Elves, SIr!

We had traveling companions these last few miles -- exiled High Elves!  Sam was thrilled and awed, Frodo took it in stride, and Pippin just about fell asleep every half mile. I'm more of a dwarf person myself, but I enjoyed the singing.

Our Elven traveling companion, Gildor Inglorion.

The elves have a strange effect on everyone. There is a peaceful quiet about them, even as they speak their ancient language. Once Frodo displayed his knowledge of the High Elvish language, there was little conversation thereafter. The path was green and woodsy and hilly, and you could see the lights of the village of Woodhall below us.

We camped at Woody End. The baby and I went to bed early, but the hobbits and elves partied into the wee hours of the night. What they could possibly be talking about for that long is just beyond me. I heard "black riders" mentioned a few times, which made me more nervous than I cared to admit.

Total miles so far:
45.88

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood...

The road, which had run straight for several miles, has now bent left and goes down into the lowlands of the Yale on its way to Stock. But another road branches off to the right, winding through an oak forest and headed to Woodhall. This is the road Frodo decides we need to take.

It's a picturesque route, in some ways, because one of the first things we came across was a huge hollow tree that would make a great playhouse.

We haven't heard hoof-beats for some time, so we're settling down a little bit. Frodo launches into a rather appropriate song:

Home is behind, the world ahead,
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadows to the edge of night,
Until the stars are all alight.
Then world behind and home ahead
We'll wander back to home and bed.

Total distance thus far:
39.68 miles

A Song For the Dark

We've come a decent way already, and today we passed the Road which takes you to Woodhall, Stock, and the Bucklebury Ferry. (That used to be a ferry (well, really just a small boat) that would take travelers across the water, but somewhere along the line the boat itself went missing. You can fish off the landings, but you'll only ever catch dace.)

Stock is pretty much a swamp, and since we weren't carrying bug-spray, I had no desire for a detour. Press on we must, on to the cloven track in the darkness of tall trees. And of course the road is uphill...

Total distance:

16.16 miles