Walk To Rivendell" aka "The Eowyn Challenge"

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I walked my 1000th mile today!!

[Anorial]

Good going, Estelyn!! Where does that place you on the map?

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Well, if the Elves had given me a boat too, I could be leisurely floating down the Anduin; but no - I have to trudge alongside the river! Oh, and like Rome, the Walk to Rivendell doesn't happen in one day - I've been counting my miles for a little over a year now.

[Lyta_Underhill]

Good day, all! I haven't checked in in awhile, mainly because I've had a bunch of orcs, er, relatives to deal with for awhile, and unfortunately, my walk has slowed down a bit. (They're not orcs, really! They're really very nice Uruk-Hai..oh! did I say that out loud?) Anyway, I have been walking VERY slowly across the Nimrodel Rope Bridge and am now deep inside the realm of Lorien. Perhaps I just had to slow down to enjoy the view! I am not yet to Cerin Amroth and I have a feeling that place will haunt me in fact even more than in anticipation.

All that stuff they say about the unforgiving body when you're over 30 is so annoyingly true!

I must second that assertion, Anorial and also welcome you to the Walk! You seem to be going about it in a much more intelligent and informed manner than I have (read: my preparations were to buy a new pair of shoes and stretch before walking, but fortunately, I have stretched thoroughly regularly (more or less) since I was 17--at 38, that's saying something!) Somehow, I think it has to do with all the "slings and arrows" that beset one by the time your 30's roll around. If it hadn't been for two car accidents and a lifting accident, all occuring after age 30, well...who knows?

Anyway, in unconscious or perhaps serendipitous celebration of my immersion in the faerie realm of Lorien, I got to play Galadriel yesterday! My husband's 10 year old cousin is obsessed with Lord of the Rings, mainly with action figures and other memorabilia/toys, though. I have been showing him my collection slowly since he arrived and he has coveted my Burger King Bilbo figure most of all (it is overnighting it with him as I write). He arrived wearing around his neck an oversized plastic, light-up One Ring, which I determined to be the Ring of Sauron, since he also had a huge armored finger to go with it at one time.

Yesterday, he sent the One Ring to me with a message that I should have it. I actually took it on my Walk and then returned to him and solemnly as I could, told him this was his duty, his task, and as much as I desired the One Ring, I couldn't accept it from him. I even said "This task is for you alone, Frodo Baggins." He looked at me earnestly and said, "OK. You mean it?" He looked kind of pleased though. I don't think he really meant to give me the One Ring. I think he had it in mind that I'd trade him Bilbo for it. But that was not to be! It was a real Galadriel moment, especially since he was about the right size proportionately to be Frodo to my Galadriel, if Galadriel was 5'6" and carried Sting!

Checking in from 879 miles down the Road that goes Ever On...Lyta signs off for now!

Cheers!
Lyta

P.S. Happy 1000th, Estelyn! If I stand on a hill and use powerful binoculars, uh, Elvish glasses, I fancy I can almost see you braving the shorelines along the Anduin! I really hope there's a boat for me, as my poor back could use a rest! (And maybe that long anticipated foot rub from Boromir! )

[Faenaduial]

Estelyn, congratulations on your 1000th mile. That's a great accomplishment.

I haven't been walking (or posting) regularly since January but I've finally made it to 710 miles. Just past the Crabain attack.

BlingBling and I had a great experience which reminded us of the attack not long ago. We were out walking in the late evening and the set of trees across the road were filled with black birds. As we walked past they took off and wheeled around in the sky over us. It was just like a huge black cloud!

We both yelled crabain attack!! at the same time. I still smile about it when I think of it.

We are going to walk again tonight. It's a perfect Spring day here and I can't wait to get outside.

[Firefoot]

Congrats, Estelyn!

We've walked 49 miles. Those Elves that were supposed to be leading us to Woodhall took a wrong turn somewhere. They assured us that they weren't lost but Sam, Pippin, and I didn't really believe that. We finally made it, which was assuring, but we were quite worn out when we got there.

[Alatáriël Lossëhelin]

(They're not orcs, really! They're really very nice Uruk-Hai..oh! did I say that out loud?) Anyway, I have been walking VERY slowly across the Nimrodel Rope Bridge and am now deep inside the realm of Lorien.

Lyta: Glad to see you're walking again. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one related to Uruk-Hai! Careful on that rope bridge...hold on to Legolas! (Boromir is planning on giving you that massage/foot rub when you reach Caras Galadhon. Merry & Pippin have volunteered their laps... )

All that stuff they say about the unforgiving body when you're over 30 is so annoyingly true!

Anorial: Welcome to the Walk! The body becomes even more unforgiving after 50. Like Lyta says, stretching and reallllly good shoes are crucial. But keep going...take care of that hip, though...and you'll be in Rivendell before you know it!

My husband's 10 year old cousin is obsessed with Lord of the Rings, mainly with action figures and other memorabilia/toys, though. I have been showing him my collection slowly since he arrived and he has coveted my Burger King Bilbo figure most of all.

Lyta: My grandchildren are also obsessed with LotR. They love my action figures and swords. I'll let them wear Sting in its scabbard around my house, and they think they're just too cool for color tv!


Congratulations on that 1000th mile, Estelyn!! Maybe Lyta can have Haldir meet you with a boat??

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We have reached the Dead Marshes, and the stench is overwhelming. A perfect place for the wretch Sam calls "Stinker". I tried to persuade Frodo that we should attempt to pass around these fens, but he is convinced that this Gollum creature can lead us through quickly. I certainly hope so, as this place is much worse than the Midgewater Marshes...

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The hobbits were now wholly in the hands of Gollum...They could, if they had known the lands, with some delay have retraced their steps a little, and then turning east have come round over hard roads to the bare plain of Dagorlad: the field of the ancient battle before the gates of Mordor...

"How do we shape our course now, Sméagol?" asked Frodo. "Must we cross these evil-smelling fens?"

..."Follow Sméagol! He can take you through the marshes, through the mists, nice thick mists. Follow Sméagol very carefully, and you may go a long way, quite a long way, before He catches you, yes perhaps."

It was already day, a windless and sullen morning, and the marsh-reeks lay in heavy banks. No sun pierced the low clouded sky, and Gollum seemed anxious to continue the journey at once. So after a brief rest they set out again and were soon lost in a shadowy silent world, cut off from all view of the lands about, either the hills that they had left or the mountains that they sought. They went slowly in single file: Gollum, Sam, Frodo (& Alatáriël).