I felt pretty good this morning. My left knee is a little sore but other than that…all good.
We are definitely in the mountains now. Seeing lots of snow covered peaks.
We followed the Skagit River for quite a ways today. River is flowing fast and seeing lots of waterfalls. River is flowing downhill and we were riding uphill.
It was a lot of uphill for the first 33 miles. Not super steep but long with some downhills thrown in. I felt much better today over 33 miles than I did yesterday.
The last 12 miles was pretty much one long, steep, continuous uphill. Pretty brutal and I struggled but some nice scenery.
Even got pretty close to a nice doe!
We are camping just before the climbs up Rainy and Washington passes. We will be climbing about 3,000 feet in 30 miles. I am hoping that early in the day I can handle it but this is going to be difficult.
There are no services for 48 miles. I really have no choice but to make it.
OK, that was a bit more difficult than I expected! Rain, wind, and hills all working against us.
It was raining when we left Anacortes. Rained for the first hour and last hour of the day. It was a gentle rain but you still get gently wet…especially your shoes and socks. Note to self…buy some dark colored socks.
The first 10 miles I felt really good and we were able to keep up a good pace. It was pretty hilly at the start but I was fresh and probably had some extra adrenaline.
Shortly after that the rain stopped, the wind started. It was “only” 10 mph but right in our face. That was way worse than the rain.
We also started having some longish climbs. Nothing that big but way bigger than anything I’d ridden previously. Plus this was my first time riding with 20-25 lbs on the back wheel. Gerty, we’re not in Florida anymore!
Gerty fully loaded.
That was probably 25 miles in…and my legs were tired. I was starting to struggle a bit. About mile 30, Dennis had a flat. Bummer but I got to watch a tire being changed and got a bit of rest.
The next 5 miles were excruciating. I was struggling and knew I needed to sit down for a bit and I’m not talking sitting on the saddle of my bike!
There was a town 1.8 miles ahead. We planned to stop, get something to eat, and give my legs a break. Nothing. Crap!! Next town 3.6 miles ahead.
We scored. Nice little small town bar. The bartender asked where we had come from. She was shocked when she heard Anacortes. She almost fainted when she heard where I was going!
Had a nice break of about an hour. I was so exhausted that I ate one bite of my cheeseburger and about a dozen tater tots.
We have a couple big mountain passes (Rainy and Washington) coming up. We had hoped to make it over in 2 days but I realized at our lunch stop that I couldn’t make it far enough today to do that tomorrow. No towns up there plus too cold and maybe snowy to camp.
We made the decision to go 12 more miles to Concrete and stay at a motel. Tomorrow we will get as close to the passes as we can.
Overall a bit disappointed in my performance. Gerty and Dennis did great and I was the weak link.
Tomorrow’s another day for me to get ready to climb those passes.
Thanks for all of your support. I’ll be needing it.
Tomorrow I start pedaling. From now on, the blogs will come a day after my reality. Sunday is Day 1, you’ll get that on Monday. In other words, my today will be your yesterday! Got it?!!
I haven’t even started riding yet and I’m getting some serious “trail magic”.
A couple of friends in Ponte Vedra gave me some much needed assistance moving my bike around. Kris is out on her own road trip and the bike wouldn’t fit in my car so Jay Reidenbach took bike and I to bike shop to get boxed for shipping…and he had to take me to pick up the next day. I then needed transportation to the airport at 4:45 Friday AM as I checked my bike as luggage. Dill Harper happily volunteered to take me. Thanks so much, Jay and Dill!!
I am in Woodinville, WA at the home of Cindy and Dennis Peterson, my cousin. Cindy picked me up at the airport and got me to the bike shop so my bike could be reassembled. She is also taking “us” to Anacortes tomorrow AM. Thanks, Cindy!!
I say us because Dennis is going to ride about 450 miles with me to Sandpoint, ID. Really excited about this because Dennis has WAY more experience at this kind of stuff than me. If I have problems at the beginning, I’ll have some help.
About a month ago someone asked me if I was going to name my bike. What? I thought they were totally nuts!!
As I started riding more (not lots). I remembered that I talked to my stick a bunch while hiking. (Big hill coming up, Stick. Get ready to go. Etc.). Never gave it a name other than stick.
Bike is going to be an even closer relationship. Call me crazy but I’ve decided to name her. Meet Gerty!!
My Grandma Gert was one of the most amazing people you could ever have met. Funny, tough, and full of energy. Just like a bike needs to be.
We had a lot of sadness in the Peterson family in the last 18 months. We lost my cousins, Marie and Sherry, and my Aunt Pat so it all seems appropriate.
I’m pretty sure that I can hike. We’ll soon find out if I can bike. I know already that there are some similarities and some obvious differences.
Hiking I can easily manage 2.5 – 3 miles every hour. Biking I think I will be able to cover 5 times that mileage per hour. Both of those activities require you to put in time. In an 8 hour day of hiking, I’ll make 20 miles. 8 hours on a bike (if that is physically possible) should get me 100 miles. One of my goals is to do at least 1 100-mile day.
The logistics are quite similar. I learned to not plan very far ahead when hiking. I just figured out how long it would take me to get to the next town (usually 3-4 days on the Appalachian Trail) and pack enough food to get me there. On the bike, I will go through many towns on a daily basis so I won’t carry much more with me than trail mix and beef jerky. Stuff I can eat on the go.
My tent and sleeping bag have been with me for 3,000 miles of hiking and they are coming along on the bike. I’ll stay in some low budget motels, will be able to stop at a few houses of friends, and sleep in my tent the rest of the time. I will guarantee you that I will not spend 36 hours in my tent during a torrential rain like I did on the AT.
It will be difficult to consume as many calories as I will burn. I think 4,000 calories is what I’ll use daily. That’s about the same as hiking. You can really eat whatever you want. Junk food is highly encouraged!
As for differences, my butt doesn’t get sore hiking! My toes were numb for the entire AT and a couple months after. Lots of pounding. I have a feeling my fingers will be numb on this ride. There is alot of your weight that is distributed to your hands and your butt.
I got the crap beat out of me through falls on the AT. Cracked my elbow, dislocated a finger, and more cuts and scrapes than you can imagine. I don’t anticipate as many incidents like that on the bike but if I do, it probably won’t be good!
I realize that I’ll be riding on roads and that there is an element of danger there not found on the AT. I appreciate everyone’s concerns for my safety. Trust me, I will do everything I can do to minimize that. I’ve got a high end helmet, brightly colored jerseys, high visibility panniers (saddle bags), and a flashing red light. Can’t do much more than that.
One final similarity. You can raise money for charities while you ride, too! Go to the pledge page on my website https://at-pete.com/pledge-information/ You’ll find a couple of new ways to contribute. We’ve already raised more that $2,000 including 171 beers in the Buy Just Pete a Bud program. That’s $684 going to the charities I’m biking for.
Thanks so much for your continuous support of my adventures.
I’m scrambling to get things organized as I’m flying to Seattle early Friday AM. Physically, I think I’m ready. I’ll have ridden 30 miles a couple of times. Only have to do that 2-3 times every day…for 70 days!
Brooke has been busy updating the web site. There’s a new Sea2Key page where you can see if I’ll be passing by your town! Sea2Key – Just Pete Hiking (at-pete.com)
We’re also ready to raise some money for our charities once again. I really hope you’re not too tired of this already. I’d say this is the last time I’ll do it but I can’t guarantee that.
I’ve got a couple of new ways to make it easier to play/pay. Buy Just Pete a Bud should be kind of fun. Especially for me!! Make sure you go to the pledge page. Pledge Information – Just Pete Hiking (at-pete.com)
I also have another request. Get all of your friends and families to follow my blog. Have them go to at-pete.com. Click follow in bottom right and enter email. Heck, just forward this email to everyone you know!! There are 315 of you now. If that number was 31,500, Budweiser would be calling me to participate in the Buy Just Pete a Bud program!
I will be doing my part by advertising on the back of my jersey as I’m riding. I’ve actually picked up a couple followers while riding out on local roads.
Your generousity and support has always amazed me. I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.
Get your cycling shorts ready. We’re going on a bike ride from SEAttle, WA to KEY West, FL this summer. I hope you’re more prepared than I am!
I plan on leaving June 13 from Anacortes, WA which is about 80 miles north of Seattle. I just like the Sea2Key thing so I say starting from Seattle.
I don’t really have a set time to finish but I am guessing that it will take somewhere around 10 weeks to finish this 4,800 mile trek. My only important timing is to be in my hometown of Bristol, SD on July 9. The Bristol High All-School Reunion is July 10 and I will be there. Hopefully no one has to do a recon mission to pick me up somewhere short of there!
My bike was assembled and functional last Friday. I tried to assemble myself but I required a little (OK…lots) of help. Fortunately I had ordered the bike through Courtney Spratt and bikesdirect.com. They have a shop about 10 miles from me and they finished the assembly for me and ensured that everything was operating. Much thanks to Courtney and her staff in Jax Beach.
Motobecane Gravel Bike. Ain’t she purrty!!
I’ve just been riding around our neighborhood. Pedaled 9 miles/day on consecutive days and my butt survived so I’m feeling good. I only have to do that 8 times a day with about 25 lbs of saddle bags added on going over and down mountains while trying to avoid traffic. Piece of cake!
I’m planning to do a couple 40 mile rides on a busy road to get used to being near traffic. I’ve got a good helmet and I will have a rear view mirror attached to it. Don’t worry, Mom!
As you can imagine, I’ve still got a bit of preparing to do but wanted to make sure you’re all ready to roll!
We got some exciting news from K9’s For Warriors last month. You have donated enough for us to sponsor another Warrior and K9. It was so gratifying to see Adam and Blaze graduate 15 months ago. We are beyond excited to have this honor once again. Thanks to all of you for your support.
Now, we just need to come up with a name for this next K9. Blaze was named for the white blazes which marked the Appalachian Trail. I’m hoping for something related to the Camino de Santiago. If you have an idea, please let me know.
I get asked on a frequent basis what my next adventure will be. My response has been that I have a few things in mind but that I wasn’t ready to commit to anything yet. Well, I’m ready now.
Get your bike tires inflated and strap on your helmet. We’re going on a little bike ride. In the summer of 2021, we’ll hop on a bike and ride from Anacortes, WA (very NW corner of continental US) to Key West, FL.
It’s somewhere around 4,700 miles so should be a challenge. I have as much cycling experience as I did hiking experience before the AT. That would be 0. I have ridden a bike before so it shouldn’t be a problem!!
One of the highlights of this ride will be travelling along Hwy 12 in South Dakota from Mobridge to Ortonville, MN. I will pass right through my hometown of Bristol, SD! I’ll also ride right near our current home in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
Thanks once again for all the support you have given me in these adventures. I can never tell each of you how much that means to me. I look forward to taking you along once again.
If you know the amount you pledged and the charity you pledged to, please follow instructions below.
I will follow up with the rest of you (Pete’s Choice or unsure of amount pledged) next week.
For Sun Dial Manor: Make check payable to Sun Dial Manor and mail to me at address below. If you’re in Bristol and just want to drop it off, that’s fine, too!
For K9’s For Warriors: Make check payable to K9’s For Warriors and mail to me at address below.
For the Down Syndrome Program at Boston Children’s Hospital: Make check payable to Boston Children’s Hospital and mail to me at address below. Please put Mae’s Market in memo section.
Send checks to:
Jeff Peterson
189 Laurel Lane
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
I’ll pass the checks on to organizations when I get a big batch!!
That makes 3,001 miles in the past 28 months. That’s really a long way if you think about it.
Walked through Vila do Conde. Made me think of the Conde Spartans!
This Conde just has nicer beaches than Conde, SD.
The “Hola” smile of the day. She enjoys working in her garden and it shows.
I’ve seen several of these portable libraries parked near the beach. What a great idea!
Labruge was my target destination but the room I booked was actually a mile further south in the small fishing village of Lavre.
The majority of the walk today was along the beach. You can see the path in left and center of this picture.
It was a pretty non-eventful end to this hike. Met the lady I’m renting room from at her sister’s restaurant (a block off Camino). Felt a bit like Forrest Gump. Then one day I just stopped walking.
Did celebrate a bit. Had a few beers at a local bar. Bought a round for the house (myself and 2 guys who spoke no English!).
This guying is grilling sardines (right). The kebob is peppers, onion, and octopus. I didn’t try either. I do like hake. It’s a flaky white ocean fish. Very good grilled.
I am going to just relax in Lavre for 3 days and then Porto for 4 days.
I’ll be in touch regarding your pledges in a couple days.
Thanks to all for your support and encouragement. I appreciate it.
Just Pete Hiking 