Day 60: 300 Miles

It is Day 60 and I am quite happy to find that the 300 mile (482.8 km) mark has been passed! Though I technically reached that goal on Day 59, it was not until after my morning walk on Day 60 that I realized how far I have come.

Classes are now in full swing and my work will start up soon. I have been very blessed to take part in the work study program at my college and this year finds me working in the History Department (which is also my major). Though I am sure the next year will bring all sorts of craziness, stress, laughter, tears, camaraderie, silliness, and overall hard work, I will be sure to make the best of this extraordinary opportunity.

With the advent of classes, work, and college sports my schedule is quickly growing. So many books have to be read, papers written, projects taken care of, documentaries to watch, and events to attend; and that’s not even factoring in the social demands of college! Suffice it to say, I have lost time for walking as I have to carefully budget it towards other things (such as sleeping). Today I went out to the cross country trails winding their way around my mountain, but with the time constraints I was only able to walk 4.84 miles (7.8 km). Still, the walk brought my cumulative mileage up to 307.74 (495.3 km).

I wonder how the hobbits were feeling at this mile mark. All I have been able to glean from the text is that they were on their fourth day out from Weathertop and still continue in the valley past the Weather Hills. Frodo would have been plagued by his wound, and the others would have been struggling under the extra weight they had taken on to allow Bill to bear Frodo. Maybe the journey stretched out before them and all thoughts were on Rivendell. Maybe the hobbits minds were occupied with more immediate concerns, like the Black Riders trying to stop the ring from passing into Rivendell. Maybe their minds were occupied by the thoughts of making it to the next meal, the next camp. There are many possibilities to extrapolate upon from the little text that exists on this part of the journey.

The Road Goes Ever On and On,
~ Daisy Buttons