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BAG END TO RIVENDELL (458 miles)
by Karen Wynn Fonstad
Author of The Atlas of Middle-Earth |
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_________ Total Miles for your Personal Journey thus far |
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Cumulative |
Miles from last Mile- Post |
Location/description at the Milepost. |
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Sept. 23 - Day 1: 18 miles - Frodo and Company leave for Rivendell |
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0 |
0 |
Leave Bag End at full dark (ca. 7 p.m.). Go around (W) end, jump hedge. |
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1 |
1 |
Go through gate into a lane. Head west. |
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2 |
1 |
Leave lane, follow hedgerows south. |
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3 |
1 |
Cross The Water on a plank bridge |
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5 |
2 |
Cross The Great Road from the Brandywine Bridge. Enter Tookland. |
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7.5 |
2.5 |
Look back at lights of Hobbiton from first slopes of the Green Hill Country. |
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9 |
1.5 |
Hobbiton hidden as slopes rise and fall. |
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11 |
2 |
Stop in a birch grove. Eat a frugal supper (ca. 10 p.m.). |
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14.5 |
3.5 |
Reach Stock Road |
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15.5 |
1 |
Begin to sing. Walk through a deeply cloven track between tall trees. |
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17.5 |
2 |
Climb a steep slope. Pippins yawns ("Nearly midnight"). |
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18 |
0.5 |
Camp - In a firwood just over top of the hill. Sleep by a large tree. Fox sees them. |
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Sept. 24 - Day 2: 28 miles |
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18 |
0 |
Eat at campsite. Water from a stream at the foot of the hill. "A little fall where the water fell a few feet over an outcrop of grey stone." After 10:00 a.m. when leave. |
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20-28 |
2-10 |
Road rolls up and down. |
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29 |
1 |
Road zig-zigs to top of a steep bank and goes down for the last time. Can see across Woody End to the River. **THEY STOP TO REST, EAT, and REST more! (ca. 1:30-4:30 p.m.) Sun was 'beginning to get low' as they went down the hill. |
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32 |
3 |
Road ahead runs fairly straight and level. Behind them it curves slightly. BLACK RIDER. Sam and Pippin hide in a hollow. Frodo behind tree by road (ca.5 p.m.). |
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35 |
3 |
Keep a stone's throw left of the road...slower going. |
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37 |
2 |
Road splits. Road to Stock bends left and goes down into the lowlands. They take a lane which branches to the right, winding through a wood of ancient Oaks. "Sun down and evening coming on" (ca. 6:30 p.m.). Quite close to the road-meeting they creep inside a huge tree. Eat and rest. |
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38 |
1 |
Go on in twilight. Begin to sing. (ca. 7:00 p.m.) |
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41 |
3 |
"And NOW to bed!" Pippin says, when BLACK RIDER is heard again (ca. 9 p.m.). ELVES arrive, RIDER leaves, and Frodo & Co. continue with Elves. |
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42-44 |
1-3 |
Wood more dense, and lane went lower, running in a fold of hills, with hazel on the slopes alongside. Pippin quickly becomes sleepy. |
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45 |
1 |
Turn right off the path on 'a green ride' through thickets. |
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46 |
1 |
Camp - Woody End. A green floor in the wood, roofed by boughs of trees. To the east a steep shoulder falls, and they can overlook the river valley. The lights of the village of Woodhall seen below (ca. 11 p.m.). |
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Sept. 25 - Day 3: 27 miles |
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46 |
0 |
Sleep late (leaving time ca. 11:00 a.m.). Frodo decides to cut SE to Buckleberry Ferry. Scramble down hill into the thick trees below. It begins to cloud up. |
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47 |
1 |
A deep-banked stream below the hill cuts across their path. Looking back, they see a Black Rider on the hillcrest where they had camped. They force through the bushes alongside the stream. |
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48 |
1 |
Pippin realizes it is the Stock-brook. The banks are low enough now for them to cross. The land on its south bank is wet and reedy. |
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50 |
2 |
They reach a belt of trees, mostly oaks with a few elms and ash. Drops of rain fall. |
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52 |
2 |
Pippin realizes they've turned too far south as they are still in the trees. |
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54 |
2 |
Still in the trees, they stop for lunch (ca. 2:00 p.m.). Their singing is cut by the cry of a Black Rider, and they leave (ca. 3:00 p.m.). |
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55 |
1 |
Wood ends. The land steadily becomes more tame. Sun is shining brightly. |
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56 |
1 |
Reach area of the Marish with fields, meadows, hedges, gates, and drainage dikes. |
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61 |
5 |
Edges of fields worked by Farmer Maggot. |
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62 |
1 |
After a turnip field there is a stout gate to a rutted lane, edged by hedges. |
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63 |
1 |
Farmer Maggot's house and buildings: brick with thatched roofs, surrounded by a high wall cut by a wooden gate from the lane. Eat. (Est. time there: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.: full dark when they leave). |
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65 |
2 |
Farmer Maggot's lane meets the Causeway to Buckleberry Ferry. Ride in wagon. |
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70 |
5 |
Boggy land all around. Foggy. Merry meets them at the Ferry landing. As they reach the other side of the river, they can see a Black Rider on the west shore. |
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70.5 |
0.5 |
Taking the main road north from the Ferry, Buck Hill is on the left and Buckleberry on the right. They take a lane to the right, and climb up and down into the country. |
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73 |
2.5 |
Crickhollow - spend the night. "A Conspiracy Unmasked". |
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Sept. 26 - Day 4: 25 miles |
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73 |
0 |
Leave Crickhollow soon after 6:00 a.m. Foggy. Ride ponies slowly. |
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75 |
3 |
Enter tunnel under Hedge to reach The Old Forest. Path disappears (ca. 7:15 a.m.). |
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78 |
2 |
The Bonfire Glade - clear path beyond. Sunny, but not yet in clearing (ca. 8 a.m.). |
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78-86 |
0-8 |
On path in the Forest. Path climbs gently. |
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87 |
1 |
Top of knoll in Forest. Hazy. Surrounded by Trees. Eat, rest (11 a.m.-ca.1 p.m.) |
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88 |
1 |
Path veers SE. Company leaves path and tries to turn north. |
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89-90 |
1-2 |
Cross series of deep folds running SE. Keep turning east. Lose direction. |
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91 |
1 |
Enter fold too deep to leave. Follow it SE to Withywindle (ca. 4 p.m.). |
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93 |
2 |
Merry finds path along bank of the River. Follow it east through wetlands. |
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95 |
2 |
Stop by Old Man Willow to rest. (ca. 5:30) Rescued by Tom Bombadil (ca.6:00 p.m.). |
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98 |
3 |
Reach Tom Bombadil's house. Stars are out (ca. 7 p.m.). |
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Sept. 27 - Day 5 - REST: 0 miles |
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98 |
0 |
Rainy. Spend the day at Tom Bombadil's house. |
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Sept. 28 - Day 6: 17 miles |
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98 |
0 |
Leave Tom's house and climb zig-zag path to brow of hill on west side of Barrow-downs (ca. 9 a.m.). On ponies go up steep slopes and down long limbs. No trees or water. Turn more east than they intend and enter the Barrow-downs, a place of great dread: inhabited by evil Barrow-wights from Angmar (R. Foster). |
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112 |
14 |
Midday. Stop in a hollow atop a hill. Eat and fall asleep. Wake in fog, sun sinking. |
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115 |
3 |
Try to head north, but lose their way and become separated. Captured by Wights. |
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Sept. 29 - Day 7: 20 miles |
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115 |
0 |
Frodo sings, Tom rescues and recalls ponies. Leave about 10 a.m. Tom leads. |
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118 |
3 |
Ride north through a gap. |
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123 |
5 |
Reach dike and hedge. Former boundary of Cardolan, part of the North Kingdom of Arnor. |
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131 |
8 |
Return to Great East Road (ca.5:30). Tom departs. Strider sees them, but hides. |
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135 |
4 |
Reach Bree. Stay at The Prancing Pony. Meet Strider. Ponies stolen during night. |
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Sept. 30 - Day 8 (1st from Bree): 12 miles |
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135 |
0 |
Leave Bree on East Road (ca. 9:30 a.m.). |
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140 |
5 |
Leave road and head north into Chetwood. No living things all day. |
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147 |
7 |
Camp in Chetwood, east of Archet. |
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Oct. 1 - Day 9 (2nd from Bree): 16 miles |
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147 |
0 |
Head east. Ground dropping slowly. Quiet and peaceful. |
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163 |
16 |
Camp in eastern Chetwood. |
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Oct. 2 - Day 10 (3rd from Bree): 16 miles |
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165 |
2 |
Come out of the Chetwood. |
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173 |
8 |
Ground becomes damp. Entering western edge of Midgewater Marshes. |
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179 |
6 |
Camp in western part of the Marshes. |
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Oct. 3 - Day 11 (4th from Bree): 15 miles |
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194 |
15 |
Camp in eastern part of the Marshes. See flashes of light in the east during the night (Gandalf on Weathertop). |
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Oct. 4 - Day 12 (5th from Bree): 17 miles |
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198 |
4 |
Reach eastern edge of the Marshes. Can see Weather Hills ahead. Land starts to rise. Land drier and very barren. A few birds. |
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211 |
13 |
Camp by a stream, among stunted alder trees. Moon waxing. |
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Oct. 5 - Day 13 (6th from Bree): 18 miles |
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211 |
0 |
Frost. Very clear. Can see crumbled ruins on Hills ahead. |
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229 |
18 |
Reach foot of the Weather Hills. Camp there. |
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Oct. 6 - Day 14 (7th from Bree): 12 miles |
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229 |
0 |
Follow path south toward Weathertop: path is cunningly hidden and is edged with stones where land is open. Sam recites part of "The Fall of Gil-galad." |
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239 |
10 |
Midday - Near south end of path. Reach dell at western foot of hill. |
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240 |
1 |
Climb to top of Weathertop and enter the ruins of the watch Tower of Amon Sûl. See Black Riders on road below. |
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241 |
1 |
Return to dell. Camp there. Attack of Nazgul at night. |
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Oct. 7 - Day 15 (1st from Weathertop): 19 miles |
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241 |
0 |
Injured, Frodo is carried on pony. Head south from dell. |
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251 |
10 |
Cross Great East Road and enter thickets on south side. Land slopes south. |
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260 |
9 |
Camp in thickets. |
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Oct. 8 - Day 16 (2 nd from Weathertop): 19 miles |
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279 |
19 |
Camp. |
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Oct. 9 - Day 17 (3rd from Weathertop): 19 miles |
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298 |
19 |
Camp - Follow a wide shallow curving valley. |
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Oct. 10 - Day 18 (4th from Weathertop): 19 miles |
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317 |
19 |
Camp - Continue in valley. |
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Oct. 11 - Day 19 (5th from Weathertop): 19 miles |
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336 |
19 |
Continue in valley. Land starts to rise. Can see 'huddle of hills' ahead. |
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Oct. 12 - Day 20 (6th from Weathertop): 19 miles |
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355 |
19 |
Camp not far SW of bridge. Camp is high enough for Merry to see the Loudwater far in the distance! |
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Oct. 13 - Day 21 (7th from Weathertop): 7 miles |
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356 |
1 |
Return to The Great East Road |
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358 |
2 |
Strider scouts ahead and finds an elf-stone on The Last Bridge. He believes it is a token of safety. Company crosses the River Hoarwell/Mitheithel. |
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359 |
1 |
Turn north from the Road. Enter the steep lands of the Trollshaws. They can see ruined walls and towers frowning down. |
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362 |
3 |
Hills quickly shut them in. Difficult going. Camp. |
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Oct. 14 - Day 21 (8th from Weathertop): 6 miles |
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368 |
6 |
More climbing. |
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Oct. 15 - Day 22 (9th from Weathertop): 6 miles |
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374 |
6 |
Weather turns wet during the day. |
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Oct. 16 - Day 23 (10th from Weathertop): 6 miles |
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380 |
6 |
Hills higher and steeper. They are forced north out of their way. Still raining. Camp on a stony shelf by a shallow cave. |
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Oct. 17 - Day 24 (11th from Weathertop): 6 miles |
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386 |
6 |
Rain stops. Strider scouts. Start late. Turn SE, scrambling over rocky ground. Find a valley, but it ends in a high ridge. Climb ridge and camp in a saddle at top. COLD. Build a fire under a gnarled pine. |
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Oct. 18 - Day 25 (12th from Weathertop): 34 miles |
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387 |
1 |
Slope beyond ridge is much easier. Bright, fair day. Strider briefly sees the Loudwater/Bruinen in the distance. |
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389 |
2 |
Reach a trail. |
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392 |
3 |
Find Troll-hole. Continue on level path through woods. |
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393 |
1 |
Stone Trolls. Rest. Sam recites "Old Troll." Continue in afternoon. Woods. |
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400 |
7 |
Return to the Road. |
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405 |
5 |
While looking for a place to camp, hear a horse: Glorfindel. |
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420 |
15 |
March all night. Frodo is on Glorfindel's horse. Camp next to the road at dawn. |
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Oct. 19 - Day 26 (13sth from Weathertop): 20 miles |
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420 |
0 |
Camp less than 5 hours. Take road with 2 brief rests. |
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429 |
9 |
Cross a small stream. Rest stop. |
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432 |
3 |
Rest stop. |
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440 |
8 |
Camp where road bends right to run down slope toward the River Bruinen. |
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Oct. 20 - Day 27 (14th from Weathertop): 18 miles |
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440 |
0 |
Leave early morning, hobbling along (ca. 7 a.m.). |
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447 |
7 |
Road running downhill. Much grass on sides. |
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449 |
2 |
Road plunges through a cutting of red stone with tall pines. Glorfindel says "Run!" |
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449.5 |
0.5 |
Hobbits are halfway across grassy flat when Nazgul burst through behind them. |
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450 |
0.5 |
Attack at the Ford (ca. noon). Glorfindel's horse carries Frodo across Ford. Nazgul drown. Frodo falls. |
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452 |
2 |
Company meets Elves sent from Rivendell (est. 2 p.m.). They take Frodo ahead. Rest of company follows on foot. |
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457 |
5 |
Come to the sudden cliff into the valley of Rivendell. |
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458 |
1 |
Frodo reaches Rivendell carried by the Elves (est. 4 p.m.). Others arrive in evening. |
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458 Miles : Bag End to Rivendell |
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