“I wonder,” said Frodo, “But I don’t know. And that’s the way of a real tale. Take anyone that you’re fond of. You may know, or guess, what kind of tale it is, happy ending or sad ending, but the people in it don’t know, and you don’t want them to.” -J.R.R. Tolkien

DAY 3

  25 SEPTEMBER 3018

Today the hobbits walked (and for a short time road in a carriage) for 27 miles.  Their adventures today include Farmer Maggot, two close calls escaping from Black Riders, a ride on the Buckleberry Ferry and reunion with friends.  They started late (near noon) and ended their journey late at night in Crickhollow.

THE JOURNAL OF SAMWISE GAMGEE

DAY 3 – SEPT. 25th – 27 MILES

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.)

(Mile 46)

Photo by MariaMichelle, Pixabay

“We slept late! It was near noon when we left. Mr. Frodo decided to cut southeast to Buckleberry Ferry. We scrambled downhill into the thick trees below. It begins to cloud up now.”

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

(Mile 47)

Photo by 12019, Pixabay

“A deep-banked stream below the hill cut across our path. Looking back, we saw a Black Rider on the hillcrest where we had just camped! We had to force our way through the bushes alongside the stream.”

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

(Mile 48)

Photo by Kdzwonek, Pixabay

“Pippin realized we’re at the Stock-brook. The banks are low enough now for us to cross. The land on its south bank is wet and reedy.”

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

(Mile 50)

Photo by Hans, Pixabay

“We’ve reached a belt of trees, mostly oaks with a few elms and ash. Drops of rainfall and wet my notes making it fair hard to write. I’ll manage.”

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

(Mile 52)

Photo by Bergadder

“Pippin realized we’ve turned too far south. It’s hard to know since all I can see is the trees. He’s got a good nose for direction, probably tied to his good nose for vittles.”

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

(Mile 54)

Photo by Picography, Pixabay

“We’re still hiding in the trees. We stopped now for lunch. We’ve been hiding and walking about two hours now. We keep singing softly to keep our courage up. It’s right pretty hear in the forest. But suddenly we heard that terrible cry from a Black Rider near. We hid and waited for about an hour and then left again.”

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

(Mile 55)

Photo by Ilyessuti, Pixabay

“The Wood has ended. The land steadily becomes tamer and easier to walk. It’s such a bright sunny day. It doesn’t seem to fit with those Riders in any way at all.”

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

(Mile 56)

Photo by Kaz, Pixabay

“We just reached the area of the Marish with fields, meadows, hedges, gates, and drainage dikes. Sure is pretty here.”

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

(Mile 61)

Photo by Adege, Pixabay

“We’ve just come to the edge of fields worked by Farmer Maggot.”

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

(Mile 62)

Photo by Takashi Yanagisawa, Pixabay

“We passed a turnip field, then a stout gate to a rutted lane, edged by hedges.”

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

(Mile 63)

Photo by Flo222, Pixabay

“We reached Farmer Maggot’s house and buildings: brick with thatched roofs, surrounded by a high wall cut by a wooden gate from the lane. It’s supper time and we’ve stopped here to eat. (Later) We’re leaving now. It’s full dark, about an hour or two later.”

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

(Mile 65)

Photo by Free-Photos, Pixabay

Farmer Maggot’s lane meets the Causeway to Buckleberry Ferry. We’re riding a bit in his wagon. Feels good to sit down and move forward for a while. Easier to write too, in the lamplight.  I don’t want to get into that Ferry, but I dislike it a whole less than runnin’ into that Black Rider again.

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

(Mile 70)

Photo by Marc140265, Pixabay

“It’s boggy land all around and foggy. Merry and Fatty met us at the Ferry landing. As soon as we reached the other side of the river, we could see a Black Rider on the west shore. He looked none too happy to have a river between us. That river isn’t wide enough for my liking.”

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

(Mile 70.5)

Photo by HolgerHeinze0, Pixabay

“We’re on the main road north from the Ferry, Buck Hill is on the left and Buckleberry on the right. Now we’re taking a lane to the right. The lane climbs up and down into the country.”

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

(Mile 73)

Photo by Vinny Ciro, Pixabay

“We’ve arrived at Frodo’s house in Crickhollow. Finally, we can rest in a good bed in front of a warm fire. Frodo tells everyone about the ruse for buying the Crickhollow house, but he finds out everyone guessed what was going on. The plan is for Fatty to stay behind to keep up normal appearances while we continue on. Everyone but me is already asleep but I’m halfway there now. Time for bed. I sure hope that Black Rider doesn’t turn up in my dreams.”

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

BACK TO EARTH AUTHOR NOTES

*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