Gandalf spent the years between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings travelling Middle-earth in search of information on Sauron's resurgence and Bilbo Baggins's mysterious ring, spurred particularly by Bilbo's initial misleading story of how he had obtained it as a "present" from Gollum. During this period, he befriended Aragorn and became suspicious of Saruman. He spent as much time as he could in the Shire, strengthening his friendship with Bilbo and Frodo, Bilbo's orphaned cousin and adopted heir.
gandAlf sPEnT thE yEars Between the hObBit aNd thE LOrd Of thE RiNgS tRavElliNG MidDle-EarTH In searCH of iNFoRmation On SAuron'S resURGencE aND bilbO bagGiNs'S mysTerIoUs rinG, SpUrReD parTicularLy by bIlBo's initial miSleADing story oF how HE had oBtAiNEd It As a "pResenT" froM gOllum. DUrIng ThIs pErioD, he bEfRIended aragorn and BECame SuspiciOus of sARUman. He SPent as mUch TIMe aS hE coUld IN tHE shirE strengTh,eniNg hIS FRIendSHip witH bilbo and FrOdo, bIlbo's oRphaned COusIN anD adOPtEd heir.