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, June 22, 2012

Day 4. Strawberries and the crash

Day 4
Miles 45
Weather: damn heat wave still hanging around strapped to our clothing. 100 degrees.

After rolling upon a you pick strawberry field and filling my mouth with the brightest red sugary triangle freshness I just couldn't stop. Sweetness soaked my mouth. Hydrated my blood. Wiping the remaining strawberry juice evidence off my face we through the farmers daughter a few extra bucks for all the strawberries already in our bellies.

Life was good. And then...our first crash. Suddenly i became a doctor, a therapist, a bike mechanic, a cyclist, and a skilled van and trailer driver over night. We tell the riders not to pace line, but do they listen? Did u listen when you were 20 and invincible.

Lauren suffered a concussion. Ok but beat up, we waited at the very entertaining and busy ER of Fitchburg. Interesting town Fitchburg is. The lady at triage says, "why would you ever come through a town like this. Stay off the streets, you know there are a lot of drugs out there." yes, fitchburg is odd. A once booming town of the paper making industry it now lays lined with abandoned brick buildings.

It was one of those day. Just to put the ice cream on the cake...the blue and red light flagged us down at 1am on the way home from the hospital for a busted trailer light. I couldn't do anything but break out into laughter. Was this really happening? He let us go and home to bed for a quick nap before the next day.