Below is a sneak peek into Samwise Gamgee’s journal, illustrated by his daughter Elanor. Below that, why this challenge has been my passionate heartsong for the past 15 years.

“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…