"That is the Way for Us" - But Which Way?

[Marlowe221]

Originally Posted by skip spence

Firstly, good to see you posting and not lurking, welcome!

Secondly, while I agree that it seems strange not to have a road between Hobbiton and Tuckbourough I do think that your first explanation is correct. Frodo probably planned to hit the road to Stock and the Ferry, but the encounter with the Black Rider made him change his mind and take the lane to Wood End instead since it takes them more out-of-the-way. If you look at that map The Short-Cut (To Mushrooms) make sense too. Taking the lane to Woodhall and cutting across the Marish makes the trip shorter in distance but not (as Pippin points out) time-wise, not least because they are hindered by the Stockbrook (which is mentioned in the narrative). If you need any more proof that they did not take the road to Stock, Farmer Maggot lives in the Marish, which is south of the Stockbrook (while the Road is well north of it). Hope that was of some help.

Edit: I'm kind of tired and didn't quite understand what you meant, now I think I do. But in the quote you gave us Frodo says plainly that the way for them is the lane towards Woodhall, doesn't he? Pippin though he was a bit crazy taking that route, and he wanted that pint at Stock but the company certainly took the lane nevertheless.
"The sun had gone down behind the hills at their backs, and evening was coming on before they came back to the road as the end of the long level over which it had run straight for some miles. At that point it bent left and went down in to the lowlands of the Yale making for Stock; but a lane branched right, winding through a wood of ancient oak-trees on its way to Woodhall. 'That is the way for us,' said Frodo."

That's true but if memory serves, Frodo does not come up with his short cut plan until after they meet Gildor and go for an un-planned hike way up into the hills with the Elves.

When the Hobbits come to that fork in the road, they make that turn (left or right) without knowing that they will meet the Elves in a little while.

Edit: Oh, I see what you're saying. Perhaps Frodo altered his course because of the first encounter with the Black Rider? That's interesting; I have never considered that before. I will have to go back and look at the text again and see if there are any hints of this theory.