Intro

Welcome to a story, or stories I should say. A compilation of adventure tales. An ongoing itch to see, smell, and touch the world, or at least the deserted roads and rarely trampled mountains of America. Characters within the descriptive paragraphs of these stories carve out the coming and going companions in life; vital life people and pieces that parallel a universe for moments, days, years. And then spear off, leaving granules of magnificent memories of magical places. They leave a lasting trace, a gained sense of courage to stand tall on oxygen deprived mountains and shout absurdities like: I love you Ralph! Ralph is a teenage reindeer stuffed of the finest synthetic polyester fiber poof; he says made in Indonesia but really tells me he is from the North Pole. Delivered through a chimney one December night 20 years ago, we instantly became cuddle buddies upon that morning's sunrise. He is the instigator. The inspiration. And the imagination. He breathes creativity. Laughter. His is a dear companion. And yes, at 4lbs he tags along atop a pack or strapped to a rack. In delirium of 107 degree heat, the small possession of material belongings gain a persona. Innate objects become friends of the road and trails. And as for the humans who accompany, their presence reads priceless. Without O'Reilly, a 29 year old New Hampshirian with superior taste buds, the mathematical six foot four inch tall German, or handful of organic peanut butter and 99 cent jam eating munchkins, there would be a lot less excitement. The encounters we make with our specie, encapsulating the world with their awkward ways and over consumerist love, somehow we have managed to become overly adored creatures. Their generous hearts restore a faith that goodness prevails in the upheaval of a sometimes lost humanity. As for myself, I'm just the navigator, paddling up the stream of life munching on Clif Bars, with an iPhone documenting the frailties and goodies underneath all the simplified complexities in the world we reside. So again, I welcome you to get lost and dream a little through this typed text and your imagination. My name is Kristen Gentilucci. I live in Berkeley California and I love dogs.


Thursday, June 14, 2012

The Maine in the Magical Forest

4am, the sun rises admist the beaming green trees. 7am we are on the road in search for furry moose and roadside wild blueberries on 2 wheels exploring the outskirts of Portland Maine. It is as though this state is right out of a Martha Stewart magazine. Sparking white boxed double decker homes with red doors planted in a mist of bright green forest. It is the kind of place that comes out of hibernation in the spring. You can feel it and smell its sweetness in the air. The kind of place where strangers say hello to you and everyone is happy the sun is shinning. The roads here scream the Maine I imagined as a kid. Riding down Wanderers way to Forest road, then a right onto duck pond drive. Still searching for a fresh blueberry until our little posse of riders arrive on Saturday and we hit the road with no return with a trailer loaded with 3456 ounces of peanut butter.