Author: jpetesd

Bay of Islands

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Welcome to New Zealand!

After 1,300 miles and 2 ½ days of a roller coaster ride on the high seas, we are anchored in the Bay of Islands.

New Zealand has a North Island and a South Island. The Bay of Islands is in the northern region of New Zealand’s North Island.

The Bay of Islands is a cluster of 150 islands that are rocky, rugged, and easy on the eyes.

New Zealand’s earliest Maori settlers migrated here more than 700 years ago. Maori and British missionaries first met here in 1814. Charles Darwin took a break from evolving theories to stop by shortly after that. And in 1840, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed here between British colonists and Maori chiefs.

Despite being tossed around like a salad for a couple days, we decided the best way to see this slice of paradise was, ironically, from a boat.

The many undeveloped beaches are surrounded by a vibrant blue and turquoise color water.

The area is also a haven for marine life. We saw bottleneck dolphins, schools of fish, a couple of chill seals lounging about, and even a penguin.

Seal barely visible to right of penguin.

Hole in the Rock is an iconic landmark on Piercy Island. The archway was formed over centuries by wind and waves eroding the island’s sorter rock, creating a large hole that boats can pass through when the tide and conditions are right. We had the right conditions, and our boat passed through the arch. Nature’s own thrill ride.

If I had to sum up the Bay of Islands in one word, it would be…breathtaking.

Next stop on our adventure? Stay tuned. It’s hard to top this, but we’ll give it a go!

Fiji

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Bula, Fiji. Welcome to Fiji Friday!

Fiji is about 685 miles west of our last stop in Samoa. It is an archipelago of over 330 islands. Out of this dizzying array, around 110 are permanently inhabited by 900,000 Fijians.

We docked in the bustling capital city of Suva, located on the island of Viti Levu.

Today, we ventured inland to Koromakawa Village on the scenic Navau River.

At the village, we boarded a longboat with four other passengers and a guide and headed upriver through a tropical rainforest filled with lush landscape.

The heart of the jungle was filled with bamboo plants. These weren’t your garden-variety bamboo stalks. These mammoth plants were bamboo on steroids. They stood towering and looked suspiciously like giant marijuana plants – as a friend of a friend once described, in hushed tones and with a wink!

Waterfalls were plentiful. The large one in the video was so powerful that it was hard to catch my breath as I tried to swim close to it.

Post our aquatic escapade, we were treated to a Fijian lunch back at the village. By treated I mean we were practically adopted.

Fijian culture places a strong emphasis on communal living. Residents of the small village were all on hand to treat us to a meke (traditional dance).

As we wave goodbye to Fiji, we head to our next destination. I will tell you that it involves three days at sea to get there, so it’s a long way.

The captain warned us of some “motion in the ocean” as we left port. We’re expecting 30-40 knot winds for the next 24 hours. Kris is not looking forward to that. 

Wish us luck!

Samoa

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Ahoy there once again, mates! After roughly 2 1/2 days and 1,500 miles of sailing WNW from Bora Bora, we finally made landfall in Samoa.

On the way, we crossed the International Date Line. That means we went to bed on Monday night and woke up on Wednesday morning. Yeah, you read that right. Talk about some time travel!

We are actually in the Independent State of Samoa. In the 19th century, Germany and the US established control over different parts of Samoa. The western islands were German Samoa, and the eastern islands were American Samoa.

New Zealand took control of German Samoa following World War I. In 1962, Western Samoa gained independence from New Zealand, becoming the first Pacific Island country to gain independence.

The Nautica was greeted upon arrival by a group of locals who performed native dances on the pier while the ship docked. Who needs a welcome mat when you’ve got a group of islanders moving and grooving right on the pier?

Samoa is a relatively large Pacific Island. It is a little more than 1,000 square miles (slightly smaller than Rhode Island).

We took a short bus ride around a part of the island, culminating in a Samoan lunch. We watched in awe as a dude casually scaled a coconut tree like it was his morning stroll. Then, a father a his young son put on a display of Samoan war dance that would make even the most battle-hardened pirate take notice.

Tattoos are serious business in Polynesian culture. They’re not a fashion statement – they’ve got deep tribal meanings and are always a single color.

After six hours in port, it was time to set sail for our next destination. It might take some time to get there, but mark my words; it’s gonna be worth every second of the wait.

Until next time…

Bora Bora

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We traveled a whopping 31 miles northeast from Raiatea to Bora Bora, the true pinnacle of tropical nirvana.

Bora Bora is often called the “Island of Romance” due to its natural beauty, secluded beaches, luxurious overwater bungalows, and tranquil turquoise lagoon.

Bora Bora isn’t exactly a sprawling metropolis. It consists of a cozy twelve square miles and around 10,000 inhabitants.

Mount Otemanu is the towering sentinel of Bora Bora, an extinct volcano 2,385 feet above sea level. It can be climbed but the six hour up and back was more time than we could commit…plus there’s zero chance I could have talked Kris into that.

The island is surrounded by several small islands known as motus. These motus encircle the main island and help to create the beautiful lagoon that Bora Bora is famous for.

We spent our time in Bora Bora on a boat circling the lagoon and motus.

We also spent some time “snorkeling”. You really didn’t have to snorkel as the water was perfectly clear, only 3-4 feet deep, and the black-tipped sharks and stingrays swam right up to you! Thrilling? Absolutely. A bit freaky? You betcha.

Bora Bora? More like Wowa Wowa. This place isn’t just a slice of paradise; it’s the whole pie.

Our next stop will be a couple of days away. Stay tuned to discover the next beautiful island. It promises to be just as dazzling.

Ahoy, mates!

Raiatea

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Ahoy! Today we are in Raiatea which is 130 miles northwest of Tahiti. It was an eight-hour cruise to get here and a good start in getting our sea legs under us.

Raiatea, like Tahiti, is one of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is often called the “Sacred Island” due to its rich Polynesian history. It was once the Beatles of ancient Polynesia – the center of everything cool – religion, culture, politics, you name it!

Raiatea is the second largest of the Society Islands, after Tahiti. The economy of Raiatea relies on tourism, agriculture (primarily vanilla), and pearl farming.

The island is surrounded by a vibrant coral reef, making for beautiful lagoons.

The interior of the island is mountainous with lush rainforests.

We rented a car and embarked on a 60-mile road trip around the island. One road circles Raiatea’s coast, making it virtually impossible to get lost…theoretically.

Coconuts abound on these islands. We were fortunate to be “delivered” a coconut straight from the tree by a nice local. After a little hack job, we had more than a liter of refreshing and delicious liquid. The amount of coconut water inside surprised Kris and me.

We each have our own preference for seating. If you’ve read It’s Just Walking, you know I prefer a chair with a back. Kris apparently prefers a coconut tree! To each their own, right?

We made it safely back to the Nautica after our four-hour island adventure. We’re now ready for whatever the next destination throws our way.

Stay tuned for more tales from the high seas!

Tahiti

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Kris and I left our hotel in Jacksonville, FL, at 5:30 AM on Monday, 2/26. Three flights, five time zones, and twenty-four hours later, we were in Papeete, Tahiti. That’s a marathon of time zones and airplane food.

Why Tahiti, you ask? Besides the obvious – it’s Tahiti – Papeete marks the starting line of a three-week odyssey across the South Pacific, ending in Sydney, Australia. You’ll have to follow along to find out where we stop along the way! I hope to provide you with some insight and pictures of each island we visit.

Tahiti is the heart of French Polynesia, a collection of over 100 islands scattered over an area as large as Europe. It lies in the middle of the Polynesian Triangle (Hawaii to New Zealand to Easter Island). Polynesians are believed to have migrated from Southeast Asia, spreading across the islands of this vast triangle over thousands of years. Tahiti is the largest (approximately 400 square miles) and the most populated (180,000) island in French Polynesia.

Europeans first visited Tahiti in the 18th century, notably by Captain James Cook in 1769. The HMS Bounty anchored in in Tahiti in 1788. The ship’s captain, William Bligh, and his crew were tasked with bringing breadfruit trees to the Antilles to feed slaves. While leaving Tahiti, the crew orchestrated a mutiny. Many of the mutineers settled in Tahiti. Their juicy story became a book, Mutiny on the Bounty. In 1962, a movie of the same name starring Marlon Brando, was filmed.

Paddling is the favorite sport in Tahiti. One of the popular vessels to paddle is a Va’a, an eight-foot canoe with a stabilizing arm. They are typically handled by a single paddle and sometimes feature a large sail. Brave souls will tackle the open ocean solo, fishing overnight, probably pondering life’s mysteries of just where the heck they are.

Surfing is the second favorite sport. One of the world’s most famous big wave surf spots, Teahapoo, is just off the coast of Tahiti. The 2024 Olympics are being held in Paris, but the surfing competition will be held at Teahapoo.

Third favorite “sport”? Hula dancing. And the fourth? Drinking beer. At this point, I’m fairly convinced I was a Tahitian in a past life – and not because of my paddling, surfing, or hula dancing skills!!

We spent three days in Tahiti and explored much of the coastline and interior of the island. The highest point on the island is 7.352 feet above sea level. Tahiti gets lots of rain during their rainy season (Nov – Apr). All that rainwater eventually falls to the coast, making for lots of waterfalls.

The island abounds with bananas, mangos, papaya, guava, pineapple, and other fruits I had never heard of. The vegetation on the island isn’t just green; it’s an explosion of color that even Crayola folks haven’t dreamed of.

Now, we say ta ta Tahiti and hello to our home for the next three weeks, the Nautica. I’ll talk to you again at our next stop!

Just Thanks

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Thank you so much to each and every one of you who has taken the time to explore It’s Just Walking: Just Pete on the Appalachian Trail.

Surpassing my initial expectations, over 400 copies have been purchased in the two months since its release – a milestone that fills me with gratitude.

The feedback received from those who have delved into the pages of the book has been truly heartwarming, leaving a smile on my face with each comment.

If you’re inclined to help me get my message to a larger audience, there are a couple of ways you can contribute:

  • Review It’s Just Walking. A special shoutout to those that have already shared their thoughts through reviews. If you haven’t had the chance yet, I’d greatly appreciate your review on platforms like Amazon or GoodReads.com. Your reviews play a crucial role in spreading the word.
  • Tell your friends, family, and coworkers. A simple post on Facebook goes a long way in reaching a broader audience.

Your ongoing support of my adventures and now, my book, means more to me than words can convey. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being a part of this journey with me.

Just Pete

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?linkCode=kpd&ref_=k4w_oembed_9Sevq7NcGIcDct&asin=B0CLFV65KS&tag=kpembed-20&amazonDeviceType=A2CLFWBIMVSE9N&from=Bookcard&preview=inline

Reviews

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It sounds like many of you have been receiving your copy of It’s Just Walking: Just Pete on the Appalachian Trail over the last few days. I sincerely hope you enjoy the read.

I thought I’d share a few reviews that I’ve received and/or been posted on Amazon:

From Twinkletoes (you’ll read about him in the book):

“Your book is awesome! I could not put it down. I did not want it to end just like the trail. You fell a lot. I mean a lot. More than Drankles. I thought she fell a lot. But wow, you fell a lot. Ha!”

From an Amazon customer:

“This book is much more than a story about a hike. The book is incredibly entertaining, has a great message about how setting goals and telling people about them helps you achieve your goals. It is a phenomenal read and very inspiring.”

From a couple golf buddies (who would tell me if they thought it sucked):

“Pete, I just finished your book and wanted to let you know that it was an easy read, I found it enjoyable, particularly since I knew the author and had followed the adventure while it was happening. You’ll be happy to know. I did not find any grammatical or spelling errors in the book. While you were on your adventure, I would have agreed with your friend from New Jersey who said “he’s nuts”. Now after reading the details I have to amend that and call you nuts and crazy.”  

“Pete, read your book yesterday and I just want to say what a fine job you did. I could hear you voice and see your mannerisms in every word. Sign me up for the trilogy.”

When you’ve finished reading, I would really appreciate you reviewing the book. You can review it through the retailer you got it from (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.) or on GoodReads.com…or both! Quantity and quality of reviews means a lot in the Amazon algorithm.

I hope you find It’s Just Walking: Just Pete on the Appalachian Trail as captivating as Reagan appears to.

Happy Trails

Just Pete

https://at-pete.com/appalachian-trail

Reagan

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My primary goal in publishing It’s Just Walking: Just Pete on the Appalachian Trail is to have a grandchild do a book report on my book.

Reagan Elizabeth Snyder is two months old today. She seems really excited to have received the book and ready to get reading!

We think she’s kinda cute!

If your book hasn’t arrived, it should be soon. I think we sold more than was anticipated!

Thanks.

Just Pete

3…2…1…Launch

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Exciting news! It’s Just Walking: Just Pete on the Appalachian Trail is shipping today to retailers who placed orders. If you’re eager to be the first on your block to dive into the book, act fast!!

There must be a few pre-orders because the book has skyrocketed from 794,287 on Amazon’s best-seller rank to 71,906. I’m not sure what that means but it’s a positive development! I didn’t get skunked on day one.

The next phase of this book launch is to start getting reviews. If you made your purchase on Amazon, kindly share your thoughts there after you’ve had a chance to read. If you got a copy directly from me or another retailer, your review on Goodreads or the retailer’s site is greatly appreciated.

A heartfelt thanks to each of you for your unwavering support of my adventures and now this book. I had confidence in your backing, and it’s truly appreciated. I sincerely hope you find immense enjoyment in the pages of It’s Just Walking.

Cheers!

Just Pete