it is interesting to me that gandalf would choose a hobbit to go on this journey...of all the friends he has...he chose bilbo...its very strange to me perhaps he had a feeling that bilbo was meant to go and was meant to find the ring as he said later...
It was bilbo's fate to do so and had he chosen not to what would have happened?...anyway about gandalf...he knew elves and men...he knew everybody....but he took bilbo...maybee for no apparant reason maybee he thought the mission wasn't that important and didn't need anybody but the dwarves were so persistant in wanting another companion he just picked bilbo...i don't think thats the case cause the dwarves were doughtfull in the firstplace (werent' they?...i've only read it once)and i don't thinkgandalf would go on a mission he thought was unimportant...so that rules that out.
who knew Bilbo Baggins of the Shire would do all the deeds he did?...i think gandalf had some idea..of what he was capable of..and i think his heart told him Bilbo should go...it was his fate...