Tag: travel

It’s Just sMiles launches September 16

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My new book is (almost) here.

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:

  1. Mark September 16 on your calendar.
  2. Share this post with a friend who loves travel stories.
  3. Leave a review once you read it—those make a huge difference.
  4. 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!

Exciting Year Ahead

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I am beyond excited to share that the next twelve months will be packed with incredible experiences and unforgettable milestones. There’s so much in store, and I can’t wait to take you along for the ride. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming up!

A Journey to Africa

In mid-May, Kris and I will be setting off an adventure of a lifetime…our first trip to Africa! We’ll meet Kris’ cousin Mary in Johannesburg, South Africa, and from there, we’ll dive headfirst into a sixteen-day journey across some awe-inspiring landscapes.

Our adventure will take us to the breathtaking Victoria Falls and on thrilling safaris across Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Zambia. I’m excited to witness Africa’s incredible wildlife firsthand and share our experiences with you. Our journey will culminate with four days of exploration in the vibrant city of Cape Town, South Africa. I’ll do my best to post updates along the way, but please bear with me if they’re a bit sporadic. I’ll be out in the bush where Wi-Fi is hard to come by!

New Book Release: It’s Just sMiles

I have some exciting news on the literary front, too! I’m thrilled to announce the publication of my next book: It’s Just sMiles: Just Pete on the Camino de Santiago. This book will take you on a journey through the breathtaking landscapes of the Camino de Santiago while exploring the transformative power of a simple smile.

The Camino is a pilgrimage like no other, and I can’t wait to share the stories, lessons, and unforgettable moments from this remarkable adventure. I hope to have it published in the second half of the year. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the release date!

Another Adventure: The Florida Trail Awaits

For those of you who have been following my adventures, you know I’m always looking for the next big challenge. In early January, I’ll be trading the mountains and bears of the Appalachian Trail for the swamps and gators of the Florida Trail.

This 1,400-mile trek will take me from the Everglades to Pensacola, navigating through Florida’s diverse landscapes and ecosystems. It will be a completely different challenge from anything I’ve done before, and I’d love for you to join me along the way as I explore the wild beauty of the Florida Trail. As I go, I’ll share my experiences, lessons, and stories from the trail, so don’t miss out.

Stay tuned for more updates and stories as we embark on these exciting adventures together. Your support and encouragement mean the world to me, and I can’t wait to share every moment with you.

Here’s to an extraordinary year ahead!

Happy Trails!

Just Pete

Jervis Bay

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Today, we embarked on a mission to explore Australia’s wild, untamed wilderness. What was the mission, you ask? Well, let’s just say it involved a lot of hopping. And no, it wasn’t a pub crawl.

Our adventure was sparked by our son-in-law, Austin, who encouraged us to visit Jervis Bay after spending significant time in Australia several years ago. So, we hopped (get it?) into a rental car and cruised 125 miles south of Sydney to check it out.

Jervis Bay is the kind of place that makes you wonder if Photoshop exists in real life. Pristine beaches and crystal-clear water are abundant. The Booderee National Park also surrounds the bay, which adds to its unspoiled beauty.

Our base of operations for the day was the Huskisson Hotel in the quaint seaside town of Huskisson, where the views are stunning and the birds are plentiful.

In the afternoon, we ventured into Booderee National Park, armed with nothing but our spirits and iPhones. At the gate, we asked a park ranger where we could play paparazzi with kangaroos. Her answer? “You have a 90% chance of seeing them at Green Patch and are virtually guaranteed to spot a few at Caves Beach.” Clearly, it was game on!

Booderoo!! Crikey!!

Kangaroos are herbivores and like to graze in the park’s many grassy areas.

Witnessing these roos in their natural habitat was nothing short of surreal. Contrary to my belief that they were skittish, they were chill. Like, “Yeah, mate, come take a selfie” level of chill. Too cool.

If you’ve had enough kangaroo pictures, here’s a wallaby for you.

If you want to see more roos, we have a very interesting outing planned for tomorrow. It promises to be hopping.

G’day mates.

Sydney, Part I

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G’day, fellow adventurers! Buckle up for a tale of high seas and missed inspections. We made it to Australia but not without some drama.

Australian Immigration requires a face-to-face inspection at the first port you arrive in on a cruise ship. Seems fair, right? That was supposed to happen for us in Tasmania, but the devils wouldn’t let us enter port due to rough seas. Missed that one. Eden, our next scheduled port, wasn’t equipped to do face-to-face. Missed that one, too. After 4+ days at sea, we arrived in Sydney…shaken but not stirred.

Sydney is on Australia’s southeastern coast and surrounds Sydney Harbour. The city is famous for a couple of iconic landmarks: the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We got up close and personal with each as we passed through the harbour.

We kicked off our time in Sydney celebrating Kris’ birthday. Few people can celebrate a birthday like Kris.

We strolled around the Opera House and the Botanical Gardens. Then, we hopped on a ferry to Manly Beach. No, it’s not a beach filled with macho dudes. It’s a vibrant little beach town with a jaw-dropping walking path along its pristine shore.

We snagged a reservation at Polo, our favorite onboard restaurant, to cap off Kris’ special day. It’s booked for reservations before the ship sets sail. We had two reservations before sailing. We only got this one because of the birthday girl’s special day! Sydney even topped off the evening with a fireworks display.

We bid farewell to the Nautica in the morning. But fear not, mates! We’ve got four more days of Aussie adventure ahead of us before heading home.

Our itinerary promises some cool things, and I’m excited to share the antics with you. G’night mates. May your dreams be filled with kangaroos and Vegemite sandwiches.

Auckland

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Ahoy, mateys! After a short sail down the coast of New Zealand, we made landfall in the bustling metropolis of Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand. If you’ve been following my adventures for a while, you can probably guess that cities aren’t really my thing…but I have to say Auckland and the surrounding suburbs are pretty cool.

Auckland is one of the few cities in the world to have harbors on two major bodies of water: the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea. Waitemata Harbour is the heart of the city. Sailboats dance on the water giving Auckland the nickname “The City of Sails”.

Auckland’s skyline is dominated by the Sky Tower, the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere.

Black swan.

We hopped on a bus tour that wound through the city’s streets until we reached the Auckland Harbour Bridge. We crossed that bad boy to the North Shore and the charming town of Devenport. If Auckland is the bustling city cousin, then Devonport is the laidback beach bum of the family. With water on three sides and several beautiful beaches, this was more our speed!

The clouds and rain did not make for ideal conditions for photography. I do have a couple of shots to brighten the day…even though I must confess, they were actually taken yesterday. I won’t tell if you won’t!

Our next stop? Well, let’s just say it will be a bit less city and a lot more nature. Brace yourselves!

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!

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!