Yeah, I remember wondering why they waited around so long. If they'd left in October surely the weather would have been a little better.
The earlier years don't have many actual dates, right? So some of the other stuff probably happened in December, we just don't know it.
Elrond sent out scouts and messengers ahead of the Fellowship, and it took two months for them to go out and come back with their reports.
The earlier years don't have many actual dates, right?
That's true, only The Great Years have actual dates. Earlier and later years just give the year, no dates.
No doubt the Elves were too busy with all their Christmas deliveries to help them get ready to leave on time...