Walk To Rivendell" aka "The Eowyn Challenge"

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I've gotten a message from the Éowyn Challenge site leaders about a new challenge. This is what it says:

Here it is!

A challenge to all walkers -- to help the Milestones Celebration Page (ie, the shields page) reach 225,000 miles by the Walk's second anniversary on March 17, 2005. If every walker currently registered on the shields page walked 32 miles between now and then, we'd definitely reach that goal, but not all walkers are active at the moment. Because of that, we'd like to ask everyone still active to walk at least 100 miles between now and then. For some of us, this is a lot, for others it isn't much, but with all of our help, we can reach this amazing communal goal, and show just how far we've come in the past two years. Since the Fellowship set out to Rivendell on December 25th, we believe this will be an excellent start date for the 100 Mile challenge.

What say you?

We realize that many walkers have not logged their miles recently and the Milestone page may incur a surge of new miles, but the 100 Mile Challenge shall continue anyway. It would be a great way to start the New Year!

We hope you have a very happy holiday season!

Miradan and Kally

I will certainly participate and hope to accomplish more than 100 miles by then. For those of you who have not updated on the milestone page there, please do so - let's see lots of lovely black shields!

[Lyta_Underhill]

If every walker currently registered on the shields page walked 32 miles between now and then, we'd definitely reach that goal, but not all walkers are active at the moment. Because of that, we'd like to ask everyone still active to walk at least 100 miles between now and then.

Indeed I am still walking, although I have been absent from this site for a long time! With no knowledge of this new challenge, I finally made it over to the Eowyn Challenge site (I've got the update mileage page bookmarked directly, so I didn't see the challenge) and I added 285 miles to my previous total. I hope that will help! I am now staring up at an endless expanse of ladder-like cuts in a steep hidden part of Cirith Ungol, having gotten there by trudging through some crunchy ice/snow, oddly! It is good to know there are walkers still walking, and my trip through Mordor won't be quite so lonely!

BTW, has anyone noticed a certain reluctance when making the approach into the territories of Mordor? Every now and then, I feel a hand pushing me back, trying to keep me from finishing, slowing me down...perhaps I've taken my identification with Frodo a little far? I hope it doesn't get worse once I'm in Mordor Proper...

Cheers!
Lyta

[Lyta_Underhill]

This thread seems to be a bit slow, but I thought I'd add something commemorating my trip through (or at least TO!) Shelob's Lair. I am at 1616 miles, which is just about where Frodo finds the opening on the left side of the tunnel to the lair of the great nasty spider herself! This would be a routine event on a regular walk, marked only by a number representing a milestone along the road to Mount Doom.

However, it seems that life imitates Quest in odd and disturbing ways indeed! In a metaphorical and almost literal way, I have been stung by a giant spider! (Thus taking Frodo's role in this walk where paths must diverge, although I had not yet made up my mind which road to take. It seems to have been ordained for me...). About a month ago, my husband and I were interviewed for our habit of keeping black widow spiders. An offhand comment followed that his mother, who lived close by, was herself a giant spider. When he told her that we had said this, she said, plainly and seriously, "I AM a giant spider."

Yesterday, the giant spider stung me and my husband by summarily announcing that we had 2 months to get out of our house--no reason or explanation and not a hint of warning. This was completely out of the blue, but I indeed feel rather stung and the Tower of Cirith Ungol lies somewhere in the darkness that I cannot see, and well, Mount Doom is not as clear a path as I had once thought...

Not to be depressing, but I thought the whole "giant spider" coincidence made it relevant to this particular discussion...I suppose I'll have to wait to see what happens and where I might be glimpsing the rest of my path. Anyone who has had a similar experience feel free to commiserate, although I imagine I'll be packing and won't be able to post as much as I had hoped!

Cheers!
Lyta (in the dark tunnel)

[elfearz1]

I have a question. I have already walked to Rivendell some time ago and I don't want to start over so, first, we're walking to Lothlorien now right? If thats the case then how many miles is it from Rivendell to Lothlorien?

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

Wow, I can't believe it's been over 4 months since I posted here. There have been so many things going on in RL that time has just flowed past like the Anduin. I have still been walking though, and I am currently journeying back to the Shire with the hobbits. We are still in Rohan, about 20 miles east of Helm's Deep. I wrote the following sometime in October, but never had a chance to post it.

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2108 Miles -- The Beacon of Calenhad


We have journeyed slowly through Anórien, along the northern edge of the White Mountains, past the now dark and silent beacon hills. There is no longer any need of haste, and as we draw near to Edoras, our company follows the wain bearing Théoden King back to the land of his sires.

Several days ago we passed the edges of the wood under Amon Dîn, and King Elessar granted all of the Forest of Drúadan to the Wild Men of the Woods in payment for their help to the Rohirrim. After listening to Merry’s tale I had hoped for a glimpse of them, but we saw them not.

Most days, I find myself riding betwixt Elladan and Elrohir, playmates of my youth, and my brothers in spirit. As on many another journey, they have appointed themselves my escort and guardians. With them, I do not feel obligated to fill every moment with conversation. We speak and we are silent, and their familiar presence fills me with peace.

After the luncheon halt today, I was preparing to mount my horse when I felt a touch on my arm. Turning, I looked into the smiling faces of Frodo and Sam. “Can we ride with you this afternoon, Alatáriël?” asked Frodo. “It seems such a long time since we’ve talked to you. Sam and I are beginning to think you’re avoiding us.”

I was embarrassed…I had not realized that they might think that. “I would enjoy your company,” I replied with a smile of my own, “but surely the King would prefer that you remain with him.”

“King Strider’ll not mind,” put in Sam. “We thought as how you would come an’ ride with us sometime, but Gandalf said that you wanted t’ spend some time with th’ folk from Rivendell. But we’ve been travelin’ for a fortnight now, so we thought you wouldn’t mind spendin’ some time with us. Beggin’ your pardon, sirs” he added with a nod to Elrond’s sons.

And so we three journeyed together once again, and it was as if time had turned back, and we were companions once again. The pleasure of their company, but without the fear and danger of our quest, was so great that I did not even mind the smirk I caught on Gandalf’s face.

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At last the day of departure came, and a great and fair company made ready to ride north from the City. Then the kings of Gondor and Rohan went to the Hallows and they came to the tombs in Rath Dínen, and they bore away King Théoden upon a golden bier, and passed through the City in silence. Then they laid the bier upon a great wain with Riders of Rohan all about it and his banner borne before; and Merry being Théoden’s esquire rode upon the wain and kept the arms of the king.

For the other Companions steeds were furnished according to their stature; and Frodo and Samwise rode at Aragorn’s side, and Gandalf rode upon Shadowfax, and Pippin rode with the knights of Gondor; and Legolas and Gimli as ever rode together upon Arod.

In that riding went also Queen Arwen, and Celeborn and Galadriel with their folk, and Elrond and his sons; and the princes of Dol Amroth and of Ithilien, and many captains and knights. Never had any king of the Mark such company upon the road as went with Théoden Thengel’s son to the land of his home.

Without haste and at peace they passed into Anórien, and they came to the Grey Wood under Amon Dîn; and there they heard a sound as of drums beating in the hills, though no living thing could be seen. Then Aragorn let the trumpets be blown; and heralds cried:

“Behold, the King Elessar is come! The Forest of Drúadan he gives to Ghân-buri-ghân and to his folk, to be their own forever; and hereafter let no man enter it without their leave!”

Then the drums rolled loudly, and were silent.

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I have a question. I have already walked to Rivendell some time ago and I don't want to start over so, first, we're walking to Lothlorien now right? If thats the case then how many miles is it from Rivendell to Lothlorien?

elfearz1: I posted this quite a few pages back, so I thought I'd bring it forward. I hope it helps...
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I spent several hours yesterday afternoon working on a timetable/mileage chart for the rest of the journey. I discovered that if I follow the Fellowship exactly, it is actually 465 miles from Rivendell to Caras Galadhon (396 to the banks of Nimrodel); 389 from Caras Galadhon to Rauros; & 468 miles from Rauros to Mt. Doom. A total of 1,780 miles from Bag End to Mt. Doom.
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Lyta, my friend...I am sorry to read that you have run afoul of the spawn of Ungoliant. I hope everything works out for you and the Witch King. You are both very special people. And although you might feel trapped in the darkness of Shelob now, remember this: "...Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach." Like Frodo and Sam, you two will triumph over the darkness...and the spider!

[elfearz1]

elfearz1: I posted this quite a few pages back, so I thought I'd bring it forward. I hope it helps...

Yes, thank you! I will make note of it.

"If your hurts grieve you still and the memory of your burden is heavy, then you may pass into the West..."

Well since Lyta opened up discussion I hope you don't mind if I talk about my burdens here. It helps a lot to talk about them. I have a picture on my binder of one of the Elves boats that sail into the west and under it I wrote "Why can't I sail into the west?" Many people ask about it, but I never really explain. This year I have been weighed down with physical and emotional pains just like Frodo and I envy him a bit that he has a chance to pass out of this world and the hurts and leave behind the memories that haunt him. I feel a lot like Frodo at the end of ROTK (the movie) where he's talking about how he's not sure things can go back to the way they were before all that has happened to him. Deep down in my heart, though I feel as that even if I do flee this life, city and neighbourhood I grew up in I won't be rid of the memories and dreams that remind me of why I want to leave. I'm left feeling hopeless and I don't know which path to take. I'm not sure if this is relevent, but if you took the time to read it thank you.

On a lighter note I walked two miles today! I know some of you walk a lot more, but I haven't walked regularly in a long time so I need to ease myself back in.

[Lyta_Underhill]

Just in case y'all might think I'm still languishing in the Lair of the giant spider, I want to add that my wonderful Sam has fought a fierce and surreal battle and saved me, at least for the short term. I lay as if dead (i.e., I hid in this house and pretended I was dead and felt dead for quite some time but that pain bade me think different), while my husband out-bluffed the giant spider and gained ground in ways I couldn't have hoped for. While the victory is still tentative, it is a move beyond our former state. I can tell you I scrambled out of the Tower of Cirith Ungol with all the speed of necessity, although I've still got a hangover from the experience (and probably a scar too--I haven't looked yet!) . I am at 1630 miles, making slow headway to the north. The Black Rider was screaming of the fall of the Witch King--one evil quenched among many, and here we are in the midst of shadows, one might say with hope, but was it just a charge of energy from a short term change of fortune? I can still see the spider from my window and the bite will never heal, but at least I have mobility and can go forward again.

I feel a lot like Frodo at the end of ROTK (the movie) where he's talking about how he's not sure things can go back to the way they were before all that has happened to him. Deep down in my heart, though I feel as that even if I do flee this life, city and neighbourhood I grew up in I won't be rid of the memories and dreams that remind me of why I want to leave.

Ah, elfearz1 (still, after all this time, a great name!), you have hit upon a fundamental truth of those who feel this world keenly. And I would say that there are many paths from a point of uncertainty or crisis, as I have only begun to emerge from what could have been being turned out on the street but has tentatively turned into a possible brighter future. But the sting was administered and will never be "taken back." Indeed, this is how we grow (what a way to grow!), and it is incumbent upon us to mine our experiences for the best, to focus on the good rather than the evil aspects of everything if possible. When evil without even a logical basis besets you, all you can do is retreat, fight or stand under siege, and the siege, the waiting, is the hardest, for it allows you time with your inner self. That is the time when evil works upon us with its uncertainties and fears. That is the battle that must be endured and perhaps reflected upon with the space of time in the far future as part of what made you what you have become. If one faces trials and tests them for the good path, what I call the "hobbit test," I believe that one will ultimately come out on top. Perhaps leaving is inevitable, but it is important to leave without burning bridges or sowing evil thoughts, and that is the hardest part.

Forgive my rant, but now it is time to return to the practical tasks of today! An it is very good to see you back, Alatariel! (forgive my alt code handicap today!) It is always pleasant to read stories of your journey!

Cheers!
Lyta (in the Land of Shadow and trudging on...)