The Search for Middle Earth: the Sequel

[lavendertook]

A National Squeeographic Special.

It all started when lbilover posted a google search that lead to Middle Earth, MD. Google it and you will see. Here's another view.

Saturday was as beautiful a spring day as you could wish for. ancalime8301 and I gathered our supplies and set off on a journey southeast around the Greenway Beltway and down through the Gap of Rohan Rt 5 to St Mary's County. We knew we were heading the right way when Howard Shore's Shire party music swelled just as a jet from the air show going on in the arena made a big circular con trail above us as we drove.

The land down there is pretty Shire-like, though more like the Westmarch because of being on the water. So we drove down to the end of Clark's Mill Rd, without seeing anything noticeably rabidly fannish Middle Earthy. I stopped at a house at the end of the road where a couple of guys were sitting out and, pulling out my google print outs, asked them if they knew of the place we sought or of any crazed Tolkien fans in the area, but they claimed to know nothing. I still suspect their gazebo overlooking an inlet leading to the bay to be an inter-dimensional portal, but I couldn't very well investigate it with them there. We drove down one of the side roads, Mill Pond Road, to see if we could find any more well, any clues. The dolls got out and looked around a bit.


Aragorn used all his tracking skills to find any clues, but either he found nothing or has declined to report what he found.



The hobbits wondered when we would go get lunch.

If we had only had the map I linked above, we would have gone down Nally Road, as this map seems to indicate to be the spot in the middle of a wooded lot. Perhaps on a future expedition. Thus the quest continues.

We then preceded a short way northeast to the Lonely Mountain Calvert Cliffs State Park for a lovely hike among the mountain laurels almost at peak, and out to a view of the bay. I took many pics there, but that will be for another Squeeographic special entry.

I also need to report on some other fun events of the past month--I started an update I never finished--soon.

Comments

[mererid]

Awww, these are great pics. And everyone is dressed so handsomely! I'm glad that you had a nice time, and I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures from your hike. :D

[leaflet.livejournal.com]

I love Frodo's snazzy scarlet waistcoat.

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

**whispers* This is Bingo Bolger-Baggins.

[leaflet.livejournal.com]

oops...so sorry, Mr. B-B! The resemblance, you know..

[bbolger-baggins.livejournal.com]

*brightly* Thank you, Ms. Singollo! *bows*

It would be hard to loose me in the woods with that on, I should think.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Hee, looks like everyone had lots of fun!

I'm woefully behind on dealing with photos from my last few dollmeets -- seriously overdid it at the Botanic Gardens and now I'm kind of dreading having to go through and tag and organize all eleventy-squillion pics.

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

it was a great day to be outside and exploring.

I know the feeling! I will get pics up of our dolls at trilogy weekend soon.

You have to let me know when you want to hit Value Village with me.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Definitely! And I'm keeping an eye out for dollmeets for you. (The last one I made it to was a little private invite-only thing since it was in someone's v. modestly-sized apartment living room, but there should be more public events again soon.)

[romeny.livejournal.com]

I've only been to St Marys Co but that part of the state is lovely. Looks like you, Cali and the posse had a good time. Hope you fed the guys. lol

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

We did--I was glad to have Cali's good company. Being plastic hobbits, they're fine with the wrappers for our food. (-;

[belleferret.livejournal.com]

Eeeeeeeeee!!!!!! You went to Middle-earth!!!

Next time you should bring a GPS so you can locate the exact coordinates. The lads would have to do something special there to mark the place! ;-)

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

:-D

Being a simple hobbit lass, I have no fancy things like a GPS (supposing google or this map above are even right--and am wondering how exactly places get registered with them, anyway.) Which is another reason why YOU MUST come with us, next time!!!! Gondor calls for aid . . .

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

Aragorn looks bored! :) The ladies are enjoying each other's company and the hobbits are enjoying each other's companies...lol! :)

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

No, no, he's not bored--he's paying attention to all his ranger senses seeing if he can pick up any clues. And he's quite happy with this company. He's just not very happy with his Sideshow face, but his custom painted face is not ready to be shown on LJ yet. (-:

[shirebound]

Ooooh, you were so close! I hope the Quest may be achieved at a later date.

The hobbits look so great in their Questing clothes. :)

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

*sigh* And I wanted to check down that other street, too!!! Supposing this map above has more accurate coordinates, placed there by whoever assigns google coordinates, I guess we'll need to go back and check.

They thank you and bow! (-:

[ex-lbilover.livejournal.com]

Oh, you came SO close to finding Middle Earth!! But I have faith that you and the hobbits will find it on a future expedition. I expect they don't want to make it too easy to find lest any old non-Tolkien fan stumble over it!!!

And aww, the hobbits in their weskits looks adorable! Clearly Arwen and Galadriel are jealous... :))

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Maybe . . . supposing these new coordinates are more accurate . . . (-: I tried to find your post with the google search so I could link it here, but I couldn't find it.

They thank you and bow! They're wondering when they're going to get at least one change of outfits--soon!

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is a gorgeous interlude!

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Thank you! (-:

[ancalime8301]

Yeah, that other map might've helped a bit. ;)

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

. . .or not. No reason to think it's more accurate than the other one, not knowing how they get their info. (-:

[ancalime8301]

True, but it seems more precise, not to mention it would've given us somewhere else to look! ;)

[hildigard-brown.livejournal.com]

It sounds like everyone had a good time on this quest, allthough I have to agree with claudia603--Aragorn does look a bit bored. And what cute outfits your hobbits have... my Frodo and Sam are quite envious! My Sam especially admired the plaid shirt & vest of your Sam, and wanted me to ask where you bought it. I suspect I may be coerced inveigled cajoled into a hobbit shopping spree in the near future. :-D

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

That's an introspective tracker look! Awww, Bingo and Sam thank you! I was trying to find a white and brown shirt like the one Sam wears when shown planting in the Shire, and that's the closest I found thus far. The shirts came from minibarbie on ebay, and I recommend them--they send you a free item every 4 that you buy, and Bingo's light blue shirt was one of the freebies. I got that brown vest as part of a suit outfit--I can't remember from whom--maybe 7toys7? In any event, I got it on ebay. Those hobbits are good at sitting by the keyboard and begging for things, aren't they?

[frodosweetstuff.livejournal.com]

Awwww, how adorable!!!! I love that Bingo and Sam went on this outing and it was great to see Aragorn and Arwen and Galadriel with them. I bet everyone had lots of fun.

And oooh, Sam's shirt!!