Update: Halfway on the Journey to Rivendell!

The walk to Rivendell is 397 miles, making the halfway point a little over 198 miles. As of this morning, I hit 204 miles in my journey!

Overall, this past two weeks I haven't been as active as I planned; I cleaned up and ran some errands, as well as visited a friend in Portland. Thus, I ended up doing a lot more urban walking than forest hikes. That being said, I still upped my average last week to 5.75 miles a day, with this past week being closer to about 3 miles a day. However, even though I've been doing more city walking, I've still found fun, Tolkien-themed treasures and sign-posts along the way.

Tolkien-themed graffiti in Capitol Hill, Seattle

Tolkien-themed finds on my Portland trip, including a 1980's Tolkien poster book
and Lord of the Rings puppets and action-figures at local thrift and specialty stores

At the half-way mark, I feel like I have a bit of a conflict. On one hand, I feel healthier and I have actually dropped some weight (about 6 lbs. since I have started this journey).

My weight chart up to July 21st since May; I started this walking challenge in Mid-June,
and I've lost two more lbs. since this chart was downloaded!

On the other hand, it's already the end of July and I'm only half-way. I can try and up my pace this upcoming week, but then I'm travelling for an event and then I'm back to my normal work schedule. Who knows if I'll make Rivendell by the end of August!

On the brightside, this is how Bilbo felt at this point in his journey too. His party had just survived trolls, the loss of some of their ponies, and traversing a number of landscapes... and at the 200 mile mark, the Misty Mountains were just coming into sight:

One morning they forded a river at a wide shallow place full of the noise of stones and foam. The far bank was steep and slippery. When they got to the top of it, leading their ponies, they saw the great mountains... “Is that The Mountain?” asked Bilbo in a solemn voice, looking at it with round eyes. He had never seen a thing that looked so big before.

“Of course not!” said Balin. “That is only the beginning of the Misty Mountains, and we have got to get through, or over, or under those somehow, before we can come into Wilderland beyond. And it is a deal of a way even from the other side of them to the Lonely Mountain in the East where Smaug lies on our treasure.”

“O!” said Bilbo, and just at that moment he felt more tired than he ever remembered feeling before.

 At this point in the journey, I relate to Bilbo: I feel like I've come so far, but there's so far to go. However, I plan to keep travelling! Also, I plan to keep having adventures along the way. For example, I went to a Renaissance Faire and shot a bow and arrow like Legolas! Er... okay, maybe not just like Legolas. I actually only hit the target once. But the point is: I'm having fun, making progress, and I won't be giving up soon!

Keeping my eye on the mark

Half way there! We'll see where the journey leads...