feel much safer. Frodo is resting on his horse, and he seems to be relatively okay.

[Naz]

You have walked 153.91 miles.
You have passed Bree (152).
It is 10.09 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 304.09 miles to Rivendell.

Bree was the chief village of the Bree-land, a small inhabited region, like an island in the empty lands round about. Besides Bree itself, there was Staddle on the other side of the hill, Combe in a deep valley a little further eastward, and Archet on the edge of the Chetwood. Lying round Bree-hill and the villages was a small country of fields and tamed woodland only a few miles broad.

smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

[Tefalathiel]

It sais in the walkes list i've walked 370 miles.... but i've counted 291.05 today. Am I going backwards? Can I find Part 2 of Walk to Rivendell somewhere in here? I really would like to review my posts and my milleage!
And btw, i haven't posted in a long time so i've probably missed the answers to these previous questions of mine:
1: What's the additional distance to Lothlorien?
2: Untill when are we supposed to get there?
Please don't feel annoyed and answer me again!
Thans!
Signed: a very confused she-elf-in-training

[Naz]

You have walked 159.09 miles.
You have passed Bree (152).
You are only 4.91 miles from Chetwood Forest.
You still have 298.91 miles to Rivendell.

smilies/smile.gif smilies/biggrin.gif Go everybody!

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Tefalathiel, Part 2 of the WtR is here (http://forum.barrowdowns.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=17&t=000701); the distance to Lothlórien from Rivendell is 464 miles, and the goal date that was set for the original Walk to Rivendell (distance 458 miles) was Dec. 17, the release of the RotK movie. However, each walker should set her/his own pace - it's supposed to be fun!

I've been away for several weeks and am delighted to hear that the Barrow-Downs has added to its team's points. Congratulations to Pyroclastic and Mark12_30 for their prize-winning stories! Is anyone submitting a walking chant or cadence to the current contest? It would be nice to get points for participation, at least.

[Naz]

You have walked 160.65 miles.
You have passed Bree (152).
You are only 3.34999999999999 miles from Chetwood Forest.
You still have 297.35 miles to Rivendell.

We're getting there...

Ary: - -;;

Pip: Beware she drags.

Ary: What?!

*Naz grabs hobbits & Ranger & drags them as she runs*

Pip: SEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee...?!

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 116.7 miles.
You have passed the House of Tom Bombadil (115).
It is 15.3 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 341.3 miles to Rivendell.**

Saph: <in coniptions because she wasn't able to walk all weekend> Come on, come on, come on! We're so far behind! <hops from foot to foot>

Merry: Pippin, I blame her presence entirely on you.

Pippin:^^;;; Heh...

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[ArwenBaggins]

We have walked 580 miles.
We have passed Barren Hills (570).
It is 35 miles to the next landmark.
We still have 342 miles to Caras Galadon in Lothlórien.
***
The nights are increasingly cooler, but we still must walk. The wind chills me to my Hobbit bones, but Gandalf pushes us on.
***
~Fëa
-Melilot

[Naz]

You have walked 164.66 miles.
You have passed Chetwood Forest (164).
It is 7.34 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 293.34 miles to Rivendell.

Whether because of Strider'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.

Pip: Actually, I think the reason is cause Naz scared all the aminals away!

Naz: GRR!

(yes, I meant to spell "aminals." smilies/wink.gif)

[Naz]

You have walked 169.99 miles.
You have passed Chetwood Forest (164).
You are only 2.00999999999999 miles from abandoned robbers den.
You still have 288.01 miles to Rivendell.

YESSSS!!!

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

It will be a sad day indeed for this Company when Pippin runs out of pipeweed...but in the meantime we are all enjoying a more mellow Gandalf. The weather has gotten quite a bit colder, but thankfully Elrond has provided our Fellowship with an abundance of warm clothing and blankets. The mountains seemed much closer this morning when we stopped for camp. However, we're really going to have to get a move on if we want to watch RotK with Galadriel & Celeborn in December.

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

The first part of their journey was hard and dreary, and Frodo remembered little of it, save the wind. For many sunless days an icy blast came from the Mountains in the east, and no garment seemed able to keep out its searching fingers. Though the Company was well clad, they seldom felt warm, either moving or at rest. They slept uneasily during the middle of the day, in some hollow of the land, or hidden under the tangled thorn-bushes that grew in thickets in many places. In the late afternoon they were roused by the watch, and took their chief meal: cold and cheerless as a rule, for they could seldom risk the lighting of a fire. In the evening they went on again, always as nearly southward as they could find a way.

[Naz]

You have walked 174.06 miles.
You have passed abandoned robbers den (172).
It is 5.94 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 283.94 miles to Rivendell.

And now they're gone for robbers and live outside, hiding in the woods beyond Archet, and out in the wilds north-away. It's like a bit of the bad old times tales tell of, I say. It isn't safe on the road and nobody goes far, and folk lock up early. We have to keep watchers all round the fence and put a lot of men on the gates at nights.

Pip: Ooh, abandoned robber stuff!

Merry: Arn't we discriptive?

Pip: smilies/tongue.gif

Ary: Come on, let's get moving...

Pip: Ooh, but look at the shiny stuff...

Ary: *glares*

Pip: O_o;; Ok, let's go!

---------
(Even as I type, a little bug is crawling throughout the keyboard. Hey, where'd he go...?)

[Estelyn Telcontar]

The Fourth House Contest is now ready for voting on the Éowyn Challenge site - go here (http://home.insightbb.com/~eowyn2challenge/Walking_Chant/walking_chant.html) to read the walking chants and vote for your favorite. I'm curious - did anyone from the Downs enter one? No, don't tell us which it is - we want the voting to be objective.

[Naz]

You have walked 178.23 miles.
You have passed abandoned robbers den (172).
You are only 1.77000000000001 miles from the eastern edge of Chetwood Forest.
You still have 279.77 miles to Rivendell.

[Naz]

You have walked 184.61 miles.
You have passed the eastern edge of Chetwood Forest (180).
It is 11.39 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 273.39 miles to Rivendell.

The next day they began to steer a steady course eastwards; and still all was quiet and peaceful. On the third day out from Bree they came out of the Chetwood. The land had been falling steadily, ever since they turned aside from the Road, and they now entered a wide flat expanse of country, much more difficult to manage. They were far beyond the borders of the Bree-land, out in the pathless wilderness, and drawing near to the Midge-water Marshes.

Oh no... not the Marshes! > <;;

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

I'm curious - did anyone from the Downs enter one? No, don't tell us which it is - we want the voting to be objective.

Estelyn: It doesn't look like many people were aware of the contest, as there are only 4 entries. I had thought about it, but got busy and forgot.

______________________________

We've finally reached the foothills of the Misty Mountains, and the terrain is becoming increasingly difficult. I have developed quite an admiration for the halflings of our Company. One would never guess from their appearance that they would prove so doughty and steadfast in the face of adversity. And their simple jests help to brighten an otherwise tedious journey.

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

"Elrond is a master of healing, but the weapons of our Enemy are deadly. To tell you the truth, I had very little hope; for I suspected that there was some fragment of the blade still in the closed wound. But it could not be found until last night. Then Elrond removed a splinter. It was deeply buried, and it was working inwards."

Frodo shuddered, remembering the cruel knife with notched blade that had vanished in Strider's hands. "Don't be alarmed!" said Gandalf. "It is gone now. It has been melted. And it seems that Hobbits fade very reluctantly. I have known strong warriors of the Big People who would quickly have been overcome by that splinter, which you bore for seventeen days."

[Naz]

You have walked 185.85 miles.
You have passed the eastern edge of Chetwood Forest (180).
It is 10.15 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 272.15 miles to Rivendell.

I'm just happy I'm getting closer to 200...

As for me-- I didn't know there was a contest! - -;; eheh... sorry....

[Neferchoirwen]

You have walked 305.3 miles.
You are still south of the Road (300).
It is 8.69999999999999 miles to the next landmark. You still have 152.7 miles to Rivendell.

At least I'm off the 200's!
I actually lost weight, and my waist line shrunk, but I had an unfat-free weekend, heh.

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 122 miles.
You have passed the House of Tom Bombadil (115).
It is 10 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 336 miles to Rivendell.**

Man, I feel so left behind right now... *sniffle* Okay, I'm so walking at least 10 miles this week! *looking determined*

Hobbits: o.O;; Crap, I think we're in trouble.

Saph: Dang skippy! I learned hobbit-dragging from Naz, and she's a pro! <takes off running, hauling the hobbits behind her>

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 188.56 miles.
You have passed the eastern edge of Chetwood Forest (180).
You are only 7.44 miles from the western edge of the Midgewater Marshes.
You still have 269.44 miles to Rivendell.

Sapphire! Whoo hoo^ ^ The fine art of Companion (esp. Hobbit) Dragging! smilies/biggrin.gif

Pip: It's no art...

Naz: *glares*

Frodo: By Eru, she's scary...

Ary: Just wait till the marshes. Maybe we can ditch her there...

[Naz]

You have walked 193.26 miles.
You have passed the eastern edge of Chetwood Forest (180).
You are only 2.74000000000001 miles from the western edge of the Midgewater Marshes.
You still have 264.74 miles to Rivendell.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

The nights are getting colder and colder, but fortunately there has been no rain. Pippin and I have discussed his supply of pipeweed, and decided that we will have to ration what we give to Gandalf. Otherwise, we'll run out before we reach Caradhras. In the meantime, we journey slowly but steadily ever nearer to the Mountains.

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

I sit beside the fire and think
of how the world will be
when winter comes without a spring
that I shall ever see.

For still there are so many things
that I have never seen:
in every wood in every spring
there is a different green.

[Naz]

You have walked 197.57 miles.
You have passed the western edge of the Midgewater Marshes (196).
It is 3.43000000000001 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 260.43 miles to Rivendell.

The ground now became damp, and in places boggy and here and there they came upon pools, and wide stretches of reeds and rushes filled with the warbling of little hidden birds. They had to pick their way carefully to keep both dry-footed and on their proper course. At first they made fan-progress, but as they went on, their passage became slower and more dangerous. The marshes were bewildering and treacherous, and there was no permanent trail even for Rangers to find through their shifting quagmires. The flies began to torment them, and the air was full of clouds of tiny midges that crept up their sleeves and breeches and into their hair.

*runs from bugs as hobbits & Ary sweatdrop...*

[Lyta_Underhill]

I'm curious - did anyone from the Downs enter one?
I sure wish I had had the time to enter one! I actually have one I use sometimes, but, alas, I have been on a gruelling vacation for awhile and had no time at all! (Why is it that vacations are usually exhausting?) That aside, I did manage to make it all the way to Weathertop (262 miles) and am now hiding in the ruins with Pippin, roasting tomatoes and bacon over trioxane on a German portable cooker. Don't tell Pippin! He thinks it is magic! Burns with an almost invisible flame, so no uninvited Ringwraiths join the feast or even spot it! smilies/wink.gif

Cheers,
Lyta

[Naz]

You have walked 202.83 miles.
You have passed Neekerbreeker Pond (201).
It is 8.16999999999999 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 255.17 miles to Rivendell.

They spent a miserable day in this lonely and unpleasant country. Their camping-place was damp, cold, and uncomfortable; and the biting insects would not let them sleep. There were also abominable creatures haunting the reeds and tussocks that from the sound of them were evil relatives of the cricket. There were thousands of them, and they squeaked all round, neek-breek, breek-neek, unceasingly all the night, until the hobbits were nearly frantic.

*all go insane & Ary trys to drown Naz... (well arn't we a mess?) :P*

[Tefalathiel]

I'm closing in... The fisrt part of my journey through Middle-Earth almost completed.
The water at the Ford is restless these days. But the air is milder and it seems like the cold of late autumn diminishes as i approach Rivendell for my first well deserved rest.


Long ago somebody said somethig about a way to mark this experience: a diploma or somethig like that. Is it still available? I'd love to have something remebering me of this journey...

[vanwalossien]

I reached Rivendell yesterday! *gives herself a round of applause* I've been doing a lot of walking this summer smilies/biggrin.gif Turns out Helen did turn me into a healthier person after all smilies/wink.gif

[mark12_30]

Vanwalossien,

Welcome to Rivendell. The music is so good I haven't been able to leave; I just keep taking short laps around the valley, and back to Elrond's House.

Tefalathiel: when (or just before) you arrive, I'd earnestly recommend buying a copy of "At Dawn in Rivendell" by the Tolkien Ensemble, or one of their other albums (Evening or Night) or if you can get it, a copy of The Starlit Jewel (Very hard to find.)

But then the problem becomes, the music is so good it's hard to leave the valley.

Maybe once the entire fellowship is assembled... eventually.

(relaxes once again in Hall of Fire, listening to harps and elvish voices)

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Aragorn and Gandalf have spent most of our journey the past few nights arguing (make that strongly debating) about our coming path. They speak in hushed voices, and while the others seem oblivious, what Legolas and I have heard has caused us grave concern. It seems Gandalf is in favor of traveling through Moria **shudder** but thankfully, Aragorn is insisting on crossing the Pass of Caradhras. Gandalf is one of the Wise, but we feel he may be falling into folly with this plan. Perhaps we'd better limit his pipeweed usage in future. Better a grumpy Gandalf than a dead Fellowship...

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

"We should never have done it without Strider," said Frodo. "But we needed you. I did not know what to do without you."

..."At the moment I will only say that I was held captive...There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming...War is preparing!...For the moment we have been saved from disaster, by Aragorn."

"Yes," said Frodo, "it was Strider that saved us. Yet I was afraid of him at first...I have become very fond of Strider...he is dear to me; though he is strange, and grim at times."

..."there are few left in Middle-earth like Aragorn son of Arathorn. The race of the Kings from over the Sea is nearly at an end. It may be that this War of the Ring will be their last adventure."

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Congratulations, vanwalossien!! Glad you made it to Rivendell!

Today is the last day to vote for your favorite walking chant on the Éowyn site - if you haven't done so yet, check out the link I gave above some days ago.

There are lots of lovely black shields on the milestones page at that site - well done, everyone! Keep up the good walking!

[Naz]

Congrats vanwalossen! smilies/smile.gif ^ ^

You have walked 212.02 miles.
You have passed the eastern edge of the Midgewater Marshes (211).
It is 15.98 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 245.98 miles to Rivendell.

They had not gone far on the fifth day when they left the last straggling pools and reed-beds of the marshes behind them. The land before them began steadily to rise again. Away in the distance eastward they could now see a line of hills. The highest of them was at the right of the line and a little separated from the others. It had a conical top, slightly flattened at the summit.
'That is Weathertop,' said Strider. 'The Old Road, which we have left far away on our right, runs to the south of it and passes not far from its foot. We might reach it by noon tomorrow, if we go straight towards it. I suppose we had better do so.'

YAY! I'm almost to Weathertop!! ^ ^

[Elentári_O_Most_Mighty_1]

What exactly is this challenge about? How does it work? Could someone please explain??

[Estelyn Telcontar]

The Walk to Rivendell is explained here (http://home.insightbb.com/~eowynchallenge/Walk/walk.html), on the Éowyn Challenge site. LotR fans from various groups, including the Barrow-Downs, have made it their goal to reach Rivendell through walking, biking, etc. by the time the RotK movie is released on Dec. 17. You'd have to be very ambitious to make it if you start now, but even if not, join us for the fun of it! If you have any questions that aren't answered on that site, you're welcome to PM me.

[Naz]

You have walked 214.16 miles.
You have passed the eastern edge of the Midgewater Marshes (211).
It is 13.84 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 243.84 miles to Rivendell.

^ ^

[Naz]

You have walked 218.17 miles.
You have passed the eastern edge of the Midgewater Marshes (211).
It is 9.83000000000001 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 239.83 miles to Rivendell.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Aragorn seems to have had the final word in the 'Fellowship Destination' debate, thank goodness. Though we are likely to encounter snow and freezing temperatures over the Redhorn Pass, Legolas and I find this a less fearful prospect than Moria. Gandalf says we are still about 12 leagues from Hollin, so we will need to pick up our pace a bit if we want to reach Lórien by December 17.

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

I sit upon the stones alone;
the fire is burning red,
the tower is tall, the mountains dark;
all living things are dead.
In western lands the sun may shine,
there flower and tree in spring
is opening, is blossoming;
and there the finches sing.

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 132 miles.
You have reached the Barrow-Downs (132).
It is 12 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 326 miles to Rivendell.**

Bwahaha...

Hobbits: o.O;; Okay, she's getting scary.

Saph: What do you want? It's almost Halloween, after all. smilies/evil.gif *begins snooping around the 'Downs*

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, ALL YOU WIGHTS OUT THERE!!! smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/evil.gif

[Estelyn Telcontar]

The fourth House Contest has closed, with walking chants from WWEC, TORC and TORN winning points. Apparently, there were no BD entries. smilies/frown.gif We are still holding third place out of six groups, which is not bad. To read about the results, go here: House Contests (http://home.insightbb.com/~eowynchallenge/House_Contests/house_contests.html).

Let's try to compete in the next house contest; I'll let you know when it starts. The milestones page looks good, with lots of lovely black shields - keep up the good work!

[Faenaduial]

See what happens when you don't log in regularly. I totally missed the Fourth House Contest. Oh well, hopefully they will have another soon.

I haven't been on the computer, but I have been walking! BlingBling and I are thankfully not as worn out as, I'm sure, the Hobbits were feeling.

You have walked 359 miles.
You have reached the second camp in the Trollshaws (359). You still have 99 miles to Rivendell.

The hobbits were glad to leave the cheerless lands and the perilous Road behind them; but this new country seemed threatening and unfriendly. As they went forward the hills about them steadily rose. Here and there upon heights and ridges they caught glimpses of ancient walls of stone, and the ruins of towers: they had an ominous look. Frodo, who was not walking, had time to gaze ahead and to think. He recalled Bilbo's account of his journey and the threatening towers on the hills north of the Road, in the country near the Troll's wood where his first serious adventure had happened. Frodo guessed that they were now in the same region, and wondered if by chance they would pass near the spot.

[Naz]

You have walked 227.62 miles.
You have passed the eastern edge of the Midgewater Marshes (211).
You are only 0.379999999999995 miles from a small stream coming down from the Weather Hills.
You still have 230.38 miles to Rivendell.

And here I thought we were coming up on Weathertop..

Ary: WRONG!

[Sirithheruwen]

Wow! I'm ahead of Saph!!! Too bad volleyball's over...my miles will abrupty stop!!! smilies/mad.gif

You have walked 150 miles.
You have passed the Great East Road west of Bree (144).
You are only 2 miles from Bree.
You still have 308 miles to Rivendell.

They climbed down and out of the dike and through a gap in the wall, and then Tom turned due north, for they had been bearing somewhat to the west. The land was now open and fairly level, and they quickened their pace, but the sun was already sinking low when 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. At this point it ran nearly from South-west to North-east, and on their right it fell quickly down into a wide hollow. It was rutted and bore many signs of the recent heavy rain; there were pools and pot-holes full of water. 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! But perhaps the delay will prove useful - it may have put them off our trail.' smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

[ October 30, 2003: Message edited by: Sirithheruwen ]

[Sapphire_Flame]

What's the sudden big deal about passing me? smilies/confused.gif *confused*

**You have walked 136 miles.
You have passed the Barrow-Downs (132).
It is 8 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 322 miles to Rivendell. **

Saph: Okay, I'm getting creeped out now. Let's get outta here, huh? o.O

Merry: <all sarcastic-like>Oh, now you want to leave?

Saph: *squeaks* Yes, please...

Pippin: Oh stop it, Merry. She's right, let's hurry up.

Frodo: Let's get to gettin'!

<hurry towards the Road>

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

The weather has begun to deteriorate over the past few days, and it has become quite stormy and rainy. Gandalf has been sulking since he lost the 'navigator' argument with Aragorn, but I expect he'll get over it. As Elrond says, "he's wearing the same clothes to get glad in"...

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

But here I sit alone and think
of days when grass was green,
and earth was brown, and I was young:
they might have never been.
For they are past, for ever lost,
and here the shadows lie
deep upon my heavy heart,
and hope and daylight die.

[Sirithheruwen]

Saph: You've always been ahead of me, but since I'm in Bree now, I'll probably be meeting you here very soon!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You have walked 152 miles.
You have reached Bree (152).
It is 12 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 306 miles to Rivendell.

[ October 31, 2003: Message edited by: Sirithheruwen ]

[Tefalathiel]

Rivendell...

No sunset has ever shone milder than watched from this valley. It takes a strong will to leave such blessed sights. Only the lights of Lorelindorenan can part my heart from this place...


There is only one thing left to say: a world without Tolkien wouldn't have been too worthy to live in!

[Naz]

You have walked 243.96 miles.
You have passed a small stream coming down from the Weather Hills (228).
You are only 2.03999999999999 miles from the Weather Hills.
You still have 214.04 miles to Rivendell.

The hills drew nearer. They made an undulating ridge, often rising almost to a thousand feet, and here and there falling again to low clefts or passes leading into the eastern land beyond. Along the crest of the ridge the hobbits could see what looked to be the remains of green-grown walls and dikes, and in the clefts there still stood the ruins of old works of stone. By night they had reached the feet of the westward slopes, and there they camped. It was the night of the fifth of October, and they were six days out from Bree.

[Naz]

You have walked 247.97 miles.
You have passed the Weather Hills (246).
It is 10.03 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 210.03 miles to Rivendell.

In the morning they found, for the first time since they had left the Chetwood, a track plain to see. They turned right and followed it southwards. It ran cunningly, taking a line that seemed chosen so as to keep as much hidden as possible from the view, both of the hill-tops above and of the flats to the west. It dived into dells, and hugged steep banks; and where it passed over flatter and more open ground on either side of it there were lines of large boulders and hewn stones that screened the travellers almost like a hedge.

Heh heh. Trick or Treating helped a LOT smilies/biggrin.gif

[Lyta_Underhill]

Heh heh. Trick or Treating helped a LOT
Gee, Naz! You'll be caught up with me in no time! I've been a bit ill the last couple of days and I couldn't walk at all today, however, I did manage to walk on Saturday in full Frodo regalia! I had dressed up as Frodo for Halloween (from items already here in my hobbit hole, incidentally-no time to make a costume, really!) and I decided it would be awesome to do the daily walk as Mr. Frodo Baggins, complete with the One Ring on a chain around my neck! (My One Ring is my wedding ring, and it is the only piece of jewelry I wear (besides the chain), so, in a sense it really IS the One Ring-not evil though, but I won't give it up without a fight! smilies/wink.gif )

So, I'm still South of the Great Road (290 miles), but trudging very slowly on...not as sick as Frodo was at this point, but still under the weather...ugh!

Cheers,
Lyta

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 142 miles.
You have passed the Barrow-Downs (132).
You are only 2 miles from the Great East Road west of Bree.
You still have 316 miles to Rivendell. **

Saph: Yay! We're almost back to the road! You know what that means...

Hobbits: -,-;;; What?...

Saph: Time to drag! <drags hobbits toward road>

Wheee! I'm doin' so good!

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

The cold and damp is taking its toll on the spirits of the Company. We travel in silence through the nights, and speak in low voices when camped. We have not had song nor jest in many days. We are slowly drawing near to the country of Hollin. Although the land is now empty and abandoned by all folk, 'twill be pleasant to travel for a while in lands where Elves once dwelt.

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

But still I sit and think of you;
I see you far away
Walking down the homely roads
on a bright and windy day.
It was merry then when I could run
to answer to your call,
could hear your voice or take your hand;
but now the night must fall.
And now beyond the world I sit,
and know not where you lie!
O master dear, will you not hear
my voice before we die?

[Naz]

You have walked 254.25 miles.
You have passed the Weather Hills (246).
You are only 3.75 miles from the ancient fortress of Weathertop.
You still have 203.75 miles to Rivendell.

I'M GETTING TO WEATHERTOP!!! YESS!!!

Sapphire: START DRAGGIN EM! smilies/biggrin.gif YOU CAN DOOO IIIT smilies/biggrin.gif

Lyta: I really am catching up! Eheh. I'm hoppy^ ^;; *bounces*

Now, a question: my dad says that doing stuff like bouncing in place (like when I rushed upstairs just now to announce "I'm 3.75 miles from Weathertop!!") is cheating (to get miles). But me pedometer measures even if I bounce my leg..

So? Is it cheating or not? *worried look*

ganbatte, minnasan! (good luck, everybody- correct me if I'm wrong)

[Neferchoirwen]

You have walked 384.6 miles.
You have found the three stone Trolls from Bilbo's adventure (384).


Phew.

Naz, I do think it's cheating: getting your pedometer to work whenever, but if you're doing stuff to loss weight, albeit for the sake pf good health, it ain't cheating.

I asked my bro about ganbatte and he says it's actually ganbattene...though we're all not sure... just helping smilies/smile.gif

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Alatáriël, that's a lovely poem - who wrote it? It's quite obviously Sam speaking, but I'm quite sure Tolkien's not the author...

[mark12_30]

Not so sure, Esty. Tolkien wrote a real heartbreaker that never made it into the Trilogy (or rather, was replaced by "In Western Lands Beneath the Sun" and that has the same feel to me.

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 144 miles.
You have reached the Great East Road west of Bree (144).
It is 8 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 314 miles to Rivendell.**

Saph: Yes! Open road! <takes off runnin'>

Hobbits: <being dragged> -,-;;;

Sam: Maybe she'll calm down once we get to Bree...

Merry: <rolls eyes> CHEAAW, right!

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 257.60 miles.
You have passed the Weather Hills (246).
You are only 0.399999999999977 miles from the ancient fortress of Weathertop.
You still have 200.4 miles to Rivendell.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Alatáriël, that's a lovely poem - who wrote it? It's quite obviously Sam speaking, but I'm quite sure Tolkien's not the author...

Not so sure, Esty. Tolkien wrote a real heartbreaker that never made it into the Trilogy (or rather, was replaced by "In Western Lands Beneath the Sun" and that has the same feel to me.

Helen: You caught me! I've just finished reading The History of The Lord of the Rings. This is indeed the original version of Sam's song of despair/defiance in the Tower of Cirith Ungol. I tear up reading both, but I think I like this original version better. I doubt that it will happen, but I sure would like to have Sam sing this in RotK.

________________________________

Our company has reached the fair land of Hollin at last. The rain has stopped and the clouds scattered. We enjoyed our breakfast this morning in the warmth of the sun. Caradhras looms ever closer on the horizon..with luck we will be able to pass over before the snows get too deep.

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

They had been a fortnight on the way when the weather changed. The wind suddenly fell and then veered round to the south. The swift-flowing clouds lifted and melted away, and the sun came out, pale and bright. There came a cold clear dawn at the end of a long stumbling night-march. The travellers reached a low ridge crowned with ancient holly-trees whose grey-green trunks seemed to have been built out of the very stone of the hills. Their dark leaves shone and their berries glowed red in the light of the rising sun.

Away in the south Frodo could see the dim shapes of lofty mountains that seemed now to stand across the path that the Company was taking. At the left of this high range rose three peaks; the tallest and nearest stood up like a tooth tipped with snow; its great, bare, northern precipice was still largely in the shadow, but where the sunlight slanted upon it, it glowed red.

[Naz]

You have walked 260.90 miles.
You have climbed the ancient fortess hill of Weathertop (258).
It is 3.10000000000002 miles to the next landmark. You still have 197.1 miles to Rivendell.

Standing upon the rim of the ruined circle, they saw all round below them a wide prospect, for the most pan of lands empty and featureless, except for patches of woodland away to the south, beyond which they caught here and there the glint of distant water. Beneath them on this southern side there ran like a ribbon the Old Road, coming out of the West and winding up and down, until it faded behind a ridge of dark land to the east. Nothing was moving on it. Following its line eastward with their eyes they saw the Mountains: the nearer foothills were brown and sombre; behind them stood taller shapes of grey, and behind those again were high white peaks glimmering among the clouds.

^ ^

So I'm a cheater?? smilies/frown.gif

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 148 miles.
You have passed the Great East Road west of Bree (144).
You are only 4 miles from Bree.
You still have 310 miles to Rivendell.**

Saph: We're gonna get there tomorrow, guys, I swear to Eru.

Frodo: Good. We need a break. <sorrowful puppy-dog eyes expression>

Saph: Sorry, that doesn't work on me.

Frodo: <pouts>

Pippin: Can we hurry anyway, though? I'm hungry...

Merry: Me too...

Saph: <suddenly alert> Of course we'll hurry! C'mon guys!!!

Frodo: <to self>I feel so neglected right now... <pout>

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[ArwenBaggins]

Sorry I haven't posted for so long. Flu. smilies/frown.gif

I gotta go now, but I have walked 620 miles. smilies/biggrin.gif

~Fëa

[ November 08, 2003: Message edited by: ArwenBaggins ]

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

The weather has remained clear, though cold, as we journey through Hollin. This morning we made camp in a sheltered hollow, and Gandalf announced that we would remain here for a day or two to rest up. However, later while I was on watch with Sam and Aragorn, a large flock of those nasty crebain flew over. Aragorn thought that they were searching for us. Gandalf disagreed, which started another huge argument between those two. **bicker bicker bicker** Aragorn won this one as well, so we will be moving on again tonight. Needless to say, this made Gandalf really grumpy, so Pippin gave him some extra pipeweed. "Thank you, Pippin!!"

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

..said Gandalf.."I think we will rest here, not only today but tonight as well"...
That morning they lit a fire in a deep hollow shrouded by great bushes of holly, and their supper-breakfast was merrier than it had been since they set out...It was Sam's turn that day to take the first watch, but Aragorn joined him...Away in the South a dark patch appeared, and grew, and drove north like flying smoke in the wind...before long Sam could see for himself what was approaching. Flocks of birds, flying at great speed, were wheeling and circling, and traversing all the land as if they were searching for something; and they were steadily drawing nearer...Sam thought they were a kind of crow of large size...they passed overhead, in so dense a throng that their shadow followed them darkly over the ground below..Not until they had dwindled into the distance..would Aragorn rise. Then he sprang up and went and wakened Gandalf.

"Regiments of black crows..have passed over Hollin...they are crebain out of Fangorn and Dunland..I think they are spying out the land..I think we ought to move again this evening. Hollin is..being watched."

[mark12_30]

The trees are bare; so are the bones of the land. The leaves rustle underfoot. The day is bright even in the forest. Under the moon and stars, the night shimmers and the trails into the woods gleam softly.

Seen through a mile or so of tangled silver branches, the horizon beckons. I wonder about the wild lands, and what lies beyond the old well-trodden paths...

[Horse-Maiden of the Shire]

You have walked 438 miles.
You have reached the Ford of Bruinen! (436)
You have only 20 miles to Rivendell.

Twenty more miles till Rivendell...it feels like we'll Never get there! But good job, everyone!

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 152 miles.
You have reached Bree (152).
It is 12 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 306 miles to Rivendell.**

*wheeeee!!!* ^ ^

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 268.84 miles.
You have crossed the Great Road and headed south (264).
It is 3.16000000000003 miles to the next landmark. You still have 189.16 miles to Rivendell.

They made their way slowly and cautiously round the south-western slopes of the hill, and came in a little while to the edge of the Road. There was no sign of the Riders. But even as they were hurrying across they heard far away two cries: a cold voice calling and a cold voice answering. Trembling they sprang forward, and made for the thickets that lay ahead.

[Lyta_Underhill]

There's nothing like a Nazgul on your tail to make you get up and go, even when you don't feel much like it! Still South of the Road at 309 miles...good show Arwen Baggins for keeping it up even through illness! Ugh! Ain't it lovely? NOT! Well, you're so far ahead of me, I'll have to communicate by telepathy! smilies/wink.gif

And I meant to compliment you on your interesting avatar, Sapphire Flame, aka Obvious Pippin Fancier! smilies/biggrin.gif . mark 12_30, your description fits a lot of scenery I've seen on my walks...lovely! The bareness of the trees begins to uncover much that was hidden...Makes me want to start walking at night again, but its too bleepin' cold, and I've got what I hope is only a bleepin' cold!

Oh, and good show, Horse Maiden! smilies/biggrin.gif

Cheers,
Lyta (trudging slowly but enjoying the seasonal images as they pass...)

[Sapphire_Flame]

And I meant to compliment you on your interesting avatar, Sapphire Flame, aka Obvious Pippin Fancier! smilies/biggrin.gif
Thanks, Lyta! smilies/wink.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

**You have walked 153 miles.
You have passed Bree (152).
It is 11 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 305 miles to Rivendell.**

Saph: Okay, Aragorn, you're in charge now. Where are we headed?

Sam: <mutters to Aragorn> Don't believe her. She'll start dragging you as well. She learned from Naz...

Aragorn: *squeak* O.O;;

Saph: <grins innocently> smilies/biggrin.gif

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 278.36 miles.
You are deep in the wild south of the Great Road (272).
It is 7.63999999999999 miles to the next landmark. You still have 179.64 miles to Rivendell.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

The trees are bare; so are the bones of the land. The leaves rustle underfoot. The day is bright even in the forest. Under the moon and stars, the night shimmers and the trails into the woods gleam softly.

Seen through a mile or so of tangled silver branches, the horizon beckons. I wonder about the wild lands, and what lies beyond the old well-trodden paths...

Helen: What beautiful imagery! It makes me wish I were back in the Misty Mountains, or up in your 'neck of the woods' (so to speak). How wonderful to have beautiful forests to hike in each day...

______________________________

Each morning as we make camp, Caradhras looms ever closer upon the horizon until it seems to fill all the sky. The summit is blanketed in white, but we still hope to traverse the Pass in safety. 'Tis a shame that the rest of the Fellowship do not share our Elvish ability to walk upon the snow's surface. I'm glad Sam remembered to pack a couple of broad-bladed shovels among all that paraphernalia currently being carried by Bill. I think we're going to need it..

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

All that day the Company remained in hiding. The dark birds passed over now and again; but as the westering Sun grew red they disappeared southwards. At dusk the Company set out, and turning now half east they steered their course towards Caradhras, which far away still glowed faintly red in the last light of the vanished Sun. One by one white stars sprang forth as the sky faded.

Guided by Aragorn they struck a good path. It looked to Frodo like the remains of an ancient road, that had once been broad and well planned, from Hollin to the mountain-pass. The Moon, now at the full, rose over the mountains, and cast a pale light in which the shadows of stones were black. Many of them looked to have been worked by hands, though now they lay tumbled and ruinous in a bleak, barren land...

The next morning dawned even brighter than before. But the air was chill again; already the wind was turning back towards the east. For two more nights they marched on, climbing steadily but ever more slowly as their road wound up into the hills, and the mountains towered up, nearer and nearer. On the third morning Caradhras rose before them, a mighty peak, tipped with snow like silver, but with sheer naked sides, dull red as if stained with blood.

[Naz]

You have walked 281.59 miles.
You are deep in the wild south of the Great Road (272).
It is 4.41000000000003 miles to the next landmark. You still have 176.41 miles to Rivendell.

[Naz]

You have walked 285.73 miles.
You are deep in the wild south of the Great Road (272).
It is 0.269999999999982 miles to the next landmark. You still have 172.27 miles to Rivendell.

Ooh! So close, & yet... fo far... *reaches* Ni...!

Hobbits & Ary: O_o;;;...

Naz: ^ ^ smilies/smile.gif

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 157.3 miles.
You have passed Bree (152).
It is 6.7 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 300.7 miles to Rivendell.**

*squeeeee!* Only almost 300 miles left! ^^

Merry: What? You think that's good?

Saph: Good point. I'll kelebrate when we're halfway. ^^;;;

Aragorn & Hobbits: *roll eyes* smilies/rolleyes.gif

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 287.91 miles.
You are still south of the Road (286).
It is 12.09 miles to the next landmark. You still have 170.09 miles to Rivendell.

They dreaded the dark hours, and kept watch in pairs by night, expecting at any time to see black shapes stalking in the grey night, dimly lit by the cloud-veiled moon; but they saw nothing, and heard no sound but the sigh of withered leaves and grass.

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 159 miles.
You have passed Bree (152).
You are only 5 miles from Chetwood Forest.
You still have 299 miles to Rivendell.**

Yes, only five miles to the forest! *squeeee!* <takes off runnin', dragging Strider and the hobbits behind her>

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 293.53 miles.
You are still south of the Road (286).
It is 6.47000000000003 miles to the next landmark. You still have 164.47 miles to Rivendell.

Go Sapphire! Go everybody! (sorry, I'm bad at remembering names... -///-;; )

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

We passed through the ruined lands and finally reached the foot of Caradhras. When we began the climb, we each carried a bundle of firewood, as Aragorn estimated that it would take at least two nights to traverse the Pass. However, late in the night of our first march we encountered a fierce snowstorm, and were forced to halt for the remainder of the night. When day dawned, it became clear that we could go no higher, as the snow was already much too deep for the rest of the Fellowship. After much debate over alternate routes, it has been decided to pass through the Mines of Moria. Gandalf is quite pleased. I wonder if he caused the blizzard...

--------------------
Frodo felt a soft touch on his face. He put out his arm and saw the dim white flakes of snow settling on his sleeve.

..."I don't like this at all," panted Sam just behind. "Snow's all right on a fine morning, but I like to be in bed while it's falling. I wish this lot would go off to Hobbiton! Folk might welcome it there."

...Gandalf halted. Snow was thick on his hood and shoulders..."This is what I feared," he said. "What do you say now, Aragorn?"

"That I feared it too," Aragorn answered, "but less than other things."

...Very slowly a dim light began to grow. At last the snow stopped altogether...Gimli looked up and shook his head. "Caradhras has not forgiven us," he said. "He has more snow yet to fling at us, if we go on. The sooner we go back and down the better."

...A cold wind flowed down behind them, as they turned their backs on the Redhorn Gate, and stumbled wearily down the slope. Caradhras had defeated them.

[Lyta_Underhill]

334 miles...STILL South of the Road...trying to stay ahead of the Nazgul, but it is difficult!
After much debate over alternate routes, it has been decided to pass through the Mines of Moria. Gandalf is quite pleased. I wonder if he caused the blizzard... It is always interesting how Caradhras itself is personified in this part...a force older than Gandalf, Saruman, or Sauron that has its own agenda. Good luck in Moria, Alatariël! (sorry, I'm too lazy to look up the alt code for the accented a! smilies/wink.gif )

Cheers,
Lyta

[Naz]

You have walked 297.84 miles.
You are still south of the Road (286).
It is 2.16000000000003 miles to the next landmark. You still have 160.16 miles to Rivendell.

way way!!

[Tefalathiel]

Please update the walker's list!!!

2 weeks and I haven't passed the Ford yet.... It's really hard to leave Rivendell.
( looks back to Imladris, sobs )

[Naz]

You have walked 299.37 miles.
You are still south of the Road (286).
It is 0.629999999999995 miles to the next landmark. You still have 158.63 miles to Rivendell.

So close..- -;

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 161.6 miles.
You have passed Bree (152).
You are only 2.4 miles from Chetwood Forest.
You still have 296.4 miles to Rivendell.**

Yay! ^^ You know, chasing after my little cousins all week really helped with this... Plus all the running around and *squee!*ing with joy because the EV of Towers is out tomorrow! smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 302.06 miles.
You are still south of the Road (300).
It is 11.94 miles to the next landmark. You still have 155.94 miles to Rivendell.

Not once did they feel the sense of present evil that had assailed them before the attack in the dell.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Good luck in Moria, Alatariël!

Lyta: Thanks...we're going to need all the luck we can get!!

______________________________

Our Company is heading south towards the Western Doors of Moria. They are about 12 leagues away, but we hope to reach them within a week. Gandalf is acting very smug, and only Gimli looks forward to our dark journey.

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

"There is a way that we may attempt," said Gandalf. "I thought from the beginning, when first I considered this journey, that we should try it. But it is not a pleasant way, and I have not spoken of it to the Company before. Aragorn was against it, until the pass over the mountains had at least been tried."

..."The road that I speak of leads to the Mines of Moria," said Gandalf. Only Gimli lifted up his head; a smouldering fire was in his eyes. On all the others a dread fell at the mention of that name. Even to the hobbits it was a legend of vague fear.

..."I will tread the path with you, Gandalf!" said Gimli. "I will go and look on the halls of Durin, whatever may wait there--if you can find the doors that are shut."

"Good, Gimli!" said Gandalf. "You encourage me. We will seek the hidden doors together. And we will come through. In the ruins of the Dwarves, a dwarf's head will be less easy to bewilder than Elves or Men or Hobbits."

[Nurumaiel]

I haven't posted in such a long time, and I've only read the last few posts, so forgive me if I've missed anything very important. Congratulations to all who have reached Rivendell, and the rest of you appear to be doing a wonderful job.

I have had such a lack of time recently that I haven't been walking at all (I've only gained 20 miles since the last time I was here), and I have roughly a month left. However, I've learned I can walk about 3 miles in 40 min. (36 min., to be precise), and if I can set aside 40 min. every day for walking, I should be past Rivendell by tROTK release.

As Miss Robin Brandybuck, I'm still trying to think of a good excuse to give Strider. I suppose as long as we get there he'll be able to control his temper (as you can see, this hobbit does not really understand Aragorn yet!), but I haven't been very nice to poor Frodo. You'd think after Weathertop we'd be going faster, but I drag along behind until we're barely moving at all!

[Naz]

Alatáriël, good lucks from me too^ ^; For what it's worth... ^ ^;;;..

Sapphire, squee with happiness whenvever you want. It works if you want to scare hobbits. smilies/wink.gif

Hobbits: O O;;

Naz:

You have walked 306.10 miles.
You are still south of the Road (300).
It is 7.89999999999998 miles to the next landmark. You still have 151.9 miles to Rivendell.

[Naz]

You have walked 310.10 miles.
You are still south of the Road (300).
It is 3.89999999999998 miles to the next landmark. You still have 147.9 miles to Rivendell.

[Naz]

You have walked 314.19 miles.
You are still south of the Road (314).
It is 13.81 miles to the next landmark. You still have 143.81 miles to Rivendell.

It seemed too much to hope that the Riders had already lost their trail again. Perhaps they were waiting to make some ambush in a narrow place?

*walking around in camouflage*

Pip: This is dumb...

Merry: I thought you were a nazgul!

Naz: Shhhhh.... - -;

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Alatáriël, good lucks from me too^ ^; For what it's worth... ^ ^;;;

Thanks, Naz. I've got a feeling we're going to need it...

______________________________

Our Company has been trudging southwards, away from Caradhras, towards Moria. Aragorn's fears that we were being closely followed turned out to be all too true. Last night during a brief rest halt, we were attacked by a large pack of wolves that had encircled us. They were many and fierce, and we were hard pressed. Even the hobbits had to draw their blades. Although the wolves finally fled, we did not continue on our way until the sun rose over the mountains.

--------------------
Suddenly Aragorn leapt to his feet. "How the wind howls!" he cried. "It is howling with wolf-voices. The Wargs have come west of the Mountains!"
..."Then let us start as soon as it is light tomorrow, if we can," said Boromir. "The wolf that one hears is worse than the orc that one fears."
...(Pippin)"these howls freeze my blood. I don't ever remember feeling so wretched."
..."My heart's right down in my toes, Mr. Pippin," said Sam. "But we aren't etten yet, and there are some stout folk here with us. Whatever may be in store for old Gandalf, I'll wager it isn't a wolf's belly."
...Frodo saw many grey shapes spring over the ring of stones. More and more followed.
...the tree above him burst into a leaf and bloom of blinding flame. The fire leapt from tree-top to tree-top. The whole hill was crowned with dazzling light.
...The last arrow of Legolas kindled in the air as it flew, and plunged burning into the heart of a great wolf-chieftain. All the others fled.
..."What did I tell you, Mr. Pippin?" said Sam, sheathing his sword. "Wolves won't get him. That was an eye-opener, and no mistake! Nearly singed the hair off my head!"

[Naz]

You have walked 316.91 miles.
You are still south of the Road (314).
It is 11.09 miles to the next landmark. You still have 141.09 miles to Rivendell.

Nice to know my little good luck means something smilies/smile.gif

[Naz]

You have walked 321.97 miles.
You are still south of the Road (314).
It is 6.02999999999997 miles to the next landmark. You still have 136.03 miles to Rivendell.

^ ^ Whee! ^ ^ (ok that was random..^ ^;; )

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

We are drawing ever nearer to Moria. Since the attack of the wolves, we know that this is the only path open to us. Yet my heart is filled with dread at the prospect of the long journey underground and the endless darkness. I am uneasy even in the caverns of Thranduil. Although I could return to Rivendell on my own, I will not forsake my companions or our quest. I will continue this journey in spite of my fears.

--------------------
When the full light of the morning came no signs of the wolves were to be found, and they looked in vain for the bodies of the dead. No trace of the fight remained but the charred trees and the arrows of Legolas lying on the hill-top. All were undamaged save one of which only the point was left.

"It is as I feared," said Gandalf. "These were no ordinary wolves hunting for food in the wilderness. Let us eat quickly and go!"

..."I do not know which to hope," said Boromir grimly: "that Gandalf will find what he seeks, or that coming to the cliff we shall find the gates lost for ever. All choices seem ill, and to be caught between wolves and the wall the likeliest chance. Lead on!"

[Lyta_Underhill]

Its your friendly, addlepated hobbit Lyta Underhill checking in again from just short of the third camp in the Trollshaws! (363 miles). There are less than 100 miles left on my path, and I find that having Naz about 40 miles behind me keeps me going! smilies/biggrin.gif (Well, that and the fact that I can't wait to meet Glorfindel! Somehow, I think I'm not supposed to tell the other hobbits about it yet! smilies/wink.gif )

Cheers,
Lyta

[mark12_30]

Alatariel: Brrr, and I thought that the troll-cave was nasty... Moria! Brrr.

(I have been walking off and on, but haven't logged my miles in a week or so. Until I sit down and figure them out, I don't really know where I am. Trudging along behind Strider and Gandalf, who seem rather tense, and listening to the hobbits squabble, and the elf and the dwarf. Boromir seems like a fairly cheerful sort. Pippin in particular enjoys his company.)

[Mad Baggins]

Ah...Rivendell is so close I can taste it. The days are long and tiring, the nights are even longer and terrifying, but our hearts are enlightened by the thought of a sanctuary. Yeah! Only 15 more miles!

[Naz]

and I find that having Naz about 40 miles behind me keeps me going!

Eheheh..^ ^;; I'm not that much of a threat..

Mad Baggins, you're almost there! ^ ^

As for my (not so) grand total so far:

You have walked 325.33 miles.
You are still south of the Road (314).
It is 2.67000000000002 miles to the next landmark. You still have 132.67 miles to Rivendell.

Pip: How much farther?

Naz: 132.67 miles...

Pip: *"dies"*

Merry: - -;

Ary: Come on, everybody... *sighs* How on Arda did I get mixed up in this...?

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 164.4 miles.
You have passed Chetwood Forest (164).
It is 7.6 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 293.6 miles to Rivendell.**

Whether because of Strider'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.

Saph: It's too quiet...

Pippin: Yeah...

S & P: <glance at each other, then start singing>: I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves. I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves, and this is how it goes: I know a--

F, S, M, & A: -,-;;;;;; Dear Eru, what did we do to deserve this?....

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 335.09 miles.
You are still south of the Road (328).
It is 6.91000000000003 miles to the next landmark. You still have 122.91 miles to Rivendell.

At the end of the fifth day the ground began once more to rise slowly out of the wide shallow valley into which they had descended. Strider now turned their course again north-eastwards, and on the sixth day they reached the top of a long slow-climbing slope, and saw far ahead a huddle of wooded hills. Away below them they could see the Road sweeping round the feet of the hills; and to their right a grey river gleamed pale in the thin sunshine. In the distance they glimpsed yet another river in a stony valley half-veiled in mist.

Frodo: *whispering* Strider, is it just me, or has Naz gotten eerily silent as of late..?

Ary: Not just you..

Pip: What's wrong with her?

*Naz is lagging behind, silently clutching the 11th Dragon Knights to her chest & crying over somebody's death in it...* TT_TT

(heheh... Sa~~ph! smilies/wink.gif)

[Tefalathiel]

Slowly, but surely, I'm getting there!

Someone, Please!!!!!! Update that Walker's List!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nurumaiel]

Tefalathiel,
I believe it's my job to update the mileage list. I've been trying to find time to do it, but I've been very busy. You'll just have to pardon me until I'm able to work on it.

EDIT : Well, postponing my breakfast, I was able to update the list. It's the second post on page one.

How slow I've been going. We've just reached Bilbo's trolls at 395 miles, and it was rather amusing to see the foolish looks on the hobbit's faces when they realized they were stone trolls. No doubt I looked just as foolish. Strider got a rather good laugh out of me. When I and a couple of the other hobbits when a-trippin' ahead, I was singing a rather confused version of The Rocky Road to Rivendell smilies/biggrin.gif and halfway through I broke off with a involuntary squeal when I caught sight of the trolls. After dinner Pippin remembered it and also laughed heartily. I managed to humble myself enough to laugh with them, but it was the first time in 395 miles that I'd squealed.

Strider says we'll try to walk five miles today and reach a grand 400 miles. We're getting there, despite that it takes awhile.

[ 1:20 PM November 26, 2003: Message edited by: Nurumaiel ]

[mark12_30]

Frodo: *whispering* Strider, is it just me, or has Naz gotten eerily silent as of late..?

Aragorn: She's fading. It's all about that .00000000000003 miles distance she's got. It's not much bigger than an atomic unit.

Pip: How does a ranger know about atomic units?

Aragorn: I WAS raised in Rivendell, I'm not your average ignorant moron.

Pip: Next you'll tell me she's phase-shifted into another dimension. Have you been watching Star Trek lately?

Aragorn: Watch it or they'll delete your post.

Frodo: .00000000000003 miles, eh? I'm beginning to feel a little... thin. How thin does overscraped butter get, anyway?

Aragorn: About that thin, at least by the time you turn nto a wraith.

*Naz fades gracefully and elegantly in and out by exactly .00000000000003 miles distance

[Lyta_Underhill]

*snickers at Helen's whimsical use of atomic units in Middle Earth heh heh heh... smilies/biggrin.gif *
*thinks Naz has the ancient secret of cut and paste from the Barrowdowns' "Walk to Rivendell" calculator! smilies/biggrin.gif * For me, .00000000000003 miles is .00000000006336 of a stride! I don't think even a hobbit could step that mincingly! smilies/wink.gif Maybe the Nazgul knows some intricate dance steps we don't! I must say it is good to have the level Road to walk upon finally; still working my way through the Trollshaws (final camp at 376 miles--creeping up on the Three Stone Trolls...), perhaps in a couple of days I shall be there, and I swear I will climb upon them and take a picture with my digicam! (What? No digicams in Middle Earth? If there's atomic units, there's digicams! ) smilies/wink.gif

Cheers,
Lyta

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 168.9 miles.
You have passed Chetwood Forest (164).
You are only 3.1 miles from abandoned robbers den.
You still have 289.1 miles to Rivendell.**

smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

*Naz is lagging behind, silently clutching the 11th Dragon Knights to her chest & crying over somebody's death in it...* TT_TT

(heheh... Sa~~ph! smilies/wink.gif)
GAH!!!! smilies/eek.gif Who dies, who dies?!?!?! Please tell me!!!!! smilies/eek.gif smilies/eek.gif smilies/eek.gif

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Pyroclastic]

Help me! I know I'm somewhere in the marshes, probbably way beyond, but I've compleatly lost all hope! I feel so silly, but the reason I'm lost is that I got so tired of ticking everywhere I went. Pedometers are annoying, and when you're wearing one, you can't sneak up on people! I need some encouragement to keep on, and forget the nasty orks along the trail! Please help!

[Naz]

Frodo: *whispering* Strider, is it just me, or has Naz gotten eerily silent as of late..?
Aragorn: She's fading. It's all about that .00000000000003 miles distance she's got. It's not much bigger than an atomic unit.

Pip: How does a ranger know about atomic units?

Aragorn: I WAS raised in Rivendell, I'm not your average ignorant moron.

Pip: Next you'll tell me she's phase-shifted into another dimension. Have you been watching Star Trek lately?

Aragorn: Watch it or they'll delete your post.

Frodo: .00000000000003 miles, eh? I'm beginning to feel a little... thin. How thin does overscraped butter get, anyway?

Aragorn: About that thin, at least by the time you turn nto a wraith.

*Naz fades gracefully and elegantly in and out by exactly .00000000000003 miles distance



*laughs* mark12_30 (can I call you mark? smilies/wink.gif ) , that was really funny!^ ^

Sapphire... if you really want it spoiled... I'll PM you...

My miles:

You have walked 344.98 miles.
You have reached the Great East Road again (342).
It is 3.01999999999998 miles to the next landmark. You still have 113.02 miles to Rivendell.

"I am afraid we must go back to the Road here for a while,' said Strider. 'We have now come to the River Hoarwell, that the Elves call Mitheithel. It flows down out of the Ettenmoors, the troll-fells north of Rivendell, and joins the Loudwater away in the South. Some call it the Greyflood after that. It is a great water before it finds the Sea. There is no way over it below its sources in the Ettenmoors, except by the Last Bridge on which the Road crosses.'

[Lyta_Underhill]

Pyro! Stuck in the marshes? I've got an idea! Do you have a route that you have been walking every day, such as to school or along a street or something? Get it measured in a car and then estimate how far you've been walking from that! That should pull you out of the marshes. That is how I managed to start my walk with 20 miles to my credit back in August, when I feared I had little hope of making it in time.

The pedometer helped after a while, but it isn't absolutely necessary. Besides, Pippin makes fun of the way I 'click' when I walk. He tells me that's no kind of hobbit way to go about, making all that noise. Then I tell him to lower his voice! *snicker*! smilies/biggrin.gif

Cheers,
Lyta (380 miles, nearing Bilbo's Stone Trolls)

P.S. I'm pretending that Naz is chasing me! smilies/wink.gif Its fun, but I think she's gaining! smilies/eek.gif

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Alatariel: Brrr, and I thought that the troll-cave was nasty... Moria! Brrr.

Helen: Moria is much, much worse. I contacted the Enterprise to get them to beam us out of here to the Dimrill Stair, but there is too much interference for the transporters to work. We'll just have to trudge along on our own, dang it! Now if we could just get these phasers to work...

______________________________

We have entered the long dark of Moria, and it is more dreadful than even the worst of tales has told. When we reached the doors we were forced to abandon our faithful pony, Bill, as he cannot travel with us through the tunnels and stairs that are the pathways through the Mines. This was a sore blow to poor Sam. When the doors finally opened, the unseen menace in the water attempted to seize Frodo, and in escaping we lost most of our baggage and provisions. Gandalf led us confidently along the right passages until we reached a point where the main tunnel branches, and he now seems unsure of the way. We will rest for a few hours in a guard chamber adjacent to the crossroads, and give him time for thought. The time passes slowly, and the silence and darkness are like physical presences that weigh heavy upon my spirit.

--------------------
After only a brief rest they started on their way again. All were eager to get the journey over as quickly as possible…The Mines of Moria were vast and intricate…To Gandalf the far-off memories of a journey long before were now of little help, but even in the gloom and despite all windings of the road he knew whither he wished to go, and he did not falter, as long as there was a path that led towards his goal.

“Do not be afraid!” said Aragorn…”I have been with him on many a journey, if never on one so dark; and there are tales in Rivendell of greater deeds of his than any that I have seen. He will not go astray—if there is any path to find. He has led us in here against our fears, but he will lead us out again, at whatever cost to himself.”

[Naz]

You have walked 349.61 miles.
You have reached The Last Bridge (369).
It is 4.38999999999999 miles to the next landmark. You still have 108.39 miles to Rivendell.

They hurried along with all the speed they could make, and after a mile or two they saw the Last Bridge ahead, at the bottom of a short steep slope. They dreaded to see black figures waiting there, but they saw none. Strider made them take cover in a thicket at the side of the Road, while he went forward to explore.

? How can I have passed it...?

Others: - -;;;; .....

[Naz]

You have walked 351.39 miles.
You have reached The Last Bridge (369).
It is 2.61000000000001 miles to the next landmark. You still have 106.61 miles to Rivendell.

[Naz]

You have walked 353.74 miles.
You have reached The Last Bridge (369).
It is 0.259999999999991 miles to the next landmark. You still have 104.26 miles to Rivendell

Almost there... Will I make it in time? *worried*

[Naz]

You have walked 357.74 miles.
You have reached the first camp in the Trollshaws (354).
It is 1.25999999999999 miles to the next landmark. You still have 100.26 miles to Rivendell.

At once they went on again. They crossed the Bridge in safety, hearing no sound but the water swirling against its three great arches. A mile further on they came to a narrow ravine that led away northwards through the steep lands on the left of the Road. Here Strider turned aside, and soon they were lost in a sombre country of dark trees winding among the feet of sullen hills.

I'M ALMOST THERE!!! I'M ALMOST THERE!!! (kind of smilies/tongue.gif)

[Lyta_Underhill]

I contacted the Enterprise to get them to beam us out of here to the Dimrill Stair, but there is too much interference for the transporters to work. We'll just have to trudge along on our own, dang it! Now if we could just get these phasers to work...
*Giggle!* Just think if you tried to use a cellphone in Moria! "No signal..." Perhaps Gandalf could jury rig his staff, or find some potassium nitrate, sulfur and charcoal lying around...heh heh! smilies/biggrin.gif

Well, as for my own part, I am at 404 miles, and I've finally met Glorfindel! No description of him could have done justice to the reality. To quote the thoughts of Frodo: To Frodo it appeared that a white light was shining through the form and raiment of the rider, as if through a thin veil. The only thing I can liken it to is the rising aura I sometimes see around trees and some people, although that light is usually blue-green to violet, and Glorfindel shone with a white light. Needless to say, I forgot where I was and what I was doing and that I stood upon the Road in plain sight...what an amazing world! smilies/smile.gif

Cheers,
Lyta

[Naz]

You have walked 361.74 miles.
You have reached the second camp in the Trollshaws (359).
It is 2.25999999999999 miles to the next landmark. You still have 96.26 miles to Rivendell.

The hobbits were glad to leave the cheerless lands and the perilous Road behind them; but this new country seemed threatening and unfriendly. As they went forward the hills about them steadily rose. Here and there upon heights and ridges they caught glimpses of ancient walls of stone, and the ruins of towers: they had an ominous look. Frodo, who was not walking, had time to gaze ahead and to think. He recalled Bilbo's account of his journey and the threatening towers on the hills north of the Road, in the country near the Troll's wood where his first serious adventure had happened. Frodo guessed that they were now in the same region, and wondered if by chance they would pass near the spot.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

The darkness and the hovering presence of evil in this place weigh greatly upon my spirit. We came today to the Chamber of Mazarbul, and there discovered the fate of Balin and his Company. We could not stay to mourn, as we were set upon by many orcs and were forced to flee for our lives. Frodo was pinned to the wall by a orc spear and we feared he was dead. But it seems Bilbo has gifted him with a corslet of mithril that kept him from harm. Gandalf now leads us towards the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm. We hope we do not find it held against us.

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

The chamber was lit by a wide shaft high in the further eastern wall...The light of the shaft fell directly on...a great slab of white stone.

"It looks like a tomb," muttered Frodo...On the slab runes were deeply graven..."He is dead then," said Frodo. "I feared it was so"...The Company of the Ring stood silent beside the tomb of Balin...But even as they retreated...a huge orc-chieftain...thrust with his spear straight at Frodo...and...was hurled against the wall and pinned...Aragorn picked up Frodo where he lay by the wall and made for the stair.."I am all right," gasped Frodo. "I can walk. Put me down!"...[Gandalf] "I feared it was a brave but dead hobbit that Aragorn was carrying."...[Frodo] "I feel as if I had been caught between a hammer an an anvil." He said no more. He found breating painful.

"You take after Bilbo," said Gandalf. "There is more about you than meets the eye, as I said of him long ago." Frodo wondered if the remark meant more than it said.

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 173.5 miles.
You have passed abandoned robbers den (172).
It is 6.5 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 284.5 miles to Rivendell.**

*skips along, humming* La dee dee da da da da du du...

Hobbits & Strider: -,-;;;

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 368.10 miles.
You have reached another camp in the Trollshaws (364).
It is 0.899999999999977 miles to the next landmark. You still have 89.9 miles to Rivendell.

The hills now began to shut them in. The Road behind held on its way to the River Bruinen, but both were now hidden from view. The travellers came into a long valley; narrow, deeply cloven, dark and silent. Trees with old and twisted roots hung over cliffs, and piled up behind into mounting slopes of pine-wood.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Gandalf has fallen! Our Company crossed the Bridge of Khazad-Dûm, but our friend remained upon the Bridge to hold the passage against the coming of the Balrog. Just as it seemed that we would escape unscathed, Gandalf was dragged into the abyss with his foe. Aragorn led us out of the eastern gates, and down Dimrill Dale along the Silverlode. There is no time for grief, as we must hasten from this place. The orcs will pursue us come nightfall.

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

"A Balrog," muttered Gandalf..."What an evil fortune! And I am already weary."..."Over the bridge!" cried Gandalf..."I must hold the narrow way. Fly!"...Gandalf stood firm. "You cannot pass," he said..."I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Arnor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass."

...At that moment Gandalf lifted his staff, and crying aloud he smote the bridge before him...The bridge cracked. Right at the Balrog's feet it broke...With a terrible cry the Balrog fell forward...it swung its whip, and the thongs lashed and curled about the wizard's knees, dragging him to the brink. He staggered and fell, grasped vainly at the stone, and slid into the abyss. "Fly, you fools!" he cried, and was gone.

...Aragorn roused them. "Come! I will lead you now!" he called..."Follow me!"...they came upon a deep well of water...from which a freshet fell over a stone lip..."Here is the spring from which the Silverlode rises," said Gimli...said Aragorn. "Our road leads beside it for many miles. For I shall take you by the road that Gandalf chose..."

[Rosie-Posey Sandybanks]

Better late than never! I have just learned about this quest and have decided to accept the challenge. I know I will not make it to Rivendell by Dec. 17, but I will get as far as I can and continue from there.

Very excited about this journey, I take up my walking stick and begin. At least Sam and Frodo are with me and I know all of you have gone before, so it is not uncharted territory. I hope to catch up sometime!

[ 1:55 AM December 04, 2003: Message edited by: Rosie-Posey Sandybanks ]

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Welcome, Rosie-Posey, and good for you! "Better late than never", as my old Gaffer would say...

[mark12_30]

Hello, Rosie-Posey, and welcome! I wouldn't worry too much about the date: the journey's the thing. Very wise of you to bring the walking-stick!

[Naz]

Hey, welcome, you! smilies/wink.gif I'm still really a newbie here, too...^ ^;

Me miles:

You have walked 371.11 miles.
You have reached yet another camp in the Trollshaws (369).
It is 2.88999999999999 miles to the next landmark. You still have 86.89 miles to Rivendell.

That night they camped on a stony shelf with a rock-wall behind them, in which there was a shallow cave, a mere scoop in the cliff. Frodo was restless. The cold and wet had made his wound more painful than ever, and the ache and sense of deadly chill took away all sleep. He lay tossing and turning and listening fearfully to the stealthy night-noises: wind in chinks of rock, water dripping, a crack, the sudden rattling fall of a loosened stone. He felt that black shapes were advancing to smother him; but when he sat up he saw nothing but the back of Strider sitting hunched up, smoking his pipe, and watching. He lay down again and passed into an uneasy dream, in which he walked on the grass in his garden in the Shire, but it seemed faint and dim, less clear than the tall black shadows that stood looking over the hedge.

Frodo: Uurgh.. I feel sick..

Sam: Oh no, poor Mr. Frodo, are you ok,..

others: O_O;;; *run*

heheheheheh*boom* (? Glorfindel?)

[Lyta_Underhill]

Very excited about this journey, I take up my walking stick and begin. At least Sam and Frodo are with me and I know all of you have gone before, so it is not uncharted territory. I hope to catch up sometime!
Welcome, Rosey-Posey! Good to have another hobbit on the trail! I must second the walking stick idea. I've used one every time I go out and it helps on the hills! (I just twirl it about as I walk when I'm not using it for support.)

As for myself, I am very near (410 miles, still all agog at Glorfindel! Pippin is teasing me about it.). If my ailing foot does not scuttle me at the end, I shall hopefully make it! (It is being very naughty and making walking painful at times.) If I just keep my eyes on that shining Elf, maybe I'll forget what ails me and hopefully make it to Rivendell in time for the opening credits! smilies/wink.gif

Cheers,
Lyta

[Rosie-Posey Sandybanks]

You have walked 7 miles.
You have reached Last View of Hobbiton (7).
It is 11 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 451 miles to Rivendell.

"As they began to climb its first slopes they looked back and saw the lamps in Hobbiton far off twinkling in the gentle valley of the Water. Soon it disappeared in the folds of the darkened land, and was followed by Bywater beside its grey pool. When the light of the last farm was far behind, peeping among the trees, Frodo turned and waved a hand in farewell."

Frodo and Sam are great company and we are well on our way. Leaving Hobbiton was the hardest thing I've ever done, but it is something I have to do. The journey will be hard, but the reward, great!

Thank you all for your welcome! It's great to feel a part of a community, even though I am starting so late. Your journeys inspired me to reach the first major landmark on my very first day. Watch out.. Middle-earth, I'm coming through!!

[mark12_30]

Attagirl, Rosie-Posey. And I love that quote. Have you seen the painting that goes with it? It's called "Last Sight", and it's breathtaking.Last Sight at Rolozo (http://img-fan.theonering.net/rolozo/images/nasmith/lastsight.jpg)

[Sapphire_Flame]

Welcome, Rosie-Posey! Nice to meet another walker! smilies/biggrin.gif

OMG, mark, that picture is amazing! Thank you so much for linking to it!

**You have walked 177.4 miles.
You have passed abandoned robbers den (172).
You are only 2.6 miles from the eastern edge of Chetwood Forest.
You still have 280.6 miles to Rivendell.**

*hums and skips* ^^ http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/jump.gif I'm doing so good!

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 375.42 miles.
You have reached the final camp in the Trollshaws (374).
It is 8.57999999999998 miles to the next landmark. You still have 82.58 miles to Rivendell.

The sun had risen and was shining brightly when he returned with more comforting news. They were now going more or less in the right direction. If they went on, down the further side of the ridge, they would have the Mountains on their left. Some way ahead Strider had caught a glimpse of the Loudwater again, and he knew that, though it was hidden from view, the Road to the Ford was not far from the River and lay on the side nearest to them.

Ary: YES!!! RIGHT DIRECTION! WE ARE GOOOOIN!!

Pip: Oh, no..

Frodo: *cough* Unngh..

Sam: MrMrFrodoFrodo..

Merry: I want a carrot ;_;

Naz: ^ ^;; Um, le's go, guys..

Ary: *skippin ahead* Ahahaha, I'm so great, great Rangeerr! Wish Arweeen could see me noooww!!

Others: O O;;;;;

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Welcome, Rosie-Posey! Don't worry about the miles...we all started from Hobbiton!

Thanks for linking to that picture, Helen. I've added to my screensavers.

______________________________

We halted briefly while Aragorn tended the hurts of Frodo and Sam, but we were soon on our way again. It was in the middle night when we reached the eaves of Lothlórien, and most of our Company were very weary. We continued a short distance into the Golden Wood, and crossed the Nimrodel before stopping to rest. It was there that we encountered the Galadhrim, and they permitted us to shelter on their flets in the trees. Tomorrow Haldir will guide us to Caras Galadhon to meet Galadriel and Celeborn.

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

Sam and Frodo now feeling eased and greatly refreshed were able to go at a fair pace...they heard an endless rustle of leaves like poplars in the breeze...In the dim light of the stars their stems were grey, and their quivering leaves a hint of fallow gold...[Aragorn] "We will go forward a short way, until the trees are all about us, and then we will turn aside from the path and seek a place to rest in."...they came upon another stream flowing down swiftly..."Here is Nimrodel!" said Legolas..."I will bathe my feet, for it is said that the water is healing to the weary."...For a moment Frodo stood near the brink and let the water flow over his tired feet...he felt that the stain of travel and all weariness was washed from his limbs.

...There was a sound of soft laughter over their heads, and then another voice spoke in an elven-tongue..."Who are they, and what do they say?" asked Merry.

"They're Elves," said Sam. "Can't you hear their voices?"

..."Welcome...Haldir is my name...Your folk must not remain on the ground...Tomorrow early you must go on...The four hobbits shall climb up here and stay with us--we do not fear them! There is another talan in the next tree. There the others must take refuge. You, Legolas, must answer to us for them. Call us, if anything is amiss! And have an eye on that dwarf!"

[Naz]

You have walked 378.65 miles.
You have reached the final camp in the Trollshaws (374).
It is 5.35000000000002 miles to the next landmark. You still have 79.35 miles to Rivendell.

[Rosie-Posey Sandybanks]

You have walked 10 miles.
You have passed Last View of Hobbiton (7).
It is 8 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 448 miles to Rivendell.

Thanks for the link to the picture. It was beautiful! It means so much to have the support of all of you who have welcomed me.

We stopped at a pub and had a little too much to drink, so we didn't walk much yesterday. Better get on with it today, Rivendell is very far away!

[Goldberry]

Welcome to the Downs, Rosie-Posey!

Well, I am going slow and steady but not winning the race. smilies/rolleyes.gif smilies/wink.gif

Okay, maybe I'm just being blind or stupid but I can't seem to find the place where it tells you:

You have walked .... miles.
You have reached .....
It is ...... miles to the next landmark. You still have ..... miles to Rivendell.

Could anybody tell me where to find that?

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Here it is: Walk to Rivendell (http://www.barrowdowns.com/walktorivendell.asp?Size=)

[Goldberry]

Thank you, Estelyn.

Now, to feel special: smilies/cool.gif

You have walked 95 miles.
You have passed The Bonfire Glade.
You are only 3 miles from the Bald Hill in the Old Forest.
You still have 363 miles to Rivendell.

Wow, 363 miles seems like a lot. But I'll keep on going, slowly and steadily. smilies/tongue.gif

[Naz]

You have walked 382.66 miles.
You have reached the final camp in the Trollshaws (374).
It is 1.33999999999997 miles to the next landmark. You still have 75.34 miles to Rivendell.

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 180.5 miles.
You have passed the eastern edge of Chetwood Forest (180).
It is 15.5 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 277.5 miles to Rivendell.**

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

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

Go, Sapphire! You can do it^ ^

You have walked 384.68 miles.
You have found the three stone Trolls from Bilbo's adventure (384).
It is 13.32 miles to the next landmark. You still have 73.32 miles to Rivendell.

'There are trolls!' Pippin panted. 'Down in a clearing in the woods not far below. We got a sight of them through the tree-trunks. They are very large!'

Geez, Pip, calm down..

Pip: *foaming at mouth*

Naz: - -;

[Lyta_Underhill]

Well, this tired hobbit has gone 424.3 miles and with every step I find myself wondering if the Ford is just around the next rise, when in fact, I know it is almost 12 miles away! It seems that all the forces in the universe are converging upon me to prevent me from walking, and it is now that I wish I had Bill the Pony or Asfaloth to carry me the rest of the way, for many challenges have torn at me and tried to halt my body and kill my spirit; I have only to look over at Strider and be comforted, to Glorfindel to be heartened, then over to Frodo to realize my troubles are not really so bad!

Cheers to all!
Lyta
(8 or 9 days to go, depending on how you look at it...)

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

We have crossed Silverlode and entered the Naith. Alas, that we must journey through these woods blindfolded, just because the dwarf felt he was being picked on. To be able to hear the music of the leaves in the breeze, and yet be unable to see their shadows dancing upon the ground darkens the heart as well as the eyes.

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

...at length all the Company was gathered on the east bank of the Silverlode..."Now, friends," said Haldir, "you have entered the Naith of Lórien...I shall here blindfold the eyes of Gimli the Dwarf."...[Gimli] "I will not walk blindfold...I will go forward free...or I will go back and seek my own land"...

..."You cannot go back," said Haldir sternly...Gimli drew his axe from his belt..."A plague on Dwarves and their stiff necks!" said Legolas. "Come!" said Aragorn..."We will all be blindfold, even Legolas"..."I am an Elf and a kinsman here," said Legolas, becoming angry in his turn.

"Now let us cry: 'a plague on the stiff necks of Elves!'" said Aragorn..."Alas for the folly of these days!" said Legolas. "Here all are enemies of the one Enemy, and yet I must walk blind, while the sun is merry in the woodland under leaves of gold!"

...Frodo found his hearing and other senses sharpened...He could hear many different notes in the rustle of the leaves overhead...He felt the sun upon his face and hands when they passed through an open glade...it seemed to him that he had stepped over a bridge of time into a corner of the Elder Days...Evil had been seen and heard there, sorrow had been known...but on the land of Lórien no shadow lay.

[Hilde Bracegirdle]

Wow! Here I've been lazing around and when I check the Eowyn site what do I see but so many that have gotten so very far along the way! All those lovely black shields! smilies/biggrin.gif

Bravo all!

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 184.4 miles.
You have passed the eastern edge of Chetwood Forest (180).
It is 11.6 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 273.6 miles to Rivendell.**

*hums* So far and yet so close... smilies/wink.gif

Abedithon le,

Aranel, the Obvious Pippin Fancier

[Naz]

Lyta, you're so close!^ ^

Me? Well..

You have walked 396.73 miles.
You have found the three stone Trolls from Bilbo's adventure (384).
It is 1.26999999999998 miles to the next landmark. You still have 61.27 miles to Rivendell.

[Naz]

You have walked 402.07 miles.
You have finally reached the great East Road Again! Glorfindel is there! (398)
It is 15.93 to miles to the next landmark. You still have 55.93 miles to Rivendell.

The light faded, and the leaves on the bushes rustled softly. Clearer and nearer now the bells jingled, and clippety-clip came the quick trotting feet. Suddenly into view below came a white horse, gleaming in the shadows, running swiftly. In the dusk its headstall flickered and flashed, as if it were studded with gems like living stars. The rider's cloak streamed behind him, and his hood was thrown back; his golden hair flowed shimmering in the wind of his speed. To Frodo it appeared that a white light was shining through the form and raiment of the rider, as if through a thin veil.

Ary: GLORFINDEL!!! BEAR US AWAY FROM HER!!! *points to Naz*

Naz: ? GLORFINDELLIE!!

Ary: *falls over*

Glorfindel: *thinking* "Glorfindellie?!"

Pip: RUN AWAY!!

Naz: You cannot escape. BWAHAHAHAHA!

Yeah. I'm hyper. Guess who wanted to scream stuff about RotK in a bookstore earlier? Uh-huh. That's me^ ^;; > <;

[Lyta_Underhill]

At that moment there came a roaring and a rushing: a noise of loud waters rolling many stones. Dimly Frodo saw the river below him rise, and down along its course there came a plumed cavalry of waves. White flames seemed to Frodo to flicker on their crests and he half fancied that he saw amid the water white riders upon white horses with frothing manes. The three Riders that were still in the midst of the Ford were overwhelmed: they disappeared, buried suddenly under angry foam. Those that were behind drew back in dismay.
Ah--a better day today! I have finally reached the Ford of Bruinen and I would have cried aloud "By Elbereth and Luthien the Fair, you shall have neither the Ring nor me!" But the UPS man didn't look like he was having a very good day, so I left off! smilies/wink.gif Naz, as usual, is hot on my trail! smilies/biggrin.gif

Cheers,
Lyta (438 miles, across the Ford, on the home stretch to Rivendell...get ready all y'all who are enjoying the comforts of Rivendell--here comes a hungry, tired hobbit!) smilies/biggrin.gif

[Faenaduial]

You have walked 440 miles.
You have reached the Ford of Bruinen! (436)
You have only 18 miles to Rivendell.

Almost there! Hope the elves have saved us some hot chocolate (I am sure elves must have chocolate!). BlingBling and I hope to get to Rivendell this weekend. (The miles should add up as we are running through the malls doing our holiday shopping).

Now that the Black Riders have been washed away in the flood the rest of the journey should be a piece of cake.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Well, now that we have less than a week to go, it's time to see where we've gotten. Lyta, Fae, looks like you'll make it to Rivendell on time! Others are on the way with too far to go in that time, but you too have accomplished something you might not have done otherwise! I have done 1 1/2 times the distance - not enough to get me to Lothlórien, but I should reach Hollin Ridge within the next few days.

Having walking "companions" has made the venture more interesting and challenging!

[mark12_30]

Naz, I must say, for having started when you did, you certainly racked up some progress. I'm amazed. All that humorous banter seems to have the desired result!

"Strider is too poor a name; Wingfoot I name you!"

Heh. Pretty appropriate for a Naz... Hmmm, Nazwing Wingnaz AeroNaz NazJet CruiseNaz NaZoomie NazzFlap EagleNaz Nazdactyl NazHawk NazBird NazDuck NazGull.... huh, for some reason that last one has a ring to it.

[Naz]

You have walked 408.18 miles.
You have finally reached the great East Road Again! Glorfindel is there! (398)
It is 9.81999999999999 to miles to the next landmark. You still have 49.82 miles to Rivendell

*The hobbits are sitting to the side of the Road, Glorfindel is on Asfaloth, Ary sitting on his shoulders, & Naz sitting on Ary's shoulders, holding binoculars*

Naz: Hey! I can see Lyta from here!

Ary: That's nice. Get down!

Asfaloth: *Ow.....*

Naz: Oh, ok.. Hey! There's a UPS guy!

Ary: GET DOWN ALREADY FOR ERU'S SAKE!!!

Naz: Hey look Ary! I got named somethin speshul! *points to mark12_30's post*

Ary: O o; That's nice, dearie. Frodo, back on the horse!

Naz: Oh, I see how it is.. *whispers* He's just jealous.

But thank you, thank you, mark12_30! *bows* Really? It's humorous? ^ ^ Good!

Ary: We're leaving without youuu!

Naz: Gah! *runs after them*

[Faenaduial]

Six more miles today. All of it dancing!

BlingBling and I always like to think of the elves while were turning and leaping across the floor

Only 12 more miles to Rivendell.

[Naz]

You have walked 414.20 miles.
You have finally reached the great East Road Again! Glorfindel is there! (398)
It is 3.80000000000001 to miles to the next landmark. You still have 43.8 miles to Rivendell.

[Sirithheruwen]

Hey everyone! Long time-no see! However, I have been walking, just not posting. I'm now at 383 miles and yet...this topic belongs to Naz! Great job, and I hope you get there on time!
I'd like to present an award: "Most hyperness/Squeeing...and it goes to...Naz! Congratulations! *everyone claps* (BTW, the runner up is Sapphire_Flame...she gets a medal...YAY!)
smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

[Naz]

You have walked 417.56 miles.
You have finally reached the great East Road Again! Glorfindel is there! (398)
It is 0.439999999999998 to miles to the next landmark. You still have 40.44 miles to Rivendell.

Oh well. I won't make it by Wednesday.. *sighs* Oh well, oh well.

Sirithheruwen-- ^ ^;;eheheheh... really, the topic doesn't belong to me... & really Sapphire squees more than me.. *bows* I really don't deserve any award! ^ ^;;;

~won't make it by Wednesday...

[Faenaduial]

Naz, you are doing an amazing job. Congratulations on making it so far so quickly.

BlingBling and I are almost there! Only 2 miles to go although it felt as though we were back on Caradhras today: snow, sleet and ice, yuck!!!

We plan on walking tomorrow late afternoon and hope to make it to Rivendell for the evening meal. smilies/biggrin.gif

[Sapphire_Flame]

**You have walked 191 miles.
You have passed the eastern edge of Chetwood Forest (180).
You are only 5 miles from the western edge of the Midgewater Marshes.
You still have 267 miles to Rivendell.**

Ug. Midgewater marshes...

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Naz]

You have walked 419.58 miles.
You have reached the place where the four hobbits, Strider, and Glorfindel rested on the Road! (418)
It is 16.42 miles to the next landmark. You still have 38.42 miles to Rivendell.

They cast themselves down in the heather a few yards from the road-side, and fell asleep immediately. They seemed hardly to have closed their eyes when Glorfindel, who had set himself to watch while they slept, awoke them again. The sun had now climbed far into the morning, and the clouds and mists of the night were gone.

Glorfindel: Get up. Get uuuup... ARAGORN, FOR ILUVATAR'S SAKE, GET UP!!!

Pip: Ooh, isn't that a no-no? *snickers* Nauthy elf! Nauthy elf!

Glorfindel: - -;;xx Grr...

Ary: Zzzz..gggnk.. nn.. Arweeenn... gnnk..

Others: O O;;!! *lean in to listen, grinning & laughing evilly...*

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Haldir sent Orophin ahead to let Galadriel know we would not arrive at Caras Galadhon in time for the film screening tomorrow. Frodo is still somewhat stiff and sore from Moria, and unable to travel very fast. We arrived at Cerin Amroth this morning, and to our surprise discovered that the Galadhrim have converted the entire area into a theatre. They have also arranged, as a special treat, back-to-back showings of extended FotR, extended TTT, and an early showing of RotK for our Company. I feel so special!! Thanks Galadriel! smilies/cool.gif

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

The others cast themselves down upon the fragrant grass, but Frodo stood awhile still lost in wonder. It seemed to him that he had stepped through a high window that looked on a vanished world. A light was upon it for which his language had no name. All that he saw was shapely, but the shapes seemed at once clear cut, as if they had been first conceived and drawn at the uncovering of his eyes, and ancient as if they had endured for ever. He saw no colour but those he knew, gold and white and blue and green, but they were fresh and poignant, as if he had at that moment first perceived them and made for them names new and wonderful. In winter here no heart could mourn for summer or for spring. No blemish or sickness or deformity could be seen in anything that grew upon the earth. On the land of Lórien there was no stain.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 8:57 PM December 17, 2003: Message edited by: Alatáriël ]

[Lyta_Underhill]

At last, I have made it!!! (Looks around for Faenaduial and cocks an eye towards the Ford for Naz). It is great to finally reach Imladris, and I can say it is more beautiful still for the trouble it took getting here! I've found some lovely Elf-hors d'oeuvres and I'm watching a chess match between Elladan and Elrohir...Gimli is trying to get me to bet on the game...silly Dwarf! I ate all my funds! Anyway, I'll pocket one of these nice Elfberry treats for Frodo when he wakes up...

Cheers all!
Lyta

P.S. I stepped in at least 20 mudpiles and 10 puddles of water this evening, but no amount of rain could keep me from finishing this journey! smilies/biggrin.gif

[Faenaduial]

You have walked 458 miles.
You have reached Rivendell (458).

Yeah! BlingBling and I finally made it to Rivendell. Hi Lyta, congratulations. We actually finished walking Monday night but I couldn't find time until now to post.

Rivendell is wonderful... we especially liked the hot chocolate the elves had waiting for us at the end of the journey.

I think we will rest here for a few days and then travel on to Lothlorien.

Naz, you sure are covering a lot of ground. We may get to see you here if you keep up the pace you are walking at. We will save a few elf treats for you! smilies/biggrin.gif

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Congratulations, Lyta and Fae!! Way to go!

Time for the final tally - I have walked a total of 696 miles. That means You have passed Hollin Ridge (690).
It is 10 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 226 miles to Caras Galadon in Lothlórien. I'm going to carry on - how about the rest of you? How far do you think we'll get in the coming year?

[Naz]

You have walked 433.89 miles.
You have reached the place where the four hobbits, Strider, and Glorfindel rested on the Road! (418)
It is 2.11000000000001 miles to the next landmark. You still have 24.11 miles to Rivendell.

Yeah, I didn't make it...

[Lyta_Underhill]

You have walked 433.89 miles. Go, Naz, Go!! May Asfaloth carry you the rest of the way!!!! Remember, time is different in the Elvish country! Woohoo!!!! (Can anyone tell I've had enough coffee for today? smilies/wink.gif )

Cheers,
Lyta

P.S. I'll certainly carry on walking, Estelyn! I've become addicted to it, and although I am taking somewhat of a rest for a little while (as did the Fellowship!), I do wear my pedometer and record my walking about mileage still! I'm ambling in a leisurely way to Caras Galadhon! (I'm not sure what deadline to set, though!)

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 12:52 PM December 19, 2003: Message edited by: Lyta_Underhill ]

[Nurumaiel]

Congratulations to all who made it, and I must say I'm absolutely amazed with Naz. Good going!

I, alas, fell 28 miles short of the goal on the appointed day but I shan't stop. Just because I was a little late I shall continue, thanks to Strider's unusual patience... or... is it very usual? This little hobbit still doesn't understand Strider, I'm afraid! ;) I do mean to walk all the way to Orodruin and perhaps back. However, I could ride home again by doubling whatever amount of mileage I gained in a day. Yet the journey home doesn't need to be considered yet. First, Rivendell!

[Naz]

*gets teary eyed* Aww, guys... thanks^ ^; *bows* eheh..

This is best thing that's happened to me today!!:

You have walked 438.10 miles.
You have reached the Ford of Bruinen! (436)
You have only 19.9 miles to Rivendell.


At that moment there came a roaring and a rushing: a noise of loud waters rolling many stones. Dimly Frodo saw the river below him rise, and down along its course there came a plumed cavalry of waves. White flames seemed to Frodo to flicker on their crests and he half fancied that he saw amid the water white riders upon white horses with frothing manes. The three Riders that were still in the midst of the Ford were overwhelmed: they disappeared, buried suddenly under angry foam. Those that were behind drew back in dismay.

*much to Asfaloth's dismay, everyone has found a way to climb onto him & are making him go towards Rivendell*

Asfaloth: *Now where's a nice canyon when you need one..?*

Sam: AUUUGH!! MR. FRODO!! *shakes Frodo*

Ary: *to Glorfindel* ...And alluva sudden, Gandalf says, "Would you mind picking this little hobbit guy? He's going around with a weird Nazgully thingy, & with her retarded self- more than Pip"-he said it, not me-"-Frodo may need help- mentally." And I really had no choice, or else it was the Pokey Stick of Doom for me...

Naz: *holding onto Asfaloth's mane* Noro lim, Asfaloth! Whoo hoooo!!!

Glorfindel: Oh, Eru, save me..

Ary: *hits Naz over the head with butt of his sword* SHUT UP! We prolly won't get into Rivendell with you hollering like a retard!

Naz: Oh, but what else is new, Ary? What else is new?

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 6:33 PM December 19, 2003: Message edited by: Naz ]

[Faenaduial]

Go Naz go! Your doing a great job.

Congratulations to all the walkers, whether you reached Rivendell by the release of RotK or not. It has been a great experience "Walking" with everyone.

After a few days rest we are ready to set out again tomorrow for the Lothlorien.

'Ah!' said Sam gloomily. 'We'll just wait long enough for winter to come.'

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.

I guess we better wear our warm cloaks! smilies/smile.gif

[Naz]

You have walked 442.91 miles.
You have reached the Ford of Bruinen! (436)
You have only 15.09 miles to Rivendell.

I would write something funny, but current mood forbids it. *bows* Sorry all..

[Sapphire_Flame]

BTW, the runner up is Sapphire_Flame...she gets a medal...YAY!
Aw, thankies!!! http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/jump.gif

**You have walked 196 miles.
You have reached the western edge of the Midgewater Marshes (196).
It is 5 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 262 miles to Rivendell.**

Strider: Listen up! See this wet, squashy area just ahead?

Frodo: Yes?

Strider: That's the Midgewater Marshes. I need for the five of you to walk through it while I go around this way where it's nice and dry.

Sam: And why would we do that?

Strider: It's important to the story!

Saph: The Mordor it is! *fume* My little hobbit butt isn't going anywhere near that marsh, thank you very much!

Pippin: Me neither!

Strider: *pouts* Okay, fine, what if I go through too?

Saph: Okay, that's better. If we have to be miserable, so do you.

Merry and Pippin: Hear, hear!

Strider: *mutter, grumble*

Abedithon le,

~*~Aranel~*~

[Fíriel of Ao Tea Roa]

::got whacked over the head by a grey cloaky thing or being::

Mellyn, I found you again, after many moons lost in the shades. I have walked many miles, and then reached the goal.. and wonder what are we doing now? Shall we continue?

smilies/tongue.gif

[Naz]

You have walked 450.60 miles.
You have reached the Ford of Bruinen! (436)
You have only 7.39999999999998 miles to Rivendell.

WHEE! I'm almost there!!

[Tinuviel of Denton]

Well, I've been walking, though not posting, and I made it to Rivendell a week before Dec. 17. YAYNESS! I'm still walking. (Yeesh, two miles at school and two at work really adds up, eh?)

[Naz]

You have walked 458.35 miles.
You have passed Rivendell (458).
It is 21.65 miles to the next landmark.
You still have 463.65 miles to Caras Galadon in Lothlórien.

Frodo woke and found himself lying in bed. At first he thought that he had slept late, after a long unpleasant dream that still hovered on the edge of memory. Or perhaps he had been ill? But the ceiling looked strange; it was flat, and it had dark beams richly carved. He lay a little while longer looking at patches of sunlight on the wall, and listening to the sound of a waterfall.

*starts walking backwards*

Trilogy Tuesday was a week ago (it seems like forever ago) & I FINALLY made it!!

Ary: That's nice dear. *Now, to find Arwen..*