FantasyFan
Rohan
Oct 11 2013, 5:04pm
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I have 122.34 miles to report since I last checked in, for a total of 691.63 on this part of my journey. This puts me just starting the 4th day of Bilbo and Co.'s long, dark and weary journey through Mirkwood. I'm not looking forward to spiders.
Part of my miles last weekend were hiked in the dark, though. I was on a scout camp weekend, one designed for adult leaders to recharge and learn new things, and I was the leader of the night hikes on Friday evening. I had carefully hiked and scouted some broad, even, well-groomed trails through forest and field while it was still light, and then at 9:00 led a group of 25 or so off into the dark for an adventure with flashlights strictly forbidden. We did fun in-the-dark-activities, designed to teach about sensory adaptation, that they could do with the their troops at campouts in the future. However, I underestimated how really, really, REALLY dark it is in the woods at night, with no moon or stars. We felt our way along the trail with our feet, we watched overhead for the sky-river that helped us know we were still on the path, and I missed a turnoff in the dark and ended up on a path where I knew (but they didn't) that I had no idea where we were, where we were going, or what was ahead. Fortunately, getting back wasn't any more difficult than turning around and retracing steps after the activities were finished, and nobody was the wiser. As a matter of fact, I got high marks on my evaluations for "was the facilitator prepared?" And at 10:00, I led the second group along exactly the same path, missed the same turn, and ended up in the same place. 10 miles for that evening, between all three hikes, and another 3.6 the next morning trying to figure out what the heck I had done wrong. (Not all those who wander are lost, eh? I was!)
More than once, I thought of Frodo and friends, enjoying walking in the dark of the Shire at the beginning of their quest, unsure of what was ahead, but on the whole unconcerned about any danger and occupying themselves with trail snacks, quiet songs and jests. Looking forward to the Golden Perch, perhaps, and content with each others' company. What a beautiful night it was!
"That is one thing that Men call 'hope.' Amdir we call it, 'looking up.' But there is another which is founded deeper. Estel we call it, that is 'trust.' It is not defeated by the ways of the world, for it does not come from experience, but from our nature and First Being. If we are indeed the Eruhin, the Children of the One, then He will not suffer Himself to be deprived of His own, not by any enemy, not even by ourselves. This is the last foundation of estel, which we keep even when we contemplate the End. Of all His designs the issue must be for His children's joy."
Finrod, Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, HoME X Morgoth's Ring
(This post was edited by FantasyFan on Oct 11 2013, 5:06pm)
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Some fun miles
