|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Apr 3, 9:31pm
Post #1 of 19
(48390 views)
Shortcut
|
Walk to Rivendell... and Beyond! AN EXPLANATION & HISTORY & LINKS
|
Can't Post
|
|
In 2003, a LotR-themed fitness website called The Éowyn Challenge was created based on (and supported by) Karen Wynn Fonstad's book, The Atlas of Middle-earth. Her book is jam-packed with detailed maps she created based on the stories of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and includes extensive information on each of the journeys by The Fellowship (LotR) and The Company (TH).
On March 18, 2003, jordan the discursive found The Éowyn Challenge website and got us on the Road. TORn members began participating in The Éowyn Challenge and created our own Walk to Rivendell... and Beyond! thread where we shared our weekly progress. Now, over 20 years later, we have adjusted our WtR updates to once during the first week of each month... but we're still on the move!
For The Éowyn Challenge website, Ms. Fonstad created 20 charts with day-by-day, mile-by-mile progress of Tolkien's characters based on the maps in her book. We use these charts to log our own mileage as we join them in their travels through Middle-earth. The charts can be found in The Éowyn Challenge Tools Page (scroll down) with links to cut/paste and help you track your progress.
The idea is to pick any chart you'd like to travel and keep track of your mileage as you walk or perform other activities and apply your effort to those charts. Soon you will find you've travelled the 458 miles from Bag End to Rivendell, then the 462 miles to Lothlórien... and so on until you finally reach the Grey Havens. Heads-up... these mileage charts for The Hobbit end at the Lonely Mountain. I had some fun making up my own charts for Bilbo and Gandalf's trip home.
A great way to start is to copy/paste the Bag End to Rivendell chart from The Éowyn Challenge Tools Page (scroll down for full list), then start your journey by walking, exercising, biking, yard work, house cleaning... any way that keeps you on the road. The best part of our Walk to Rivendell is that there are no rules of how to achieve your goals. Just have fun and keep going until you fulfill your own personal Quests. If you have a break and get delayed, just pick up where you left off and keep on going! There's no way to fail :)
The website for the WtR explains things more clearly. Please check out The Éowyn Challenge site, especially the Home page and the Tools page containing all of the site's Walk charts.
See you on the Road!!!
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
(This post was edited by grammaboodawg on Apr 3, 9:31pm)
|
|
|
CuriousG
Gondolin
Apr 3, 11:20pm
Post #2 of 19
(48313 views)
Shortcut
|
Thanks, Gramma! Once upon a time I even participated in this. Now I think that walking from my TV to the kitchen is the same as Bag End to Mt Doom, only with fewer orc arrows. OK, facetious hyperbole, but anyway, thanks for the reminder of the origin and evolution.
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Apr 4, 12:43pm
Post #4 of 19
(47787 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Walk to Rivendell... and Beyond!! April 4
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Greetings Fellow Walkers!
So how are you coming along on your Quest? Are you able to take advantage of Spring weather and prepare your yard, gardens or flowerbeds to get busy with the growing thing, or are you fixing your yard, gardens or flowerbeds for the long rest of the coming Winter? In which ever way you choose, everything that gets you moving counts towards miles gathered to keep you on the Road to achieve your Quest :D Mine still involves time on the treadmill as this temperamental weather in Michigan decides what it wants to do! Ice and wind on Wednesday, milder and melting still with the wind on Thursday. GO FIGURE!
Whatever you want to do... the idea is just keep moving on your own schedule and in your own way. SO MUCH FREEDOM... RIGHT!? ;) Yeah... we can at least have a plan and get done what we can. It's all good!
Meanwhile, I'm still dangling at the heels of Dernhelm, Merry, the King and his army as we move as quick as we can to Minas Tirith and the relief of Gondor. It just seems to take forever to get there!
Take care... and I'll see you on the Road! *waves fondly*
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
|
|
|
NottaSackville
Doriath
Apr 7, 12:50pm
Post #5 of 19
(46789 views)
Shortcut
|
Thanks for posting this. I've had so much fun doing the Walk over the years, and it has provided great motivation. Hopefully others will find this as well.
Happiness: money matters, but less than we think and not in the way that we think. Family is important and so are friends, while envy is toxic -- and so is excessive thinking. Beaches are optional. Trust is not. Neither is gratitude. - The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner as summarized by Lily Fairbairn. And a bit of the Hobbit reading thrown in never hurts. - NottaSackville
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Apr 7, 1:34pm
Post #6 of 19
(46762 views)
Shortcut
|
That's what I love about this! You can do it any time any way :D I'll see you on the Road!
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
(This post was edited by grammaboodawg on Apr 7, 1:36pm)
|
|
|
Iolani
Ossiriand
Apr 12, 11:37pm
Post #7 of 19
(46666 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Spring Planting and Month's Mileage!
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
I was able to build my first raised bed, an 8x8, and I have a bunch of herbs, strawberries, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes planted! Ooh and wildflowers! I am SO excited to see everything grow and be full and glorious!
It's been about a month since I posted a mileage update, but I added up all my steps since my last login.
129.28 miles Bag End to Rivendell
249 miles left!
Once my garden is blooming I will post pictures. Good luck with your travels everyone!
"It's like in the great stories Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And you didn't want to know the end...for how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But then you realize in the end it's just a passing thing, this shadow. A new day will come! And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stuck with you, that meant something. Even if you were too small to understand. But I think Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. The folk in those stories a lot of chances of turnin' back only they didn't. They kept going, because they were holdin' on to something."
"What are we holding onto, Sam?"
"That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for!"
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Apr 13, 1:29pm
Post #8 of 19
(37404 views)
Shortcut
|
8x8 is a perfect nest for your garden. TATERS and STRAWBERRIES! *high five* Flowers and maters (we call tomatoes here ;) and peppers! It's not only great food stuff, but the growing itself will be so pretty with shapes, colours and textures!
You had enough steps that if you can continue like that (at least), you'll cover over half the distance left! It looks like you've just passed through the Midgewater Marshes. WELL DONE! I will definitely see you on the Road! 
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
|
|
|
Iolani
Ossiriand
Apr 18, 8:42pm
Post #9 of 19
(22638 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Last Week Mileage / Spring Sprouts!
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
This past week has been AWFUL work-wise, but at least it gave me some decent steps! Also did some planting. My wildflowers are sprouting beautifully, and my veggies, herbs, taters, and berries are adjusting very well. So overall a very good week!
Miles: 28.88 more miles from Bag End to Rivendell
211.12 miles left!
Maybe next week I'll have some pics of some blooms!
"It's like in the great stories Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And you didn't want to know the end...for how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But then you realize in the end it's just a passing thing, this shadow. A new day will come! And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stuck with you, that meant something. Even if you were too small to understand. But I think Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. The folk in those stories a lot of chances of turnin' back only they didn't. They kept going, because they were holdin' on to something."
"What are we holding onto, Sam?"
"That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for!"
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Apr 19, 12:39am
Post #10 of 19
(20656 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Got some Spring in your step? ;)
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
I love it when the flowers are waking up! After a long winter, seeing colour around the yard is almost startling when the first burst open!
28.88 miles is a GREAT stretch of the leg! I wouldn't be a bit surprised if you reach Rivendell by the end of the month :) You could be there at the same time Bilbo and Gandalf arrive on May first!!
Tally Ho! And have a GREAT week! I'll see you on the Road :D
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
|
|
|
Iolani
Ossiriand
May 4, 2:51am
Post #11 of 19
(14311 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Mileage, and pics of my little Hobbit Garden!
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Gosh I didn't realize that it had been two weeks already! Thankfully I caught it when I saw my last post's date. So here's my mileage from the last two weeks!
54.35 from Bag End to Rivendell
156.77 left!
I'm also happy to report that my garden has been doing great!! We've gotten a lot of rain, and the potatoes have overtaken everything else in growth rate! My goodness. I actually remembered to take pictures! I'm about to set up a second raised bed tomorrow, to put in all the catmint, bulbs, and perennials I bought from Brecks. Going to sprinkle some veggie seeds in between. Will keep posting pics as the garden grows!
"It's like in the great stories Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And you didn't want to know the end...for how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But then you realize in the end it's just a passing thing, this shadow. A new day will come! And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stuck with you, that meant something. Even if you were too small to understand. But I think Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. The folk in those stories a lot of chances of turnin' back only they didn't. They kept going, because they were holdin' on to something."
"What are we holding onto, Sam?"
"That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for!"
(This post was edited by Iolani on May 4, 2:54am)
|
|
|
Iolani
Ossiriand
May 4, 3:07am
Post #12 of 19
(14264 views)
Shortcut
|
Apparently my pics are too big, and when I resize them the website says that they're still too big. I think I'll just post them on instagram and share a link within the next week.
"It's like in the great stories Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And you didn't want to know the end...for how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But then you realize in the end it's just a passing thing, this shadow. A new day will come! And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stuck with you, that meant something. Even if you were too small to understand. But I think Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. The folk in those stories a lot of chances of turnin' back only they didn't. They kept going, because they were holdin' on to something."
"What are we holding onto, Sam?"
"That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for!"
|
|
|
Iolani
Ossiriand
May 4, 4:31am
Post #13 of 19
(13945 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Insta link to my Hobbit Garden!
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Here's the link!
https://www.instagram.com/eloracarmen
"It's like in the great stories Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And you didn't want to know the end...for how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But then you realize in the end it's just a passing thing, this shadow. A new day will come! And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stuck with you, that meant something. Even if you were too small to understand. But I think Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. The folk in those stories a lot of chances of turnin' back only they didn't. They kept going, because they were holdin' on to something."
"What are we holding onto, Sam?"
"That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for!"
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
May 8, 1:02pm
Post #14 of 19
(11625 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Walk to Rivendell... and Beyond!! May 9
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Greetings Fellow Walkers!
I hope all is going great on your Quest! Has the weather cooperated with you if you're adding walks or other outdoor activities to your effort? Here in Michigan, we're finally having about 4 days out of 7 behaving so I am able to do some clearing of my yard's chaotic mess. I have a lot of downed trees and piles of branches that I'm determined to dominate... so my machete and chainsaw are taking turns brutalizing the debris.
What are you up to as you accumulate your mileage? Remember... pretty much everything you do can be converted into miles. You could leave Bag End and suddenly be sitting in Farmer Maggot's front room waiting for dinner (and mushrooms! :)
Dernhelm the Rohirrim and I finally made it to Minas Tirith and the Pelennor Field just in time to join in the action! *whew!* So glad that ride is over!
*waves fondly* Stay safe... and I'll see you on the Road!
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
(This post was edited by grammaboodawg on May 8, 1:06pm)
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
May 8, 1:17pm
Post #15 of 19
(11622 views)
Shortcut
|
How perfect that you'd have veggies in your Hobbit Garden :D Now all you need are some mushrooms ;)
Well done on your progress! You're going to get there in no time! *high five* 
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
|
|
|
Iolani
Ossiriand
May 12, 1:22am
Post #16 of 19
(11500 views)
Shortcut
|
Built another raised bed! There's a mix of bulbs/wildflowers and tomato seeds in that one. Downside is that I forgot how big the tree at the fence was getting and now it's far more shady than it used to be. Darn. I might have to replant.
As for mileage, I did a lot of lifting this week, so I had to convert that as well. I work in retail, and had to downstock an entire aisle and dropzone of vanities. Got my biceps back, for sure!
My mileage:
23.77 from Bag End to Rivendell
133 miles left!
Slowly but surely getting there.
"It's like in the great stories Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And you didn't want to know the end...for how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But then you realize in the end it's just a passing thing, this shadow. A new day will come! And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stuck with you, that meant something. Even if you were too small to understand. But I think Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. The folk in those stories a lot of chances of turnin' back only they didn't. They kept going, because they were holdin' on to something."
"What are we holding onto, Sam?"
"That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for!"
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
May 14, 10:23pm
Post #17 of 19
(10486 views)
Shortcut
|
Way to go on the biceps and mileage! You're going to be there in no time! :D
Maybe there's enough sun in the morning and afternoon to power your plants?! That would be such a bummer to move things; but how could you know how much shade there would be if the tree hadn't filled out yet. Mine are just now forming what you can identify as leaves and not just a fuzzy-looking green going on.
Hang in there! And once again.... WELL DONE!!! :D *high five*
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
|
|
|
grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Jun 5, 3:31pm
Post #18 of 19
(9899 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Walk to Rivendell... and Beyond!! June 5
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Greetings Fellow Walkers!
Welcome to JUNE! We're at the halfway point of the year where some of us are finally entering Summer, and some of us are finally entering Winter. I love the flip-side action of our hemispheres' seasons! Northern Hemi is warming up whilst the Southern Hemi is cooling down. Both give us great opportunities for activities that add up to mileage to take us down the Road.
Have you got a seasonal list of "things to do" that keeps you on the Road? Remember... everything you do can be converted into miles that you achieve your own way and on your own time! The beauty of this is that if you get waylaid by Mountain Trolls, or Black Riders, or RL responsibilities... you can just pick up where you left off and tally ho! I've been moving rocks, cutting up fallen trees, moving dirt, mowing lawn (push mower), and weeding weeding weeding! *wipes sweat*
Meanwhile, back in the drama around the battle in Minas Tirith's front yard, a LOT has happened! My ride with Dernhelm and the Rohirrim landed us in a victory on the field; but also resulted in much loss in Rohan and Gondor leadership and injuries of Merry, Dernhelm, Faramir and so many others. It also revealed a new king and continued strategies to confront Mordor and support Frodo and Sam. *whew* I've finished the Eowyn Challenge Chart "Minas Tirith to the Morannon" and have snagged a ride with the Captains of the West, et.al., following the Chart "The Morannon to Minas Tirith: The Return Journey." It figures we ended up in yet another battle that crumbled the enemy, activated the Eagles, and resulted in a celebration in Ithilien. Now we're on our way back to Minas Tirith. *puff, pant* I need Ice Cream!
Wishes of excellent progress on your Quest! *waves fondly* I'll see you on the Road!
We have been there and back again.
TIME Google Calendar
(This post was edited by dernwyn on Jun 6, 1:19am)
|
|
|
Iolani
Ossiriand
3:51am
Post #19 of 19
(2541 views)
Shortcut
|
I have bee terrible about keeping updated on this! It's been over a month. I was able to track my steps from the last time I recorded though, and I have officially reached Rivendell! And now I'm 37.69 miles towards Lothlorien!
Officially number of miles: 170.69
Miles previously left from last time to Rivendell: 133
Miles from RIvendell to Lothlorien: 37.69
My garden is doing splendidly as well! I've harvested tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapenos, banana peppers, cilantro, basil, mint, and I'm soon to harvest potatoes! Good start for my first year at the new house. My flowers are HUGE and I have white butterflies who visit everyday. I have not seen any bees, which makes me very sad, but I'll take what I can get. Already I am very eager for next year, and building more beds, and having tons of squash!
"It's like in the great stories Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And you didn't want to know the end...for how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But then you realize in the end it's just a passing thing, this shadow. A new day will come! And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stuck with you, that meant something. Even if you were too small to understand. But I think Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. The folk in those stories a lot of chances of turnin' back only they didn't. They kept going, because they were holdin' on to something."
"What are we holding onto, Sam?"
"That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it's worth fighting for!"
|
|
|
|
|
