Going going...back back...to Florida.

Well, after nearly 3 years I finally made it back to Florida. Technically Florida was the bonus. I was headed to South Carolina for my friend Karen's wedding and Dylan and I decided to fly into Jacksonville and drive up instead. At the time it seemed perfectly logical, but in retrospect it was such a whirlwind. 3 airplanes and 1 hour drive we are in St Augustine Florida for a quick hug from Ryan and Katrina then it's off again! We took a quick run through Anastasia St Park then borrowed Ryan's truck and made the 5 hour haul to Charleston. I had the best time catching up with old friends and spending time with Dylan AWAY from the computer and businesses and everything else that can make you crazy. The wedding was so stunning and classic and Karen looked gorgeous, as always. Charleston is, of course such a lovely town and my friends are such a riot. We walked around and ate WAY too much good food and even caught a Charleston Riverdogs baseball game. Or were they called the Seacats? Dylan apparently made it into Outside Magazine in an article about Portland cycling. He doesn't usually dress like this to ride around town, but it happened to be a photo from Cyclocross Single Speed World Championships and that's just how they do. See more here.
Drove back to St Augustine early on Sunday and went down to the beach where I used to live. The house was gone and it was actually quite the relief. All the bad, falling down mess had been cleaned up and all that was left was the good memories. Ryan and Katrina got a training kite this year for kite boarding (jealous!) so after a quick bite at stir it up (yum) we met them down at A street for a quick lesson in how these things can launch you through the air FAST. Ryan put us all to shame. He's the master of the kite. Here's Dylan giving it a go:Last day (too soon) we cleaned out a storage unit, returned a bike and trying to finish all Florida business. I found my cabbage patch. She was pretty much my best friend as a kid and here she is rotting in storage. I'm a horrible person. OH! And we ate breakfast at the BEST cuban place in St Augustine...complete with Breakfast dessert. Amazing.

I leave you now with the oldest street in the US of A...right before it gets torn up for modern day sewer and electricity. sigh.

Core Challenge

So, what have I been up to? Funny you should ask...

I started my own business. Total accident, but now it's fairly well developed. Check it out.

I have also been doing a little work around the house...pictures to come later.
Just keep faith that I am staying busy. As always.

Cheers,
Erin

Portland's 2nd annual Easter Beer Hunt

Last year we had this wacky idea to make Easter a little more entertaining for a adults: an Easter Beer Hunt. It was fairly successful with painted cans of cheap beer and a few goofy costumes, but this year my old roommate Matt took it up a notch!

Just after landing back in Portland we hussled to the house, changed clothes and ran over to Tabor to celebrate with our friends. It was a motley crew consisting of 2 playboy bunnies, a few easter eggs, several men in red dresses, darth vader in a tutu, and of course the Jesus fish.

We actually had park maps and boundaries this year which was definitley helpful considering we never did find two of the "pods" last year. Then again there were still 2 missing this year...but we're pretty sure the disc golfers got them. Damn folfers.

Murals murals everywhere

One of my favorite places in San Francisco is the Mission. Not only can you get off the BART and convince yourself that you have arrived in a foreign country, but the wall art is beautiful. I don't condone destroying someone elses private property (ie. tagging) but there is no denying that some graffiti is absolutely beautiful. Need some examples?


Look closely. This is the corner of a building column. The whole thing is just covered in beautiful images, but distortion of this sharp edge was fascinating to me.


Art is usually more permanent. It is a way to preserve your creativity and thoughts and the beauty or pain as you see it in the world forever. These artists do this amazing work fully aware that it will soon be painted over. Maybe by another artist, maybe replaced by a plain wall.

Want some more?

San Fran take four

I went to San Fran on my rode trip and then again for Bay to Breakers and then one more time with the Go Love Adventure Tour.

Take four was by far the best trip yet. I have been hired as a trip leader with Backroads this summer and I could not be more excited. Dylan flew down after my interview and we wandered the city for the next two days. I slept in, ate great food and relaxed. It was fantastic.

Truthfully I don't have the words. Instead I'll just share a few of my favorite Polaroids.

Get Dirtay

You may have seen a little rap video my friend made called Performance circulating around . Well rumor has it there's a sequel coming out soon called Get Dirtay. Here's a little preview for you...just in case you ever wondered what I would like like as a gansta.

Can you really say no if someone asks, "You wanna be in a dirty south rap video?"

ps. Mom- the vest is clean and white again and I still plan on rockin it on the slopes soon.

1 dog 2 dog 3 dog 4

I'm not sure what I was thinking when I decided to dog sit for my dentist. I know I thought EZ could use some friends around the house. And we have watched these dogs before. Last year we even took 2 backpacking with us. But four dogs in one house can make for a lot a chaos.

EZ and Polly (the Great Dane puppy) would make out for hours and that can be...exhausting.

OH puppy love.