Straight Road

The Straight Road (also known as the Straight Way, Straight Path, Lost Road, or the Last Road) was an invisible bridge that curved from the earth leading to the realm of the Valar.
== History ==
It was a route that left Earth's curvature through sky and space to the land of Aman. The route could be compared to going on a spaceship or crossing into a parallel universe.
The Straight Road, so called because it followed the old path across Belegaer from before the Akallabêth when the Flat World to the World Made Round, was only kept open to Elves, who were allowed to sail to it on their ships by a special grace of the Valar.
A ship departing on the Straight Road, when observed from the shore, would slowly become smaller to sight until it disappeared in a point, and not drop behind the horizon.
It is noted in earlier writings by Tolkien that some mortals besides those carried on Elven ships like the Fellowship of the Ring and Bilbo Baggins could also come across this path, such as Ælfwine in The Book of Lost Tales.
According to unfinished notes for The Lost Road (and somewhat related to later in The Notion Club Papers), Tolkien saw the location of the Straight Road as possibly somewhere near the Azores in modern times.
The first location reached from the hidden path was Tol Eressëa (to some known as Avallon or Avalon).
As noted at the end of the Akallabêth it mentions of tales and rumours concerning mariners and men lost upon the sea whom, by some fate or grace or favour of the Valar, had entered upon the path until they reached Avallonë. Tolkien main travelers to reach the island included first possibly Tuor, then Eärendil, later Ælfwine, the body of King Arthur, and even hinted at Lancelot making the journey as well. The Notion Club Papers even hints at others who maybe made the journey either physically or by dreams to become known as "Elf-friend" ("Ælfwine") down through the ages. Eriol is notable as he is said to be the only one to have returned from traveling to Tol Eressëa.