Day 5 and 6: State Parks and Thunderstorms

I have decided to combine my weekends into one blog post. Over the course of this weekend I have walked 13.92 miles (22.4 km). On Saturday I left with my sister to hike Sky Meadows State Park. The trail was excruciating, but I felt so rewarded when we finally broke out of the trees to view the vistas of the beautiful Virginia countryside. It was wonderful to have someone along for the journey who could encourage me to make it up that 70% grade.

On Sunday I struck out alone for a long trek. This time I stayed in town and enjoyed watching the locals. I have learned that the early morning belongs to the dog walkers, the mid-morning to shop keepers, noontide to the restaurants, afternoon to the shoppers and errand runners, and the evening to the fine diners. While I chose this route to simulate the gentle topography and wooded areas the hobbits walked, it was also nice to feel connected to my community. As I walked through town, ominous looking clouds began to roll in from the south-east. A few minutes later thunder could be heard and lightening streaked across the horizon. Knowing better than to play with lightning, I immediately turned around for home. Several minutes after the first thunderclap rain started pouring. This rain was cold and pelted down, obscuring my vision and soaking me thoroughly. By the time I made it home I resembled a drowned rat and left a puddle wherever I went. The lighting did not let up for the rest of the night and I was forced to retreat into the safety of my house. Saruman has struck again!

This point in the journey marks the end of the second day for the hobbits and brings with it a continuation of the first signs of peril, but also one of the reoccurring themes of hope. Nearing dark, another black rider in encountered. The hobbits quickly try to hide in the darkness of the trees, but curiosity begs Frodo to creep closer. As the black rider draws steadily nearer to Frodo, he is seized with the irresistible desire to put on the ring. Before his groping hands can close in on the ring, however, the laughter of elves floats through the forest and spurs the black rider into a retreat.

In Tolkien’s epic, elves are a race representing both hope and sorrow. Long lived, they possess great wisdom and knowledge. Their memory is longer than most in Middle Earth (except the Valar and possibly some of the Istari) and harbours both times of peace and war. I find Frodo’s encounter with the elves in the woods to be one of the most brilliant introductions in The Lord of the Rings. The reason behind this is how the reader parallels the characters. Both Bilbo and Frodo had seen and befriended elves prior to the beginning of the journey, but the elves had yet to appear in the story. Elves are also a race that Sam expressed a great desire to meet and one of the reasons he gave for accompanying Frodo.  When Frodo and company encounter the elves in the woods, it is a first encounter for both Sam and the reader.

“'Elves!' exclaimed Sam in a hoarse whisper. 'Elves, sir!' He would have burst out of the trees and dashed off towards the voices, if they had not pulled him back.” (Chapter 3, The Fellowship of the Ring). The reader gets to experience along with Sam the excitement, fear, and awe of meeting elves for the first time. In fact, this meeting stood out in Sam’s memories as one of the chief moments in his life. So also this meeting stands out in the minds of the readers and has become a favourite of mine.

Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo (a star shines upon the hour of our meeting),

~ Daisy Buttons