Before leaving, I told a few people I was heading over to bring peace to the Middle East. We landed Friday… so clearly I haven’t had enough time to pull that off yet.
For those who’ve asked — yes, we feel safe. If you didn’t follow the news, you honestly wouldn’t know anything unusual was happening. Life here feels normal. The people we’ve met have been welcoming and gracious, focused on their families and their work — not politics.
We’re heading to Aswan this morning to spend a week floating down the Nile before returning to Cairo. Being out on the river, surrounded by desert and ancient history, feels like a pretty good place to be.
We’re trusting our American-based tour company to monitor things and make any decisions if plans need to change. For now, we’re focused on the experience.
Egypt is extraordinary. The history is overwhelming in the best way, and the scale of what these civilizations built thousands of years ago is hard to comprehend.
I’ll save the full storytelling for when we’re home — or when the world settles down a bit — but for now, here are a few photos from our first three days.
For quite a while now, Kris’s hips have been giving her trouble. Yesterday, she took the first big step toward putting that pain behind her—she had her right hip replaced.
The whole thing was astonishingly efficient. The surgery itself took about an hour, and five hours later she was back home, relaxing in her own chair. Modern medicine is incredible.
She’s dealing with some discomfort—both in the hip and in her back from the spinal block—but overall, she’s doing remarkably well.
Her left hip is scheduled for replacement on April 2. That means the Florida Trail hike I had planned to kick off on January 1 is officially on hold. Kris didn’t ask me not to go. I just couldn’t imagine heading out on a long trek while she’s working her way through brand-new joints.
But don’t worry—we’ve replaced one adventure with another. Instead of walking across the state of Florida, we’re heading across time. Egypt, here we come! In late Februaty, we’ll cruise down the Nile, stand in the shadow of the Great Pyramids, explore the new Grand Egyptian Museum, and wrap it all up with four days in Alexandria. If you’re postponing a hike, you might as well upgrade to a bucket-list journey.
In the meantime, we’ll be focused on getting Kris back to full strength. She’s already in great physical shape, which gives her a huge advantage, and she’s got an all-star support team behind her—especially our grandchildren: Reagan (26 months) and Quinn (3 months) Snyder, and Carson Bonner (19 months). If love and tiny cheerleaders could heal bones, she’d be jogging already.
Just wanted to keep you posted. Life throws curveballs, but sometimes those curveballs take you somewhere amazing.
First off, a huge thank you to everyone who’s left a review for It’s Just sMiles on Amazon. We’re up to 10 reviews! Shout out to Baxter, Victor Fransen, Jane Howard, Jim Harper, Bob Murphy, and Susan — you rock!
Your words truly matter. They help more people discover the book and, more importantly, keep spreading the message behind it.
Speaking of that message, I want to share a story that made my day…
My friend Corky was having dinner with a friend in Asheville, North Carolina. As they approached the restaurant, they noticed a man sitting alone on the sidewalk — someone who looked like life had been a little rough on him.
Corky stopped, smiled, and talked with him for a minute or two while his friend waited by the door. When they finally went inside, his friend asked, “Why did you stop?”
Corky smiled and said, “I just read this book — It’s Just sMiles — that reminded me how much difference a smile and a simple hello can make.”
After dinner, the man was still there. This time, they both stopped to say hello. The man’s face lit up. He was grateful that someone noticed him. And Corky and his friend walked away feeling good.
A win-win… for everyone.
Be a Corky. Take a minute to smile, to say hello, to connect. It costs nothing — and you might just make someone’s day a little brighter… including your own.
And if you’ve read It’s Just sMiles and it made you smile, please take a moment to leave a short review on Amazon. Those small acts — just like Corky’s smile — make a big difference.
IIt’s Just sMiles has now been out for six weeks—and like any good Camino walk, it’s been full of excitement, reflection, and a few unexpected blisters. Sales have been steady, but slower than I’d hoped.
If you’ve already read it—thank you from the bottom of my heart (and my slightly sore feet). If you haven’t… what are you waiting for?
It’s Just Walking surprised me with how well it’s done. It still brings in enough each month to pay for a couple weeks of Budweiser. I’m hoping It’s Just sMiles can cover the rest of the month.
But here’s the thing: on Amazon—where about 85% of book sales happen—reviews are everything. Once It’s Just Walking reached 40 reviews, something magical happened: Amazon started recommending it more, and sales took off.
It’s Just sMiles has seven reviews so far. That’s on me. I haven’t asked until now.
So here’s my Camino request to you: If you’ve read It’s Just sMiles and it made you smile (or laugh, or maybe tear up a little), would you take two minutes to leave a short Amazon review? Just a few sentences or even a line helps more than you’d imagine.
If you haven’t read it yet, I hope you’ll grab a copy, take a virtual walk with me across Spain and Portugal—and then let me know what you think.
We’re all on a pilgrimage. It’s called life. Thanks for walking with me.
Today’s the day—I’m thrilled to announce the release of my new book, It’s Just sMiles: Just Pete on the Camino de Santiago.
What began as a journey measured in miles quickly turned into one measured in smiles. In 2019, I walked more than 800 miles across Spain and Portugal on the Camino de Santiago. Along the way, I discovered how a simple grin can cross language barriers, brighten the hardest days, and turn strangers into friends.
This book shares that journey—part travel adventure, part reflection, and a mix of humor, heart, and honesty. You’ll wander through seaside towns, cathedral cities, and (I hope) find reasons to smile in your own everyday life.
Where to Get It
Available today, September 16
Formats: paperback, hardcover, and e-book
Order through Amazon or wherever you get your books.
How You Can Help
Grab a copy (or three—books make great gifts!)
Leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads—it makes a huge difference.
Share this post with friends who love travel, adventure, or just a good story.
I can’t thank you enough for walking alongside me through this journey—from the Appalachian Trail to the Camino de Santiago. Your encouragement, messages, and smiles have carried me farther than my legs ever could.
So here it is: It’s Just sMiles. May it bring you as many smiles as the Camino brought me.
After years of planning, walking, writing, and, yes, smiling, I’m excited to announce that my second book, It’s Just sMiles: Just Pete on the Camino de Santiago, will be released on September 16.
In 2019, I laced up my shoes and set out across Spain and Portugal on the Camino de Santiago—more than 800 miles of coastlines, cobblestones, and sunsets. Along the way, I discovered something simple and powerful: a smile can bridge languages, ease tough miles, and open doors you didn’t know were there.
This book isn’t a guidebook; it’s a story—part adventure, part reflection, with a healthy dose of the “Just Pete” humor you’ve come to expect. You’ll meet good folks from every corner of the world, wander through seaside villages and cathedral towns, and (I hope) find a few reasons to smile right where you are.
A few easy ways to support the launch:
Mark September 16 on your calendar.
Share this post with a friend who loves travel stories.
Leave a review once you read it—those make a huge difference.
Follow along on Facebook at Just Pete Adventures for behind-the-scenes bits and Wednesday sMiles—a photo from the Camino, a short “smile” quote, and a tiny excerpt from the book. Mid-week pick-me-ups, no training required.
Thank you for cheering me on through the Appalachian Trail, the Camino, and Sea2Key. Your encouragement, notes, and smiles (digital and in-person) kept me going—mile after mile.
Just Pete
P.S. Book clubs: I’m happy to join your discussion via Zoom—Q&A, stories, and a few smiles guaranteed. Reach out if you’re interested!
It’s Just sMiles chronicles my journey along the Camino de Santiago in Spain and Portugal—a trek of of 820 miles that proved walking isn’t just good for your health, but also for your soul.
This isn’t just a travelogue. Along the way, I discovered the quiet power of a simple smile—how it can break language barriers, lift weary spirits, and remind you that kindness is universal, no matter where your hiking boots take you.
Whether you’re planning your own Camino or simply love a good story about getting lost (both literally and figuratively), I hope It’s Just sMiles will make you laugh, reflect, and maybe even reach for your own backpack.
Thanks for being part of this wild, wonderful journey. I can’t wait to share the smiles with you all.
Someone asked why lions let the jeeps get so close. Fair question—especially if you remember the time one flopped down in the shade of our jeep like it was a poolside cabana. The short answer? They’re used to the jeeps and don’t see them as a threat.
The longer answer? To animals, a jeep isn’t a vehicle full of humans—it’s just one large, weird-smelling, non-threatening blob. As long as you stay seated and keep your limbs inside like you’re on a Disney ride, you’re basically part of the furniture.
Going back through the animal photos I saved, I noticed that lions and elephants made the final cut more than anything else. This was a bit ironic, considering we saw hundreds of elephants… and “only” six lions.
Apparently, I’m a sucker for a dramatic stare and a good mane.
Here are a few of my favorite lion photos, set to the soundtrack of an incredible a cappella group we heard in Victoria Falls. Make sure your sound’s on—you won’t want to miss it.
🦁 Cool Lion Facts
Lions can sleep up to 20 hours a day. Since most of the action happens after dark, they spend their days flat on their backs, perfecting the art of doing absolutely nothing… with style.
A lion’s roar can be heard from up to 5 miles. It’s how lions mark their territory, warn rivals, and let everyone know they’re not in the mood.
The lionesses do all the hard work, hunting in coordinated groups while the males often hang back and supervise the grass. But come mealtime? The males stroll in and eat first. Kris said, “Kind of like home.” I’m pretty sure that was an insult.
A male lion’s mane gets darker and fuller with age. Females tend to go for the dark-maned guys (tall, dark, and dangerous ?). Bonus: the mane also works like a natural helmet during fights. Functional and fashionable.
Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World—and during peak flow (February to May), it becomes the widest curtain of falling water on Earth.
Victoria Falls sits on the Zambezi River, which forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The Scottish explorer, Dr. David Livingstone, documented the falls in 1855, becoming the first known European to lay eyes on the mighty falls.
There are eight named sections of Victoria Falls, carved by flowing water over thousands of years. Even now, Mother Nature is shaping a ninth. Geologists estimate it will be complete in about 1,500 years.
Rainbow Falls is the tallest section of Victoria Falls, plunging 354 feet. True to its name, it’s famous for the dramatic rainbows that arc through its mist.
We walked the Rainforest Trail, which winds past 16 different viewpoints. Despite the sunny skies, we were soaked to the bone—drenched by the constant mist blowing off the falls. In some spots, the spray was so thick you couldn’t see a thing from the viewpoints.
Most of the intelligent people in our group bailed somewhere between viewpoints 12 and 14, wisely retreating from the relentless soaking mist. One idiot—me—kept going all the way to the final viewpoint: the Victoria Falls Bridge.
Hope you enjoyed Victoria Falls—next stop: Cape Town!
We set out on our final morning game drive with one goal in mind: wild dogs. They usually hunt at dawn and dusk, so we were hoping to catch them in action before the day heated up.
The term “wild dog” carries a negative stigma for many people. Because these unique predators are highly endangered, conservationists have begun using the name “painted dogs” instead—a nod to their striking, patchwork coats.
Although we didn’t catch the painted dogs in action, we did come across plenty of other wildlife.
Our drive shifted focus when our guides, Dima and Smarts, got word of a lion sighting nearby. We didn’t spot the cat, but its tracks led us uncomfortably close to the village of Mababe. It’s got to be a bit unsettling knowing a big predator could come knocking at your door—invited or not.
Mababe’s 7-11Tuck owner’s house to right
That afternoon, we returned to the painted dogs—a pack of fourteen. Unbothered by our presence, they dozed in the shade, conserving energy for the evening hunt. While most lounged in loose clusters, the alpha female was alert near the den, guarding the pups hidden below.
Then, all at once, they stirred—some silent signal had called them to the hunt.
We tried to follow them as they slipped into hunting mode, but they soon outpaced us and vanished into the bush. As the sun dipped low, our guides asked whether we wanted to keep tracking the dogs or pause for a sundowner.
While I wanted to keep after the dogs, majority ruled. I joked to Kris that maybe the pack would bring the chase to us while we watched the sunset with a beer and some snacks. Honestly, that didn’t exactly suck.
As darkness settled over the landscape, we climbed back into the jeeps to return to camp. We had parked just ten feet from the water when, out of nowhere, two impalas burst past—racing between us and the riverbank. We’d seen plenty of impalas on safari, but never this close, and never moving so fast.
As the jeep moved forward, the reason for the impalas’ frantic sprint became clear—the painted dogs had set an ambush. One impala slipped through. The other… not so lucky.
WARNING: This video contains graphic footage of a real animal attack. Viewer discretion is advised.
Watching the kill felt like something straight out of National Geographic—raw, real, and electrifying. Even those who felt for the impala couldn’t stop talking about what we’d just witnessed.
I came away with a much deeper respect for the painted dogs. I knew they were skilled hunters, but I hadn’t realized how effective they were at keeping hyenas at bay. Despite being significantly larger, the hyenas were no match for the pack, which held its ground and left them with little more than scraps.
Hungry hyena.
Our 2 days and 3 nights in the Okavango Delta were unforgettable. We saw lions feeding on a Cape buffalo they’d killed right in our camp, witnessed a mating lion pair deep in the bush, and watched a pack of painted dogs take down an impala—leaving nothing behind for the vultures. It was an incredible way to end an already remarkable safari.
While our days in the bush may be over, we’re not heading home quite yet. A trip to Victoria Falls and 4 nights in Cape Town, South Africa await.
Just Pete Adventures 