Helen settles into life in Southern California

I flew into LA on 1 March and was met outside Don Bradley International Airport by my team mate and host, Joan Wilson.

I met Joan in 2001 when we rode the HP Women’s Challenge in Boise, Idaho as part of the Office Depot team.  We raced against each other in 2002 and decided we would try and get onto the same team in 2003 to race together.  Our wish was granted as we were both selected to ride for the TDS Telecom team this year.

Joan, her husband Anthony, and their ever so friendly Rohesion ridgeback dog, Kariba live in Ramona.  Ramona is a rural town about 45 miles north of the Mexican border and inland from San Diego about 30 miles.  Their new home is about 1000ft above sea level and is about 1.5hrs ride from Mt Palomar.  This mountain is 11 miles high with an altitude of 5000ft at the top.  And most importantly, it has an excellent bakery, called Mothers Kitchen at the summit, so I am certainly going to make regular visits to this mountain during my 7 month stay here.

Lake Henshaw is at the foot of Mt Palomar and its beauty makes it a popular tourist spot.  The lake and mountains remind me of New Zealand and Switzerland.  All the mountains are dusted in snow as it is still winter here, however, the temperature has been a mild 12-15C, so the riding has been great.

Well, our first 4 day stage race kicks off on 6 March in Pomona, CA and then we head to chilly Chicago for 3 days to get our new bikes, meet our TDS sponsors and have some team photos taken.

Until then happy pedalling.