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.


Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Day 51. Whatever goes up goes down.

Miles: 85
Weather: the perfectest 80 that ever existed.
Elevation gain: 3500

Up Up Up means down down down. And at nearly 50 mph, the concept of two wheels, a styrofoam hat, and some welded aluminum doesn't quite instill a sense of deep trust. But careening down green and red plateaus the clouds hovering in reaching distance fears fade and the glory of nature takes over. We wish the days never end, and with enough food we could carry on through the forest effortlessly. Once again I fall in love with Odin who caries me deep into the west, seeing things many many citizens travel to countries elsewhere seeking what is really just in their own backyards.

It was a day of big trees and fresh crisp mountain air. The kind that makes one reevaluate life. Passing through the National forest White Mountains of Arizona for nearly 80 miles, the peaks of the west call me home. The scenery, so slightly changing are the views I finally know, the mountains that sphere upwards like the ones I grew up by and the road just takes us home westward.