The month of July marks the Tour de France here and our cycling weeks at the hotel. 4 to be exact. Cycling at the chateau has always been a bit of an adventure. My boss likes to donate these weeks and the combination of guests flying down hills and the rare, “I didn’t know this was a bike trip” always introduces a curious escapade. This year we started out with a full group of 8 purchased by a very wealthy and kind gentlemen at the Sonoma Wine Paridiso Auction. Ken does time-shares and resorts all over Mexico, a resource you know I’ll be taping into later on! After arriving on their private jet from their villa in Umbria, Italy and sending it back empty (who can be bothered when you can afford to pay both ways and only use one, ha). The group, holding the record for most luggage ever received without bike boxes at the villa, got under way. Ken’s wife and sister, after falling the first day (scraped knees only) decided that the area was better spent shopping than exploring by bicycle. After a long week of slow rides they were back to the luxurious life of Puerto Viarta and we were on to adventure numero dos.
Two couples who won the trip from the Lake Tahoe School District Annual auction came ready and prepared to go the distance. These guys actually brought their bikes, who would have thought? Biking trips for people who ride their own bikes? Nooo, it couldn’t be. These guys also came with a hungry appetite for the fine delicacy called Heinekin and managed to drink 100 beers between 3 men in week. Another record breaker for the chateau. Most beers drank in a week! Whoohooo. They did also cycle and had custom Limoux, France 2008 jerseys made to commemorate this marvelous vacation. On the back were their nicknames: The Rabbit, The Goat, The Lightweight and The Water Buffalo (later changed to be renamed The Water Beer Buffalo).
Our next contenders were also participants in Auctions. Quelle surprise? Stan and Susan who purchased their second trip (repeat guests) at the Cedar Sinai Heart Fund Auction and Arnie and Susan who host a fabulous annual gala for The Carousel Fund in Petaluma that financially helps children and their families with life threatening illness. Nothing really to report on these guys although Stan is of notable mention as he’s been feature in the Livestrong Challenge newsletter.
On to my final group of the season and my most favorite Cycling group of all time: Endurance Cycling! Endurance is a fitness center in Mill Valley where you can go pretty much do spinning on your own bike. This year, one of the founders, Matt brought a group of the nicest, funniest, most in shape cyclists we’ve ever had. Not only were they a true pleasure to have around. But the laughs kept coming and so did the crude jokes. They’re going to publish a video on YouTube of the week and have also posted a blog of their adventure that I encourage everyone to read it and check out the great pics. Hilarious! With a quasi-sponsorship for the week from CLIF bar they were off to a running start or should I say cycling! Incredibly fit and kind athletes who concurred two HC Tour de France climbs during the week and were always up for whatever Paul through their way.
It’s off to the states now to catch up with friends, clients and lay on the beach in Mexico. Compliments of my parents and the 3rd vaca of the season :).
A bien tot.
Nathalie
Saturday, August 9, 2008
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