Greetings from Central Florida
Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2024 2:50 am
Gi suilon,
I am so incredibly happy to find this group of enthusiasts! I've been looking for something like this for many moons, and as soon as I perused the Wiki and these hallowed halls, I was hooked. Looking forward to many campfire discussions, swapping trade secrets and trek stories.
A bit about myself: I live in Florida, but grew up in the mountains of Wyoming. Huge culture shock, but I've been here for 18-ish years now so I guess it is home. But I want to see mountains again, Gandalf, mountains! I am an avid reader, and consider myself quite bookish.
Anyway, I'm 35 and I'm a pretty handy guy. I've been working in various construction trades now for 17-ish years. I dabble in many hobbies, but I'm hoping this lifestyle will stick. This is partially health motivated, I finally kicked smoking in December, and I have started walking a minimum of 5 miles a day since then. December also saw me at my heaviest, and I have lost 10lbs since then. Like I said, there is health motivation in this journey.
I want to start going on longer walks/hikes (I live near the Ocala forest so there are options), and I plan to spend a good part of this coming Sunday (2/25 for those counting) out on the trails getting more miles in. (If anyone has any recommendations on mileage to shoot for, I'm getting about 5 miles in at about an hour and a half currently).
That's Earth me. Let's talk about Arda me.
I am thinking that due to my location I'll either be a ranger in Faramir's company, Florida seems pretty Ithilien-like, or I like the idea of the Blackroot Vale archers (one sentence in RotK), but I'm not too sure if that would work for this group? What do you think? Would Florida be Vale-ish?
I've been doing some name research, not a huge fan of the Sindarin analogue of my first name (Daniel: "Erunámo"), but I am a big fan of the Sindarin translation of my surname (Richards: "Galadhorn"). I am interested to hear other's thoughts, but Galadhorn seems pretty solid, slightly knightly sounding (Galahad).
Lineage and history is up in the air until I settle on a "home" for Galadhorn, but I look forward to any suggestions.
As for kit, I have none. I am starting from scratch, and on a pretty tight budget (I've got two teenage kids, the food cost is insane!). I picked up some 100% wool yarn dyed a natural grey color and a Nalbinding needle, I'm going to Nalbind a satchel of some description to start with to carry my burgeoning kit. I'm eying up some decently priced deer hides from a vendor based here in Florida, I plan to snag one to make a belt and some pouches, as well as a snapsack and quiver. That's a good amount of storage to start with I think, I need to do some more research to decide on my actual clothing. Thinking of going with some Roman style breeches, but I worry about my lower legs, and sandals are out for me, so boots are needed. I also have plans to make a waterproofed cloak (it rains ALOT here), I feel like that is almost a must.
I'm also curious about bow recommendations for the forests of Florida, I don't think lugging a longbow around would be very ideal. Thoughts?
I'm sure I am missing a bunch of stuff, but that's my introduction, looking forward to joining the discussion.
Faro vae!
I am so incredibly happy to find this group of enthusiasts! I've been looking for something like this for many moons, and as soon as I perused the Wiki and these hallowed halls, I was hooked. Looking forward to many campfire discussions, swapping trade secrets and trek stories.
A bit about myself: I live in Florida, but grew up in the mountains of Wyoming. Huge culture shock, but I've been here for 18-ish years now so I guess it is home. But I want to see mountains again, Gandalf, mountains! I am an avid reader, and consider myself quite bookish.
Anyway, I'm 35 and I'm a pretty handy guy. I've been working in various construction trades now for 17-ish years. I dabble in many hobbies, but I'm hoping this lifestyle will stick. This is partially health motivated, I finally kicked smoking in December, and I have started walking a minimum of 5 miles a day since then. December also saw me at my heaviest, and I have lost 10lbs since then. Like I said, there is health motivation in this journey.
I want to start going on longer walks/hikes (I live near the Ocala forest so there are options), and I plan to spend a good part of this coming Sunday (2/25 for those counting) out on the trails getting more miles in. (If anyone has any recommendations on mileage to shoot for, I'm getting about 5 miles in at about an hour and a half currently).
That's Earth me. Let's talk about Arda me.
I am thinking that due to my location I'll either be a ranger in Faramir's company, Florida seems pretty Ithilien-like, or I like the idea of the Blackroot Vale archers (one sentence in RotK), but I'm not too sure if that would work for this group? What do you think? Would Florida be Vale-ish?
I've been doing some name research, not a huge fan of the Sindarin analogue of my first name (Daniel: "Erunámo"), but I am a big fan of the Sindarin translation of my surname (Richards: "Galadhorn"). I am interested to hear other's thoughts, but Galadhorn seems pretty solid, slightly knightly sounding (Galahad).
Lineage and history is up in the air until I settle on a "home" for Galadhorn, but I look forward to any suggestions.
As for kit, I have none. I am starting from scratch, and on a pretty tight budget (I've got two teenage kids, the food cost is insane!). I picked up some 100% wool yarn dyed a natural grey color and a Nalbinding needle, I'm going to Nalbind a satchel of some description to start with to carry my burgeoning kit. I'm eying up some decently priced deer hides from a vendor based here in Florida, I plan to snag one to make a belt and some pouches, as well as a snapsack and quiver. That's a good amount of storage to start with I think, I need to do some more research to decide on my actual clothing. Thinking of going with some Roman style breeches, but I worry about my lower legs, and sandals are out for me, so boots are needed. I also have plans to make a waterproofed cloak (it rains ALOT here), I feel like that is almost a must.
I'm also curious about bow recommendations for the forests of Florida, I don't think lugging a longbow around would be very ideal. Thoughts?
I'm sure I am missing a bunch of stuff, but that's my introduction, looking forward to joining the discussion.
Faro vae!