Rana June 26th, 2008
Day: Afternoon Day 48 thru Day 51
Miles: 92.3
Miles to Rivendell: 511.4
Miles in Rivendell: 544.2
Miles to Lothlorien: 458
Miles in Lothlorien: 59
Miles to Rauros:92.3
Total Miles: 1664.9 miles
Okay, if I could read a map this would probably be easier. I was getting completely ahead of myself and almost forgot that I have to get to the point where the Fellowship was broken before my decision to take off after Aragon or Pippin and Merry. (Thanks to the nice elf at the map store who set me right.)
I wound up leaving Lothlorien the afternoon of Day 48 and greatly enjoyed the ride, which is along the river, a course that lasted at least 90 miles. Tonight I’m camped at the point of their third day out from the elvish city, just where the trees are starting to thin and the Brown Lands are visible in the distance. I have about 10.7 miles tomorrow to actually finish up the total distance for that day, which will carry me to the flats north of the Field of Celebrant.
On the fourth day out they covered 60 miles, which I expect will take me part of at least two days depending on the weather.
Erin June 25th, 2008
Day 50: 8.5 miles (I think this is the right day number…)
Total: 116.5 miles
Location: Nearing the gap
We were beset by visitors from Gondor last week, and I did not get much riding done. However, this week, I am back on my steed when possible. I rode 3.5 miles earlier this week, and tonight I rode another five.
We passed beyond the place where Frodo sang (and read the memorial plaque), and have made camp a mile and a half down the road, where we can barely see the gap to the north. Perhaps in a few more days, Tag, Sara and I will make it to the Prancing Pony. :-)
Rana June 23rd, 2008
Day: Day 46 thru Morning of Day 48
Miles: 69.5
Miles to Rivendell: 511.4
Miles in Rivendell: 544.2
Miles to Lothlorien: 458
Miles in Lothlorien: 59
Total Miles: 1572.6
I reached Lothlorien on Day 46 of my travels in Middle Earth. I’ve spent the last two days exploring the tree city and trying to embrace the idea of narrow, elevated bike paths. Especially on my new steed, Amarillo, I feel I’m going to plunge off the side and plummet to the ground at any second. Still, the views here are breathtaking and the people friendly, in that aloof, eleven way of theirs.
I am now on the horns of a dilemma about the next leg of my journey. Will I take Merry and Pippin’s Path to Isengard (355 miles) or Aragorn’s (470)? In the meantime, I’m re-provisioning, having my tent re-conditioned, and studying the maps. I hope to reach a decision by tomorrow and set out once again. Having become accustomed to forward progress, staying in one place doesn’t feel right.
Rana June 20th, 2008
Day: Afternoon Day 40 - Day 45
Miles: 159.2
Miles to Rivendell: 511.4
Miles in Rivendell: 544.2
Miles to Lothlorien: 439.5
Total Miles: 1503.1
Tonight I camp 18.5 miles from Lothlorien. It has been a long and solitary trek including the forbidding darkness of the biking trail that leads through the mines of Moria. I saw neither Orcs nor a Balrog and my way was well lighted and marked by historical panels explaining the glories of Balin’s reign, the fierce flight of the Fellowship, and the metallurgical properties of Mithral. I haven’t posted because there was no connection to the Net deep within the mines. By the second night, I was half imagining I could hear Gollum in the dark corners of the great cavernous rooms in which I pitched my tent. Now, however, I am once again near the lands of my ancestors and tomorrow I will see the city of Celeborn and Galadriel. Tonight, I sleep beneath a clear sky, exhausted, but elated from a five mile ride at sunset on my new steed, Amarillo.
Erin June 16th, 2008
Day 41: 20 miles (posted for the past several days)
Total: 108 miles
Location: Barrow-Downs
It has been a hectic last few days with no time to journal. I have done many miles with rest stops in between, mostly with the ranger by my side. We blew past Tom Bombadil’s house and stopped for tea, but we got out of their fairly quickly. Now we are camped in the Barrow-Downs, but we have yet to see any Wights. However, Tag is standing guard whilst we sleep.
Rana June 15th, 2008
Day: Day 36 thru Morning of Day 40
Miles: 150.8
Miles to Rivendell: 511.4
Miles in Rivendell: 544.2
Miles to Loth Lorien: 280.3
Total Miles: 1343.9
It’s 458 miles from Rivendell to Lothlorien. I’ve ridden 280.3 of them. I’m currently four miles from the opening of the Fellowship’s January 11 progress. I’ve travelled through rolling lands, crossing small streams and traversing valleys. The weather has grown warm and sunny — on some days too warm and too sunny. I am once again climbing and am almost to the feet of the Redhorn with the treacherous Redhorn Poass ahead of me. Thank God it’s summer and I won’t face the snow and blasting winds they endured.
I am testing a new steed, Amarillo, in the evening hours, trying to get used to her slim frame and more nimble movements. The Ranger and Erin caught an eagle on the day she arrived and had it not been for the Ranger’s steady hand and Erin minding the Eye of Are, I would most surely have been thrown and spent the remainder of the evening dealing with recriminations from the elderly wizard. With modifications to the saddle and saddle post, Amarillo and I are getting on better, although I am not yet ready to take her out on a long excursion. But I am pleased with the strength of my legs, I am making improvement, and I suspect when cooler weather finally comes on, I will range far astride this new wheeled companion.
Erin June 11th, 2008
Day 36: 5 miles (posted for yesterday)
Total: 88 miles
Location: Leaving the path
Yesterday, the ranger and I took out our new steeds again. It was warmer than the night before, but still an enjoyable ride. And we were accompanied by Missy J., as well.
We made our way through the forest, over the top of the knoll, and to the point where the foursome that went before left the path and tried to turn north. Our next ride will progress into the discombobulation.
Rana June 9th, 2008
Day: Remainder Day 35
Miles: 17 miles
Miles to Rivendell: 511.4
Miles in Rivendell: 544.2
Miles to Loth Lorien: 129.5
Total Miles: 1193.1
This afternoon and evening I ticked off the distance of the Fellowship’s “2 Yule / Jan. 1″ progress, which was 15 miles and went 2 miles into the next leg labeled “Jan 1/J.2 - Nt. 9.” Their records indicated this should be swampy land, but I found a lovely campsite and was too tired to go on.
I received the happy news of Erin’s shiny new steed as well as the Ranger’s and bid them many happy miles in the saddle.
And of course, no day would be complete without an outburst from the Eye of Are, which I hope has been quieted. It’s cool tonight and I want nothing so much as to snuggle into my blankets and sleep.
Stephen June 9th, 2008
Day: 35
Miles astride: 11.6
Total Miles: 216.7
Terrain: creek side trails and woods
While I was graced with a remount yesterday, Erin was acquired one today. We spent our evenings with our new mounts Tico (short for Ticonderoga) and Sara. A cold front had just come through creating a delightful evening for all. A had to slip away for a few miles to conduct some ranger lick business, but Erin was safe among friends.
Tico takes to any trail with the tenacity of mule. “No limits!” she seems to cry. While she may not be anywhere as fast as Zi’de, it appears that we all work together as a great team.
Erin June 9th, 2008
Day 35: 5 miles (I’m going to assume Rana is right and go with 35)
Total: 83 miles
Location: The Forest
Today, I have a new steed. My lovely bike, Harriet, a 1950-something model, has proven inadequate to the challenge of a real outdoor ride (though she is the loveliest bike ever), and today my Hubby the ranger bought me a new one. She was christened Sara (short for Saratoga) on our evening ride. She is shiny and blue and allows me a comfortable position for riding (I hate that hunching thing!). And, the most important part, she has gears!
We set forth from the bonfire glade and rode several miles. Then I rested for a bit with friends while he ranged. After that, he and I rode a bit longer, then stopped for dinner, and finally made camp after dark. It was a lovely evening ride to let off some energy after a long day of hunting and foraging. We are currently camped in the forest, but I can see the top of the knoll in the distance.