Journal #4 - Hobbits and Dwarves

It has been two days since I wrote. We are on the road towards the Shire now, and the weather is not improving. It started raining in the morning and is still raining now, at lunchtime. We are all sitting in or on the cart, trying to stay somewhat dry.
Andswaru is asleep - I told him to sleep some more, as his wound seems to bother him more than he lets on. I will see if we can buy some salve for it at the next stop, if it does not get better.
We will reach the first Hobbit-homestead today, Father hopes, a place named Buckland. We were staying in a small way-camp in the wilds last night, past the Downs and near a big forest. I am glad to be past the Downs, and so are Witimanu and Ladhfóta - they are quite over their fright now, but I am sure they would not want to return.
I am looking forward to seeing the Shire. I got my first taste of Hobbit-food yesterday - a Hobbit in the way-camp shared his food with us. What a polite fellow! It was excellent food as well. If all the Hobbits cook like that, I can see why they all look so well-fed.
There was another camper in the way-camp too - not a Hobbit, but one of the Dwergaz! He spoke our language, and helped translate for the Hobbit and me. I hope we will meet him again as well. I would love to hear more of his tales of Dwarf lore. And it is so nice to speak to someone in my own language.
Now he taught me a phrase to say in Westron, so I will start practising it. "Thank you, Master Hobbit," it is. I shall not forget!
And tomorrow, the Shire.