In Gawain and the Green Knight, what happens between the time Gawain leaves Arthur's court & when he arrives at Bertilak's castle?

In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,
Gawain takes his leave of Arthur's court so that he will not be late for the meeting
with the Green Knight as he had promised a year
before.

Though everyone at the court is sorry to see him
go, Gawain does the honorable thing, keeping his word, even with his own fears and
reservations.

The journey is very difficult as he travels
through strange lands. He passes through North Wales and beyond. Of every man Gawain
meets, he asks if he can help the knight locate the Green Knight, but no one knows of
him.

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And they all said no, never in their
lives
had they seen someone who was such a
shade
as
green.

Traveling
into dangerous lands, Gawain battles dragons and trolls, and other sundry animals trying
their best to destroy him. He feels blessed by God that he is not killed, but for a time
it seems nature may do what the animals could not: Gawain is cold and wet, and at times
feels half-dead, surviving in the winter without
shelter.

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For if warfare was hard, winter was
worse,
when the clouds shed water cold and
clear
which froze in the air and fell as
sleet.

As Christmas
approaches, he prays to Mary, the Virgin, to provide shelter and a place where he may
celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas. No sooner has he said so, and crossed
himself three times, but he spots a castle nearby.

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"I beseech thee,
Lord
and Mary, the mildest, dearest of
mothers:
Help me to some haven where mass can be
heard,
and matins
tomorrow...
He continued on his
way,
confessing his
misdeeds,
and crossed himself to
pray,
"Christ's cross now grant me
speed!"...

He had
signed himself scarcely three times when he made out a moat and a
mound in the wood...Sir Gawain saw one whole side of that stronghold
as it shimmered and shone through the shaking
leaves.

Surely,
Gawain thinks, he could impose on the owner's hospitality. He approaches the gate and
hails the porter. He asks for shelter, and the porter immediately welcomes him
inside.

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'Good sir,' said Gawain,
'please grant me the favor
(if your lord allows) to lodge
in this house.'

'By Peter,' said the
porter, 'be perfectly sure
that you, Lord, are welcome as
long as you
like!'

Here in
Bertilak's castle, Gawain will rest and be able to celebrate Christmas
mass.