What this is all about

If there was any question as to why we have had this amazing opportunity - for me, the opportunity to race my bike as a professional female in the US while, by the way, happening to have type one diabetes - its about this image above: Nine year old Megan, a diabetic for four years, showcasing her school project. On her poster, she wrote the following next to my playing card (and she got an A for this too):

This image is a famous person that races across America with diabetes. I am going to meet her and go on TV with her.

That happened tonight. Its a weird story of how it all came about. Megan has a personal diabetes coach, Terra, whom I met earlier this year. Megan mentioned to Terra how keen she was to ride her bike, and Terra told her all about Team Type 1. Terra wrote to me to see if I could assist in reaching out to Megan by sending her a picture for her school project. I was happy to do this, and emailed Megan promising to send the photo.

Which I subsequently forgot to do.

Or remembered when I wasn't near a post office, yada yada. Very bad form from me.

It was always in the back of my mind though, and I resolved to send her a card once I arrived in the US. On arriving here at Buellton I went to look up her address, and was absolutely astonished to discover that she resided in Lompoc - a town just down the road from Buellton and a place I had ridden to!

I sent the card as promised, with my details of where I was staying. I was able to speak with her and her mum Julie on Sunday night, and we all thought it would be awesome to meet if we could fit it into the schedule.

The film crew also agreed that the story was pretty unbelievable, and re-organised the schedule for us to meet tonight. It was pretty full on for Megan - the film crew wanted to capture the moment when we finally met in person. Imagine a nine year old surrounded by cameras waiting for this person (the very intimidating me) to walk in, and then have a conversation on film about living with diabetes! It was daunting for me, I can't imagine what it was like for her. But she took it well.
We also got her to meet the rest of the team - which was all awkwardly caught on camera. Once the cameras were switched off I was able to relax and meet her mother Julie, father Mark and brother Wyatt.
Terra, who lives down the road in Santa Barbara, also came up for the evening with her husband Chris, son Logan, and two week old daughter, Lake. We all went out for dinner afterwards which was fantastic. A relaxed gathering with a few folk - all women in this instance - who all had diabetes. I really enjoyed the experience, and I hope Megan did to. I suspect it will be an event that won't leave her memory for some time, even if it just was for the moments in front of the camera!

Other things happened today? I can't remember now. But these images jolted my memory. Breakfast up Figueroa Mountain Rd - at 6.30am:


Up the top of the Figueroa Mountain Rd - Poby wraps up the shoot on a glorious morning with a fabulous view:

Film Producer Sean with a guy who I don't remember:

One of the money shots - getting some product placement:

Team Type 1 Ladies - Morgan and Monique:

The Gates of Neverland - seriously!

We shot in the afternoon literally outside the Neverland Ranch. Ready to roll for another shoot run:

Fabio (fellow Aussie type one and absolute superstar on the bike) has arrived in town, and has fitted right into the mood of the team and the whole thing about looking cool for the cameras:

Arse guessing competition: anyone? geez, you spend all day looking at arses and you can't work this one out?