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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 am bawling my eyes out now so gotta quit.

Ride on.

Just Pete

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.

Ride on.

Just Pete

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.

Ride on!

Just Pete

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.

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!

Roll on!

Just Pete

I really hope each of you, your family, and your friends are doing well during these trying times.

Pretty crazy times. huh?  I can’t wait for those murder hornets.  You couldn’t even make this stuff up!!

Things seemed to be much happier a year ago.  We were walking across Spain and Portugal one smile at a time.  Remember?  That was fun.

I put together this video to help you remember to not worry and be happy.  We’ll all get through whatever is thrown at us by sticking together.

Happy trails, buen Camino, and, most importantly. PEACE!

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.

Happy trails.

 

 

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!!

Thanks once again for your support.

Just Pete

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.

Hope you enjoyed the hike.

Happy trails and buen Camino!

The mornings have begun with a pretty dense fog in the early AM. Burns off by 11:00. Reminds me of June gloom in San Diego.

I’m taking every beach route possible so pretty much walking through lots of beach towns. They’re getting closer together as I get closer to Porto.

Lots of fishermen, boats, and seafood.

Some of the towns along here have the look and feel of an “Old Florida” beach town. Modest sized, nice homes on decent sized lots next to the ocean. Nice! Esposende (Kris notes) seemed particularly nice.

Some of the beaches are getting a bit more crowded. Lots of tour buses bringing people to this wide open stretch of beach for the day.

The “Hola” smile of the day is me incognito. Well, it could be if I don’t stop walking pretty soon.

They are big fans of the cabanas on the beach. Cabanas are pretty thick in spots. They also use smaller, very portable ones with no roof for wind protection.

I’ve eaten quite a few salads but not seen much lettuce growing. Been wondering where that occurred. Found out today.

The towns are so frequent now that I’m not carrying any water at all anymore. 3 miles is a long stretch between towns.

Póvoa de Varzim is a fairly large city with a wide beachfront. There are lots of small bars in the sand. By lots, I mean somewhere near 100 in a 3 mile stretch. Small, casual. Most tents. Some more permanent structures. My big question…where are all the bathrooms? There is no plumbing in most, if not all, of them. Things that make you go, hmm?

9 mile walk tomorrow and then I’m done. Ready to be finished and get home. Missing my wife and my retired bum life!

Happy trails and buen Camino!

Your generosity has officially exceeded my expectations. Your pledges to date total $41.61/mile. That means we will have raised more than $33,000 this hike for the charities I’m hiking for. Thank you so much. I am humbled by your support.

This is Aucke Ilff, my host for the past 2 evenings. He is a retired fishing boat captain from Amsterdam and a really nice guy. He has a nice house, too!

Going to day care during the summer must be pretty fun. You get to see your friends and it’s recess all day long!

It was a bit foggy along the beach this AM.

I came across this potential “Funniest Home Video”. Big RV is stuck in sand. Owner recruits guy to drive 4 wheeler to pull him out. I watched recruitee get instructions on how to operate 4 wheeler. He had no clue!

I was expecting something bad to happen. The RV was still stuck when I left but nothing eventful happened. I guess that’s kind of good.

Saw several of these along coast today. At first thought it was a small lighthouse. No light however! Stone grain bin? They have small doors at ground level but I didn’t notice anything higher up.

Mussel hunting.

This bar is right across from the marina in Viana do Castelo. I am guessing this is the spot where the local fishermen meet to discuss the day’s catch.

I’d much rather take a ferry than walk across this busy bridge on that narrow path. Driving and pedestrian traffic each direction. Got a bit crowded meeting someone walking other direction.

I thought about using Aucke or the smiley faced rock as “Hola” smile of the day. I’ve got to use this one however. It’s from a week or 2 back but I really got a laugh out of this lady!!

Portuguese longhorn.

This tile art of a “Santiago Peregrino” (Pilgrim) was on the gate of a house.

Pretty dramatic rock mountains right close to coast.

25 more miles to go.

Happy trails and buen Camino!