At The Backroads

Lance Armstrong, in an interview before the start of the race at Ranco Bernardo

Last Sunday, February 22, 2009, was the last day of the Amgen Tour of California. Since it is their first time here in San Diego, I did not want to pass the opportunity of getting a chance to see Lance Armstrong and also to experience the event. The start of the race was at Rancho Bernardo, and ends in Escondido. Though these two places are probably just 10 miles from each other, but the tour passed through the valley and climbed up to Palomar Mountain.  

Palomar Mountain, San Diego County

The complete tour was 96.8 miles which loops from Rancho Bernardo to Valley Center to Palomar Mountain to Valley Center and ending up in Escondido. And since San Diego County has a lot of hills and valley, before and after the climb at Palomar, the bikers also had to go through several mountain climbs, but the major climb is at Palomar Mountain.

Palomar Mountain, summer

Palomar Mountain, Fall

Palomar Mountain, Winter

The racers peaked at 5123 ft, which is the highest summit climbed by the tour so far. Palomar Mountain is about 40 miles from the race start, and is one of the quiet and scenic nature escape in San Diego County.

Going back to the race, because of road closures, we knew we only can pick a few places to experience and be a part of the tour. However, I have read beforehand that it is only at the start of the race where there will be autograph signing and interviews with some athletes, that it was easy to make a decision to go to Rancho Bernardo. Once at the plaza, we did not know which one to prioritize, do we join the line of people and cheer the athletes as they start the race, or go to the parking lot where the participants park and take our chance to see and meet Lance Armstrong. We decided to go to the parking lot, instead of simply sitting on the streets. It was fun at the parking lot, I got to see a lot of the bikers who I did not even know actually, but they were very friendly. They entertain the crowd, talked with them, have picture with them, sign autographs, etc. And then, we saw the Astana truck. There were not a lot of people yet in front of the truck but we were not that early to be right in front of the row, kind of in the middle. When Lance Armstrong and the rest of his team mates including the eventual winner of the tour, Levi Leipheimer,

Levi Leipheimer, 3rd time winner of the Tour of California

came out of the truck, people got so excited and keep on clicking their camera and asking for autograph. Some media took their time to interview Lance Armstrong. I could not take any picture, I am not that tall after all. Maybe, if I were in the Philippines, being in the 3rd row probably I would be able to take picture as I am not really that short, I stand 5′6″, for a Filipina that is tall enough. However, I was amongst tall Americans, and at that situation I was not tall enough to take pictures. I tried, but all I took were the heads or the hands of people raising their camera to take a picture of Lance Armstrong. Until I probably say out loud, ” I see him, I see him, but I can not take any picture”, and suddenly, the guys in front of me, and beside me who blocked me in a way told me, ” go on, you can move forward, we have enough pictures already.” I am just so glad for these very kind people who let me move forward after hearing me “I can not take any picture”. So, I was able to finally see him closer without being blocked by the heads and shoulders of other people.

Lance Armstrong in an Interview

But it was kind of fast as well, since the participants had to be in the start line at exactly 12:00 pm. When the team Astana finally went to the line, we were kind of late already to secure a spot on the road to take picture of the race since again, there were a lot of people on the road already. We ran as fast as we could to get to an uncrowded road, but the start was like a lightning! After 12:00, the bikers kind of just flashed out of sight.

@ the Start of Stage 8 of Amgen Tour of California

Anyway, even if I was not able to take a good picture of the start, but I was not sorry for not securing a spot on the road because we were at the parking lot instead. Where, I got to see Lance Armstrong, and also, I got to experience the kindness of the crowd, who let this poor lady inch forward just so she can take a picture.

My laptop has actually a “Live Strong” logo and signed by Lance Armstrong. But the signature was from the manufacturer, HP. Live Strong is Lance Armstrong Foundation that is committed to fight cancer. As we all know, Lance Armstrong is not only an inspiration for winning the Tour de France for a record breaking seven consecutive years, but also for battling and fighting cancer, and even managing to win the Tour de France in the middle of his fight against cancer, he exemplifies a person of amazing determination to live, to survive, and to move past the challenges.

Anyway, I do not know if the Tour of California will go back to San Diego again, and if I will have  a chance of experiencing the tour again. But I am happy enough with the experience I had last Sunday and the pictures I got, I am thinking of complementing my “Live Strong” laptop with a “Live Strong” mouse pad, and I will be using one of the pictures I took of Lance Armstrong. I may have to design it first so my mouse pad will look good . But I know, I will be asking the services of Kodak for my photo mouse pad.