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, May 29, 2014

Day 1. Zion to Bryce


Day: 1
Distance: 72 miles
Hours pedaling: 5hours 36 minutes 
Elevation: a lot
High: 101 degrees F 
Low: 41
 
After hauling bikes as heavy as a scrawny 14 year old boy up a 22 mile climb, 8 water bottles later, Utah is not flat, and a mile climb up a dirt trail to find a hidden treasure of a campsite. Laidened with brittle leg bones, sheep skulls, rifle shells, this day has a long story, Ralph, O'reilly and I just need a nap first. 


Naps turned into hours of sleep, unwrestled by and sunset or sunrise. And then there we were 8am in that town, drinking coffee, that adorable cafe, with the friendliest of people, who's lack of cutler and diversity produce an all too innocent ignorance. A town to never to be returned to, we sip cheap coffee and tea with oldies playing in the background dethroning from a chilly desert night.