We arrived at beautiful downtown Hobbiton (Matamata) by 9 a.m. We could join the 9:30 a.m. tour. Hooray! If we missed that one, we would be sad travelers.
This is the new Hobbiton sign. Some LoTR (Lord of the Rings) fanatic stole the first sign. Our tour guide, Teresa, said she did not really like the original sign.
Gollum's statue in the square.
We did not ride to the movie set in Gandalf--that is a good thing. Our group was small enough to fit in Merry, the minivan.
The tour is worthwhile just to see a working sheep ranch. This is the Alexander sheep ranch. When we drove through the area earlier, we could see this as a perfect Hobbit terrain. No sharp peaks. Every hill is naturally rounded and very friendly looking. Lucy thinks the livestock look very contented here. Not too hot, not too cold, green hills.
All the remaining Hobbit holes are here and there.
Another view
Sheep under the party tree at the lake.
Emily getting Hobbitually acclimated to Bag End, the key Hobbit hole. This was Bilbo's and then Frodo's home.
Benjamin said he could adjust to living in this small house.
Emily though he might have gone too far with his adjustment.
This isn't photoshop; our tour guide showed us where the place the kids and she took the photo.
This view from Bag-End shows the Party Tree and lake.
The Alexanders added a sheep show. We fed lambs and saw another sheep sheared.
Our lunch stop gave us two new signatures: one for coffee, and
another for hot chocolate.
We made a mad motorway dash to the rent-a-car office, took the ferry home, and ordered pizza for supper.
We made it! Tuesday, I started working at my temporary office at the university city campus.
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