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.


Monday, August 12, 2013

The Story of a Bicycle and a Country Named America



Below is a cross-country bike touring blog from 2012, about 33 riders, aged 17-26, raising money and pedaling for affordable housing. In 10 weeks, through 13 states, 3897 miles, and 13 building projects later, loaded with 200 lbs of peanut butter, 300 energy bars, we are quite the bunch. Together we have raised over $145,000 and will have donated over 3700 hours to Habitat for Humanity, Rebuild together, and other Affordable Housing projects. And as a whole Bike & Build this summer will have raised nearly $1 million dollars and donated over 900,000 hours of labor to affordable housing projects. Time to give up comfort of a bed for a summer, sleep on some church floors, live out of a duffle bag, and in padded spandex. Sometimes you have to give up a little to get a little. And sometimes it’s when one leaves everything behind, reevaluates the situation of our lives, and the lives of those around us, that everything becomes a bit clearer, a bit simpler. To meet new people and make friends with strangers; to push our comfort zones mentally physically and emotionally; to put yourself second and someone else first. Isn’t that what life is all about? Learning growing exploring, helping and loving.

A few years ago a pretty steal framed celeste colored bicycle of mine made it’s way into a box, flew ½ way around the world, and took me around a country of unfamiliar people, beautiful blissful roads, and many many nights in tents, rain, bellies stuffed of kiwis, and an appreciation for people I had never had before. People opened their doors to me when standing in the pouring rain about to cry, lost and hungry, fed me homemade hot coco, gave me a bed, and asked for nothing in return. Pay it forward is all I could take away. Now somehow 2 years later, here I am leading a bike trip full of youngster wanting to make a change in this world and in people’s lives.

There is something about seeing America by the two wheels of a beloved bike, with a semi sore butt, but self-propelled on just simply metal, cloth, and a bit of plastic. It is when the sun sets to your right over a barren dessert as though a paintbrush full of color brushed the sky, to swim in the rivers that craved out our canyon lands that we flock to, to find what surreal really means outside of our daily lives. When something becomes beautiful about the repetitive monotony of the Midwest cornfields, their yellow tassels dangling beneath the bright blue sky. Lumpy furry green hills, and jetting brown mountains; this is not a tourist’s tale, but a travelers, trying to find the real side of real people and who inhabits this scenery in which we live, finding adventure in seemingly nothing. To find a love for this country that many times gets me down, drives me nuts, make me want a divorce and to have walked away having made a lasting impact for the better.

Thank you everyone who has supported this cause. Mikes Bikes, Honey Stinger, Phillips Spallas & Angstadt LLP, Shamrock Holdings, Giant Bikes, BTG Advisors, Earth Balance,LifeCycle Adventures, all the churches and community centers that have opened their doors for us to lay our tired legs, and all the friends and family who encouraged us to service others while following our dreams.

So that’s the start, you only live once, get up and go! This is a tale, of 2 wheels, good people, and a side of America not everyone sees. What follows below is 69 days of an undiscovered country.