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, July 12, 2012

Day 24. Up goes the house.

Build Day Bloomington Indiana.

I cased down the word called sleep this morning. Now up to par with 8 hours under my belt, I awoke on a mission to find good espresso and build a house.

Revolution bike and bean hit the stop. Huddled in the neat town of Bloomington, it was bike shop marries coffee shop. Indiana I like you more and more each hour.

It take about 3500 nails to build an average size house. Today everything came together, literally the house we worked on, our understanding of how a house is built, and why we are here pushing wooden beams skywards and pounding steel into the earth. 33 people in 8 hours lifted all the exterior walls and 1/2 of the interior walls of the Rockport Rd. house today. It was truly a tangible feeling to see this project stand upright at the end of the day and the potential of what 33 really can do if they want to make a difference. I dont think any of us wanted the day to end. Someone told me today, when you give you life away is when you find your life. Put nicely I thought.

My fantastic build was crippled with bicycle problems, too many trips to the bike shop, and an outbreak of poison ivy spreading like the plague. I'll leave the details out, but Giant Bikes has left many riders vaned for days due to broken pieces with such specific parts that hopes of repairs stretch to only major towns aheads. Kind of like our trailer too. Is it us, or cheep corporate America that is giving me this head ache?

But the night became complete when we all cozy up, sleeping bags and all, like a middle school slumber party. We plopped in "Breaking Away", our last night in Bloomington Indiana with the movie that made this town famous to us.

Back on the bike tomorrow to erase the logistical chaos that bogs my mind right now, and to just be...me and the road again, all the way to Illinois.