“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

-J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

Day 1 – Sept. 23rd – 18 miles

On September 23rd, early in the evening, Frodo, Sam, and Pippin slipped away from Bag End. (Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 3, “Three Is Company”).  The “official” story of their leaving is that Frodo is moving to Crick Hollow and Sam and Pippin are to accompany and help him.  The real story is, Frodo is the bearer of the One Ring.  He must take the Ring to Elrond in Rivendell while trying to stay hidden from the Black Riders of Mordor.

Here below are the notes* Sam took along the way as well as a few jotted sketches. In later years, Sam’s daughter Elanor used Sam’s rough sketches to create paintings to accompany the three Books.  (Based one The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien and The Atlas of Middle Earth by Karen Fonstad and The Eowyn Challenge website.)

THE JOURNAL OF SAMWISE GAMGEE

23 September 3018

(Mile 0)

We left Bag End today for Rivendell at full dark, just about 7:00 o’clock it was.  It’s just us now — me (Samwise Gamgee), Mr. Frodo Baggins and Pippin (Peregrin Took).  Gandalf charged us to carry …it….to Elrond in Rivendell.  I can’t believe I’ll finally get to see the elves.  We went around the west end and jumped a hedge then headed east.  The plan is to head to South Farthing of the Shire towards Buckland.  Gandalf has not come yet, even though he said he would be here!*  He may catch us on the road.  I hope so.

From: “The Journal of Samwise Gamgee, 23 Sept – 20 Oct, 3018.

*Little did the three hobbits know, but Gandalf most certainly would have come if he could have.  You may remember he was “unavoidably detained” by Saruman.

(Mile 1)

“We went through a gate into a lane, then headed west.  Though it was dark when we left, I sketched the first glimpse back the way I love it, at sunset, and supper time.

I know I’ll remember the colors in this night sky. Seems like it might be the last glimpse of peace for a very long time.

From: “The Journal of Samwise Gamgee, 23 Sept – 20 Oct, 3018.

(Mile 2)

“We left the lane and followed the hedgerows south. They look spooky in the dark, but healthy and green. Trimmin’ the hedges will have to wait. I hope someone will see to it while we’re gone so they don’t grow too wild.”

From: “The Journal of Samwise Gamgee, 23 Sept – 20 Oct, 3018.

(Mile 3)

“We crossed The Water on a plank bridge.  The wood felt cool under my feet.  The water underneath seemed to be saying, “Turn back, Sam!” But we can’t turn back. Besides, I’ve got to look after Mr. Frodo. Even if Gandalf didn’t scare me into it, I wouldn’t have let him go alone.”

From: “The Journal of Samwise Gamgee, 23 Sept – 20 Oct, 3018.

(Mile 5)

“We crossed the Great Road from the Brandywine Bridge.”

From: “The Journal of Samwise Gamgee, 23 Sept – 20 Oct, 3018.

(Mile 7.5)

“We looked back at the lights of Hobbiton from the first slopes of the Green Hill Country. Will we ever see home again?”

From: “The Journal of Samwise Gamgee, 23 Sept – 20 Oct, 3018.

Milestone 9.5

Hobbiton is hidden as the slopes we climb rise and fall.  I miss my cozy fire.

From: “The Journal of Samwise Gamgee, 23 Sept – 20 Oct, 3018.

(Mile 11) 

“We stopped to rest in a birch grove and ate a frugal supper.  It’s late, near 10 p.m.  I miss my kitchen!”

From: “The Journal of Samwise Gamgee, 23 Sept – 20 Oct, 3018.

(Mile 14.5)

Photo by Johannes Plenio, Pixabay

“We reached the Stock Road. Mr. Frodo began to recite a poem, though he didn’t know how he knew it. Pippin saidit sounded like one of old Mr. Bilbo’s writings: ‘The Road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, and I must follow if I can, pursuing it with eager feet, until it joins some larger way where many paths and errands meet and whither then? I cannot say.’”  –The Journal of Samwise Gamgee. 29 September 3018.

(Mile 15.5)  

“We begin to sing now as we walk through a deeply cloven track between tall trees.  The night is dark but singing lifts our spirits.”

From: “The Journal of Samwise Gamgee, 23 Sept – 20 Oct, 3018.

(Mile 17.5)

“We had to climb down a steep slope in the dark.  None of us were hurt, but when Pip started yawing, we all caught the yawn.  I haven’t been able to stop since then! (It’s near midnight).”

From: “The Journal of Samwise Gamgee, 23 Sept – 20 Oct, 3018.

(Mile 18)

“Finally!  Time to rest.  We are camped in a firwood just over the top of the hill.  We make our beds as best we can by a large tree.  A fox saw us, but little else moves in the night…I hope.”

From: “The Journal of Samwise Gamgee, 23 Sept – 20 Oct, 3018.

BACK TO EARTH AUTHOR NOTES

Feature image by Johannes Plenio, Pixabay.

*This journal is a fanfiction creation by Niki Flow, based the beautiful works of J.R.R. Tolkien; on the meticulous milestone-marker notes in The Atlas of Middle Earth by Karen Fonstad and on the Eowyn Challenge website:

Bag End to Rivendell with Frodo and Company:  458 Miles