This is our villa. This is right before it started raining and the quick snap shot does not do justice to the field off our patio. Sitting outside and smelling the fresh air is incredibly peaceful. I love it. I am so comfortable with the other people here and it is such a sharing household. I am shocked that 12 people could get along so well. We actually have dinner together every night with incredible conversation and laughs. Sometimes you even forget how many people live here and then someone you haven't seen in a few hours will emerge from their room and surprise you. It's like running into an old friend in your own living room.
My friend Jess and I went on a 50k ride up to the Villes-sur-Auzon and around. It was fantastic. I tried to take a few photos along the way, but honestly I often feel like the camera just cannot capture all the little things that make Provence so interesting. Or maybe it's all the BIG things. The views are so deep and it's that whole picture that can really take your breathe away. You could bike around a bend and see an incredible vineyard, then behind that is an old stone house with brilliant blue shutters. And behind that you see the olive trees and further still the foothills of the mountain and framing it all: Mt Ventoux! One of the most famous climbs in the Tour de France. Look closely at the picture of the vines and you may be able to see the village up in the hills, just above the house.
We've all been incredibly busy with the job. Tons to read and lots of homework so we can be prepared to start in the middle of June. We have driving school, bike mechanic instruction, public speaking, leadership training, administrative/business training (HR, scheduling, etc) and that's all just in one day. Tomorrow we have all of that and then we have a simulated cocktail party so they can critique our clothing, etiquette and poise. Lord help me.
Saturday we'll do a mock ride (and learn how to "tray" and rack 20+ bikes on the vans) then Sunday I may do a hike on that mountain. It's been teasing me from a distance. I'd like to ride it, but maybe I'll wait till later in the season so my legs aren't jelly at work on Monday.
I still don't know much french, but most everyone around speaks english. Some of my co-leaders speak multiple languages and it's not uncommon to hear english, french, italian and sometimes croatian all at the same time in different rooms of the house. I love it. Something to strive toward.
Tomorrow we might learn where we are going. That will be exciting news. We can't really go wrong with any of the destinations, but it will be nice to know so we can start studying the area.
If you would like to see some more photos check them out here.
All my love,
Erin
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 
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. 
