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, August 24, 2012

Day 67. The countdown begins.

Miles: 46
Weather: Sunny in Southern CA

It's all coming back to me, what I love about CA. I can see green edibles again. A table spread with broccoli, I think I even forgot what spinach was. Oranges that could make a lifetime supply of juice, grapes that have flavor. Gosh, the poor rest of the nation deprived of fresh taste sensations.

I wouldn't say Valencia, CA is much of a town. It is a small city, attached to a metropolis, nothing like we've seen since St. Louis. A mall? Cars and 5 lane streets that would make you think your in a race car arena. After a muscle burning 20 mile down hill through the beautiful desert canyons of Los Angeles, my home, love it or not is calling me. After indulging in fistfuls of watermelons and oranges, and arrays of taste bud clenching colors of the rainbow. With the excitement over almost, and a sadness that my people must disperse back to normal life with a few handful of hours, it is time to take Coach Collin out and make not only a birthday toast, but many toasts to many days of laughter and heartache.