Walk To Rivendell" aka "The Eowyn Challenge"

[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* [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

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 [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

[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. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
~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... [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

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! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] 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!
[img]smilies/cool.gif[/img] Go me! I am so good! [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img]
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! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] 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... [img]smilies/mad.gif[/img] 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*

[img]smilies/confused.gif[/img] [img]smilies/confused.gif[/img] 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! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] Wheeee! *Saph hops up and down in hyper-type excitedness*

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

Pippin: Ehm... [blush]

Saph: [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] 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? [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] )

[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. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[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! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[ 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!) [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

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* [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img]

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? [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] 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!?!? [img]smilies/confused.gif[/img] 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..... [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

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