The FOFC Enigma Puzzle #7

[enigma]

A hallowed and epic journey began on cold and wintry morn,
125 miles to the south, southeast, to a point just past forlorn.

And we traveled again to the south, southwest, 53 miles away,
A colorful meandering dotted only by trees and perhaps an occasional quay.

Off we went to the west, southwest, this time our quest set us apart,
102 miles thus we fled, with security in mind and in heart.

And the new leg again, to the west, southwest, all of 79 miles by road,
We had grandiose visions of stories long past as we settled into this abode.

But the weather was hale, so we traveled anew, to the only eponymous place,
This leg of the journey, just 52 miles southwest, set us back on a leisurely pace.

And the seventh, the closest, oh sweet license, a welcome respite,
Only 45 miles to the southwest, please don't think this clue trite.

And finally, well rested, we made the long trek north, northwest,
This time 229 miles back to the cold, hilly regions we thought we knew best.

These places are linked not only by lore but by roads and by games.
You can claim the enigma if you know the name of the town whence we came.

[Brillig]

Lots of views but no ideas?

Well, I'll share what's not working for me.

First, if you plot the distances out, the "return home" leg seems short... if all the legs were as-the-crow-flies, the return home should be more like 350 mi.

New York to (102 mi. WSW) Philly to (79 mi WSW) Baltimore to (52 mi SW) Washington D.C. looks possible. Washington certainly fits with the "eponymous" clue. But I can't make anything else fit, so this may be a red herring.

The only "Forlorn Point" I've turned up is in Ireland, but Ireland is too small, I think.

[enigma]

The language is inspecific in a couple of places. The forlorn clue is esoteric, and you shouldn't waste time on it. The last leg is not a return to the original point. That would be a 398-mile trip east, northeast (though in terms of crows flying, much closer, which is why I chose those as points one and eight rather than in the middle). They are rather closely linked weather and topography-wise, as opposed to the other six.

I thought I made this one too easy. OTOH, I may have made it too uninteresting.

[bhlloy]

Linked by games tells me all these places play in a certain league...

[enigma]

I have solved the puzzle.

The clues were in reference to a league. The Ivy League.

Whence we came from Dartmouth, or 'hanover.'

I will try to have the next enigma puzzle up sometime tomorrow, but it may slip until Monday morning.

[Danny]

Yeesh, solved before I even got a chance to read it.