The eagles fly Gandalf, Bilbo, and the dwarves to a place near the Carrock, the home of "the Somebody Gandalf spoke of. Somebody is "a huge man with a thick black beard and hair, and great bare arms and legs with knotted muscles" he is Beorn, a shape-shifter. He has a large, spacious house with lots of beehives. Beorn offers the band a feast of milk and honey,which is served to them by horses. They don't see Beorn again for another day. When he arrives the next morning, in his bear shape, he provides the dwarves with provisions and directions for how to get through the dangerous forest of Mirkwood. He warns them not to go off the path into the forest. They all arrive at the edge of Mirkwood. There, Gandalf leaves the dwarves and Bilbo behind. Gandalf's last words to them are: "Good-bye! Be good, take care of yourselves – and DON'T LEAVE THE PATH!", so there is no need to bushwack to any of the caches and please tread carefully to avoid the woodland flowers at various times of year.
A big thank you to Steph Hefferan, Ranger in Charge of the Whitegate Way, for allowing the placement of these caches. Have fun and may your quest be as fruitful as Bilbo Baggins’.