Texas
An elven house is… perfect, whether you liked food, or sleep, or work, or story-telling, or singig, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all. Evil things did not come into that valley.
So, after Flat Frodo’s visit with the elf Wneighbor at her home in the far flung outposts of elvendom they began their journey into the heart, the most beautiful parts of the high elven kingdom. Along the way, however, they pass the valley of the rock from which Aule created the race of dwarves. Alas, all that grows from these rocks are spiney, prickley, thorny things.

Moving along, keeping on the road and traveling by day the travelers come to a strange pumping contraption. WN explains to Frodo that the substance is black gold, one of the treasures of the elven kingdom.

Smeagol requires a rest and foraging stop along the way. This is the party overlooking the Brazos river valley south of Mineral Wells. Smeagol is barely visible in the far background.

Since this is Frodo’s first trip into the depth of high elvendom, WN takes him on a side trip to see the preserved footprint of the dragon Smaug. (aka, Dinosaur Footprint in Somerville County) It is said that in an earlier era, 3 types of dinosaurs left their tracks in the Paluxy River bottom near Glen Rose, Texas. Sauropods, Theropods and Ornithopods. All three of these can currently be viewed at various places and parks in the Paluxy River in Somerville County. The Paluxy River is also a lovely place to visit for picnicking and family play.

In the same area as the dragon print there is also a memorial for the Battle of Five Armies. Actually combined memorials for the all central Texans lost in each war in the 20th century. These memorials stand in the front lawn of the Somerville County courthouse.

Finally Frodo and WN arrive at a destined meeting with the Beornings. There is a fine dinner. Much talk and reveling. As the meeting is at night, Frodo feels he must take appropriate precautions with the Bear-Man, having recalled Bilbo’s warnings of the wanderings of Beorn at night!

In our next installment, Wneighbor takes Frodo into the Angle, the much discussed but seldom located area which is the home of the Rangers.
