I see Middle-earth - Page 3 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

alatar · 10-20-2008, 02:27 PM

Yes, I know that it only fits the description of Bilbo's Party Tree in that it is a tree, still every time I drive by this tree in the fall, I cannot but help to think of Bilbo's last Shire party.

alatar · 05-08-2009, 11:39 AM

I see 'Fog on the Barrow Downs' and 'the Brown Hills.'

Bandobras Tunnelly · 05-10-2009, 12:46 PM

Several years ago I was living in northern Alabama, and was driving between there and my native Indiana quite a bit. There are places along the way (most notability in northern TN) that take your breath away. Vast stretches of green forest as far as the eye can see. Save for the silver gray line of the highway it reminds me of Bilbo's climb above Mirkwood.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 05-10-2009, 12:56 PM

Nice hills, alatar, we don't get hills like that in Alaska, we have mountains instead. Although some of the coasts here make me think of Tuor's journeys when he came to Gondolin. Can't say why though...

alatar · 05-11-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

Nice hills, alatar, we don't get hills like that in Alaska, we have mountains instead. Although some of the coasts here make me think of Tuor's journeys when he came to Gondolin. Can't say why though...

Thanks, I guess. Not sure if mountains, as to hills, would be better or worse. What really creeps me out is the lack of anything - hills or mountains - in the horizon.

And it's normal, at least to me, upon seeing certain places to think of a part of a journey of some character within LotR.

Estelyn Telcontar · 06-30-2009, 01:40 AM

Well, this isn't a landscape, but I found out that there's a real life location named after a Tolkien character: Bilbo Baggins Restaurant with Green Dragon Pub. Has anyone who lives near there been there?

Nessa Telrunya · 06-30-2009, 07:18 AM

There are the pastures behind my house that I've always seen as Rohan, and even more so now that we have horses back there. And there is a dirt road leading into the woods that reminds me of a road Frodo might take on his journey to Rivendell.

alatar · 06-30-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

Well, this isn't a landscape, but I found out that there's a real life location named after a Tolkien character: Bilbo Baggins Restaurant with Green Dragon Pub. Has anyone who lives near there been there?

Thanks for the find, Esty. If only I could get the kids rounded up for a road trip.

Laurinquë · 10-26-2009, 01:01 AM

Alaska is fine place to locate Middle-earth. What with our volcanoes, massive mountain ranges, miles of verdant green tundra, and great forests it's a wonder they didn't film the Lord of the Rings films here! Or so I like to think. Here be some evidence of my claims:

The Barrow-downs (not in the film but whatever):

Laurinquë · 10-26-2009, 01:03 AM

And the Mountains of Shadow:

Groin Redbeard · 10-26-2009, 09:22 AM

Absolutely beautiful! It reminds me of how I imagined northern Gondor.

Pitchwife · 10-26-2009, 09:31 AM

Stunning! The 'Barrow Downs' remind me of parts of Wales where I used to go on vacation some years ago *nostalgic sigh*. And the 'Mountains of Shadow' are quite perfect - isn't that the very road leading south from the Morannon that we see there?

Nerwen · 10-26-2009, 04:21 PM

Great pics, Laurinquë!

Mithalwen · 10-26-2009, 04:47 PM

Yes .. but I think your idea of Downs is a bit rugged for somewhere so close to the Shire perhaps a wilder part of middle earth... There are barrows on downs on the Isle of Wight ( a short ferry ride away from me) . The last Wight walking festival had one event that was "Walk the Barrow Downs"!!!

http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=7055

Laurinquë · 10-26-2009, 09:41 PM

Thank you so much! I have a lot more photos I could add if you like these, even a few of Mount Doom that I took in Hawaii.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Yes .. but I think your idea of Downs is a bit rugged for somewhere so close to the Shire perhaps a wilder part of middle earth... There are barrows on downs on the Isle of Wight ( a short ferry ride away from me) . The last Wight walking festival had one event that was "Walk the Barrow Downs"!!!

You're probably right, but we Alaskans have to make do with what we have. Earth-covered piles of bones are few and far between here. As are most nice things.

alatar · 10-27-2009, 09:57 AM

Laurinquë, I am *so* jealous (as I live in the east side of Mordor)! Those pictures are absolutely stunning. Thank you for sharing them.

skip spence · 10-27-2009, 10:21 AM

Yeah, great pictures Laurinquë, those are some beautiful vistas!

Can't help to shudder though. It looks cold, windy and desolate. *brrrrrrrr*

Reminds me of that Sean Penn movie, Into The Wild. Seen that one?

Mithalwen · 10-27-2009, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

You're probably right, but we Alaskans have to make do with what we have. Earth-covered piles of bones are few and far between here. As are most nice things.

Oh I didn't mean to be insulting

..the pictures are amazing. We don't get that sort of "Big sky country" here.

I suppose for me that I have always seen the Shire and nearby as being very English and the further landscapes being more imposing or exotic. So in England I see lots of places that make me think Shire but only in the States or Australasia have I got glimpses of say the Misty Mountains.

Laurinquë · 10-29-2009, 01:13 AM

I'm glad everyone liked my previous pictures so much! In thanks you will receive more pictures! Here they are:

Somewhere on the Plateau of Gorgoroth?

If you can think of any particular spot this fits I'd be glad to hear about it. I took these photos whilst on holiday in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

More Plateau of Gorgoroth.

Legate of Amon Lanc · 10-29-2009, 04:11 AM

Eugh! A TRUE plateau of Gorgoroth!! (The first one also made me think a bit of the desolation before Morannon. Posibly from a large part because of the rocks. The third could be a shot from the other side of the Gate, somewhere inside Udun. Ha, in other words: you are a bad photographer, Lauri, why did you not take a picture of the Black Gate, when it's obvious that it is just right there outside the frame!

)

Aganzir · 10-29-2009, 03:32 PM

Lauri I'd rep you again for those photos but unfortunately I don't think I'm allowed.

Very beautiful work. And now you've made up my mind for me to stop in Hawaii on my future round-the-world trip.

Loslote · 10-29-2009, 07:28 PM

I live in a huge valley, and the mountains look just like the Misty Mountains right now. I can't get a good picture, though, because the roads/fence/satellite dish/telephone wires keep getting in the way.

Also, the forest behind my house looks very Fangorny.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 10-30-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loslote

I live in a huge valley, and the mountains look just like the Misty Mountains right now. I can't get a good picture, though, because the roads/fence/satellite dish/telephone wires keep getting in the way.

Also, the forest behind my house looks very Fangorny.

Well, don't they all in Alaska? It's not very Shire like here, but there is always something that catches your fancy, something that looks like Middle-Earth.

Loslote · 10-31-2009, 05:07 PM

Actually, there's a field near my house that does look Shire-esque. Unfortunately, it has no trees, so when the big winds come, you can't drive there for fear of being blown off the road because there's nothing to slow it down.

Andsigil · 10-31-2009, 08:19 PM

Michigan's Upper Peninsula reminds me a lot of Middle Earth.

This is the town of Copper Harbor, which is on the northernmost tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula (of the Upper Peninsula), as viewed from the top of Brockway Mountain in October:

Andsigil · 10-31-2009, 08:27 PM

This lighthouse in Manistique, Michigan, on the south coast of the U.P., looks like something from Dol Amroth:

Andsigil · 10-31-2009, 08:30 PM

This is the stone harbor wall/pathway that leads to the lighthouse. Very Gondorian, if you ask me:

Andsigil · 10-31-2009, 08:33 PM

This is the rest of the wall/path around the 90 degree bend. We took these pictures on vacation a week ago:

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 10-31-2009, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loslote

Actually, there's a field near my house that does look Shire-esque. Unfortunately, it has no trees, so when the big winds come, you can't drive there for fear of being blown off the road because there's nothing to slow it down.

Is that near where that fire happened. Every time we drive past those dead trees, I think of Saruman and it makes me sad. The funny thing though, is that those trees have been dead almost as long as I've been alive!

Eönwë · 11-01-2009, 08:57 AM

Wow! Those are some amazing pictures Lauri!

The first three look to me like a stonier version of Rohan, or possibly some of the wilderness in the North, and yes, the fourth does look like the Mountains of shadow to me as well.

I agree with Legate about the last three.

Great photography, Laurinquë!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Yes .. but I think your idea of Downs is a bit rugged for somewhere so close to the Shire perhaps a wilder part of middle earth... There are barrows on downs on the Isle of Wight ( a short ferry ride away from me) . The last Wight walking festival had one event that was "Walk the Barrow Downs"!!!

Well when you have Barrow Downs in the Isle of Wight, it's not too hard to imagine a Tolkienish environment, is it?

Loslote · 11-01-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

Is that near where that fire happened. Every time we drive past those dead trees, I think of Saruman and it makes me sad. The funny thing though, is that those trees have been dead almost as long as I've been alive!

No (it's a farm thingi) but I know what you mean, and it does look like something Saruman would do. There's a marsh thing near my house that sometimes looks like the Paths of the Dead.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 11-01-2009, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loslote

No (it's a farm thingi) but I know what you mean, and it does look like something Saruman would do. There's a marsh thing near my house that sometimes looks like the Paths of the Dead.

Nice. Its always lovely to be able to walk by something that might be a bit creepy.

Laurinquë · 11-02-2009, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eönwë

Wow! Those are some amazing pictures Lauri!

The first three look to me like a stonier version of Rohan, or possibly some of the wilderness in the North, and yes, the fourth does look like the Mountains of shadow to me as well.

I agree with Legate about the last three.

Great photography, Laurinquë!

Thank you! The 'Barrow-downs' pictures were taken at a place called Finger Mountain about 140 miles north of Fairbanks. And I am quite open to interpretations of the whereabouts of these pictures, do feel free to improve on my assumptions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aganzir

Lauri I'd rep you again for those photos but unfortunately I don't think I'm allowed. Very beautiful work. And now you've made up my mind for me to stop in Hawaii on my future round-the-world trip.

Thank you very much! And yes, you really should stop in for a visit there! There's no other place like it in the world.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legate

Eugh! A TRUE plateau of Gorgoroth!! (The first one also made me think a bit of the desolation before Morannon. Posibly from a large part because of the rocks. The third could be a shot from the other side of the Gate, somewhere inside Udun. Ha, in other words: you are a bad photographer, Lauri, why did you not take a picture of the Black Gate, when it's obvious that it is just right there outside the frame)

Oh believe me, I would have but alas my camera ran out of battery right then. But perhaps this may interest you:

Ignore those annoying trees, they were just some Ents that were insisting on following me about and getting in the way of my picture.

Legate of Amon Lanc · 11-02-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurinquë

Oh believe me, I would have but alas my camera ran out of battery right then.

Ah, all right. Well, good warning for you for the next time - recharge your battery properly, or at least get some backup batteries!

Quote:

Ignore those annoying trees, they were just some Ents that were insisting on following me about and getting in the way of my picture.

Aren't they getting a bit too bold lately? I mean, attacking Isengard is one thing, but storming the Black Gate itself is quite a daring deed...

Anyway, very nice!! (if that is the proper word to use for the appearance of Mordor...)

skip spence · 11-08-2009, 10:12 AM

I see Old Man Willow, or at least his kid brother:

Lush · 11-12-2009, 04:54 PM

ZOMG

How'd I always overlook this cool thread?

There is an old cemetery next door that's Barrow Downs material, especially now that so many graves are completely overgrown.

I'll have to sneak in and take some pictures in the fog sometime.

It's a spooky place, but it ultimately gives off a good vibe. It has a calming effect on me when I stand by the fence and peer in. So maybe it's not too evil - or maybe the evil spirits are my kindred. Hardy har har.

alatar · 11-19-2009, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Three is Company

Not far from the road meeting, they came on the huge hulk of a tree. It was still alive and had leaves on the small branches that it had put out round the broken stumps of its long fallen limps. But it was hollow, and could be entered by a great crack on the side away from the road. The hobbits crept inside and sat there upon a floor of old leaves and decayed wood.

Bêthberry · 11-19-2009, 08:25 PM

Awwww . . . and filled with cute little hobbits too.

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 01-20-2010, 08:57 PM

Alatar, that reminds me of Old Man Willow and its eating of hobbits.

Mnemosyne · 01-20-2010, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGreatElvenWarrior

Alatar, that reminds me of Old Man Willow and its eating of hobbits.

There, I fixded it.

05-10-2009, 12:46 PM	#83
Bandobras Tunnelly Newly Deceased Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4	" Oh to see mountains again" Several years ago I was living in northern Alabama, and was driving between there and my native Indiana quite a bit. There are places along the way (most notability in northern TN) that take your breath away. Vast stretches of green forest as far as the eye can see. Save for the silver gray line of the highway it reminds me of Bilbo's climb above Mirkwood.

05-10-2009, 12:56 PM	#84
TheGreatElvenWarrior Mighty Quill Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walking off to look for America Posts: 2,230	Nice hills, alatar, we don't get hills like that in Alaska, we have mountains instead. Although some of the coasts here make me think of Tuor's journeys when he came to Gondolin. Can't say why though... __________________ The Party Doesn't Start Until You're Dead.

06-30-2009, 01:40 AM	#86
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Well, this isn't a landscape, but I found out that there's a real life location named after a Tolkien character: Bilbo Baggins Restaurant with Green Dragon Pub. Has anyone who lives near there been there? __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

06-30-2009, 07:18 AM	#87
Nessa Telrunya Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: In a paper bag Posts: 396	There are the pastures behind my house that I've always seen as Rohan, and even more so now that we have horses back there. And there is a dirt road leading into the woods that reminds me of a road Frodo might take on his journey to Rivendell. __________________ Joined together wrote our names upon the page Seven times alliance our loyalties we gave

10-26-2009, 09:22 AM	#91
Groin Redbeard Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Facing the world's troubles with Christ's hope! Posts: 1,635	Absolutely beautiful! It reminds me of how I imagined northern Gondor. __________________ I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Their old, familiar carols play. And wild and sweet the words repeatof peace on earth, good-will to men! ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

10-26-2009, 01:01 AM	#89
Laurinquë Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 347	Alaska is fine place to locate Middle-earth. What with our volcanoes, massive mountain ranges, miles of verdant green tundra, and great forests it's a wonder they didn't film the Lord of the Rings films here! Or so I like to think. Here be some evidence of my claims: The Barrow-downs (not in the film but whatever):

10-26-2009, 01:03 AM	#90
Laurinquë Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 347	And the Mountains of Shadow:

10-26-2009, 09:31 AM	#92
Pitchwife Wight of the Old Forest Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Unattended on the railway station, in the litter at the dancehall Posts: 3,329	Stunning! The 'Barrow Downs' remind me of parts of Wales where I used to go on vacation some years ago nostalgic sigh. And the 'Mountains of Shadow' are quite perfect - isn't that the very road leading south from the Morannon that we see there? __________________ Und aus dem Erebos kamen viele seelen herauf der abgeschiedenen toten.- Homer, Odyssey, Canto XI

10-26-2009, 04:21 PM	#93
Nerwen Wisest of the Noldor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ˙˙˙ssɐןƃ ƃuıʞooן ǝɥʇ ɥƃnoɹɥʇ Posts: 6,694	Great pics, Laurinquë! __________________ "Even Nerwen wasn't evil in the beginning." –Elmo.

10-26-2009, 04:47 PM	#94
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,455	Yes .. but I think your idea of Downs is a bit rugged for somewhere so close to the Shire perhaps a wilder part of middle earth... There are barrows on downs on the Isle of Wight ( a short ferry ride away from me) . The last Wight walking festival had one event that was "Walk the Barrow Downs"!!! http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=7055 __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

10-27-2009, 09:57 AM	#96
alatar Doubting Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Heaven's basement Posts: 2,466	Laurinquë, I am so jealous (as I live in the east side of Mordor)! Those pictures are absolutely stunning. Thank you for sharing them. __________________ There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it.

10-27-2009, 10:21 AM	#97
skip spence shadow of a doubt Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the streets Posts: 1,125	Yeah, great pictures Laurinquë, those are some beautiful vistas! Can't help to shudder though. It looks cold, windy and desolate. brrrrrrrr Reminds me of that Sean Penn movie, Into The Wild. Seen that one? __________________ "You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan

10-29-2009, 01:13 AM	#99
Laurinquë Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 347	I'm glad everyone liked my previous pictures so much! In thanks you will receive more pictures! Here they are: Somewhere on the Plateau of Gorgoroth? If you can think of any particular spot this fits I'd be glad to hear about it. I took these photos whilst on holiday in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. More Plateau of Gorgoroth.

10-29-2009, 04:11 AM	#100
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	Eugh! A TRUE plateau of Gorgoroth!! (The first one also made me think a bit of the desolation before Morannon. Posibly from a large part because of the rocks. The third could be a shot from the other side of the Gate, somewhere inside Udun. Ha, in other words: you are a bad photographer, Lauri, why did you not take a picture of the Black Gate, when it's obvious that it is just right there outside the frame! ) __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories

10-29-2009, 03:32 PM	#101
Aganzir Woman of Secret Shadow Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: in hollow halls beneath the fells Posts: 4,511	Lauri I'd rep you again for those photos but unfortunately I don't think I'm allowed. Very beautiful work. And now you've made up my mind for me to stop in Hawaii on my future round-the-world trip. __________________ He bit me, and I was not gentle.

10-29-2009, 07:28 PM	#102
Loslote The Werewolf's Companion Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Moon Posts: 3,021	I live in a huge valley, and the mountains look just like the Misty Mountains right now. I can't get a good picture, though, because the roads/fence/satellite dish/telephone wires keep getting in the way. Also, the forest behind my house looks very Fangorny. __________________ I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night. Double Fenris

10-31-2009, 05:07 PM	#104
Loslote The Werewolf's Companion Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Moon Posts: 3,021	Actually, there's a field near my house that does look Shire-esque. Unfortunately, it has no trees, so when the big winds come, you can't drive there for fear of being blown off the road because there's nothing to slow it down. __________________ I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night. Double Fenris

11-08-2009, 10:12 AM	#115
skip spence shadow of a doubt Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Back on the streets Posts: 1,125	I see Old Man Willow, or at least his kid brother: __________________ "You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way" ~ Bob Dylan

11-12-2009, 04:54 PM	#116
Lush Fair and Cold Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the big onion Posts: 1,770	ZOMG How'd I always overlook this cool thread? There is an old cemetery next door that's Barrow Downs material, especially now that so many graves are completely overgrown. I'll have to sneak in and take some pictures in the fog sometime. It's a spooky place, but it ultimately gives off a good vibe. It has a calming effect on me when I stand by the fence and peer in. So maybe it's not too evil - or maybe the evil spirits are my kindred. Hardy har har. __________________ ~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~

11-19-2009, 08:25 PM	#118
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,996	Awwww . . . and filled with cute little hobbits too. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

01-20-2010, 08:57 PM	#119
TheGreatElvenWarrior Mighty Quill Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Walking off to look for America Posts: 2,230	Alatar, that reminds me of Old Man Willow and its eating of hobbits. __________________ The Party Doesn't Start Until You're Dead.