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.


Friday, March 28, 2014

Utah Rays

The sun rises and sets everyday and we continue on in this spiraling state if normalcy... and then, the itch starts again. To see something you've never seen before, a visual nirvana, to be taken away by nature, shrunk to the size of an ant speechless under massive prehistoric rock formations, where time ceases to exist in the forms we know it. To shed the constant routine that comes with the responsibilities of adulthood. The thought of making friends with complete strangers, and siting in diners sipping on burnt black coffee at 8am on a road, in a town, you have never been to, and may never return, is too much to resist. Dreaming of seeing darkness so dark, the stars vividly come to life, telling ancient tales of war and love, the imagination twirls and fills dehydrated veins with excitement and glee. When the days events burn happiness into your skin and sore muscles produce sleep like a rum soaked pirate. 
That was the start, and so we, Bianchi and I that is, went from parked to D4. Just to get you up to date, Bianchi is a dear friend, born is Italy, raised in Rhode Island, we spent days and nights together under wet storm clouds in New Zealand and now reside in Berkeley; we are a duo. And the thought of loading up B's panniers with only the necessities of life, and milking the sharpest tan lines possible under the heat and rays of the desert Utah sun, the tale had been dreamt and the storyline set. 

 Canyon Lands of Utah and once again a very special bicycle, drifting for days along barren red dirt roads, to find something not discovered or sought by the masses. Stay tuned...we will be heading out come late May.