Update: The End of a Journey

"I’m sure I can keep up on foot. I’ve done my fair share of walking holidays, you know. I even got as far as Frogmorton once!"
- Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Well, folks, my "walking holiday" from summer is officially complete.

From the journal I've been keeping on my phone,
counting down the miles

A little over three months ago, I set out to walk 397 miles and today, at 5:37 pm, I made it to my goal!

“The Valley of Imraldis. In the Common Tongue, it’s known by a another name... Rivendell." - Gandalf, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

It seems fitting that my Hobbit journey ends on "Hobbit Day" (Bilbo and Frodo Baggins' birthday). To celebrate, I went for a walk through green side streets and went to the store to get some ingredients fit for a celebratory Hobbit supper!

I decided to wear a thematic shirt today

Examining images of the dwarven dinner at Bilbo's house in An Unexpected Journey, I decided that  would pick some of the foods from that table to cook.

There are a few to choose from...

I decided on ham, roasted zucchini, and baked yellow potato, with a side of fall cider. After all, that seemed like a meal that Bilbo would enjoy! To go along with my celebration "feast," I also decided to watch the film that inspired my meal (and the story that inspired my walk).

Gloin: What is he saying? Does he offer us insult?

Gandalf: No, Master Gloin, he’s offering you food.

- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

My journey to Rivendell was occasionally filled  with challenge and took longer than I planned, but it was also filled with accomplishment and beauty. I am so glad that I did this challenge. Now the new challenge will be continuing on past Rivendell and staying healthy even when it's dark and cold during this fall and winter!

I'm going to take the rest of September off. I'll still try and be healthy and eat well, but I don't plan on keeping a journal of my steps taken or miles traveled... That will begin again in October for a new challenge. Until then, though, I'm just going to be happy with what I've achieved!

Happy Hobbit Day, everyone!

“May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks.”
–J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings