Walk To Rivendell" aka "The Eowyn Challenge"

[mark12_30]

Barrow-Wight, that tracker is cool. You rock! I love the quotes section. (edit) Hey, we even have a link on the main page! Go, Rivendell Walkers!

Niluial, cold seems to be the order of the day! I spent this morning out in the rain (drenching, pouring rain) cheering for my hobbit-hiking-buddy while she accumulated distance rowing in her first regatta! (Four-seat, women's novice eight... She must have Brandybuck blood.) It was pouring so hard I was looking for Noah's ark to float by, or for a cavilcade of drenched and grumpy Erebor-questers to trot by...

"To think it will soon be June, " grumbled Bilbo as he splashed along behind the others in a very muddy track. It was after tea-time; it was pouring with rain, and had been all day; his hood was dripping into his eyes, his cloak was full of water....

... meanwhile on the river, these rowers were all wearing spandex and cotton. No sweats?? There wasn't a rower on the water that wasn't drenched to the skin and shivering, some of them violently. I've never seen so many freezing-cold women.

(When I was in crew, we dressed sensibly on days like this-- what the heck were those coaches THINKING? How can you row at your best when you're shivering so hard at the starting line you can hardly hold your form?)

"And I'm sure the rain has got into the dry clothes and the food bags, " thought Bilbo. "Bother burgling and everything to do with it! I wish I was at home in my nice hole by the fire with the kettle just beginning to sing!"

My hobbit-hiking-buddy was grateful for the lembas and cranberry juice I brought. But next time, I'll bring tea (or chai) in a thermos. The local coffee shop got the business this time.

Anyway-- I wonder how far she rowed today. It was probably a 2000 meter race (most sprints are.) So "there and back again", 4000 meters or so including warm-up. Gutsy hobbit-lass!

[ March 30, 2003: Message edited by: mark12_30 ]