To the top!

This post is supposed to be a story of struggle and suffering, heroic effort, and eventual triumph. Well, there was the triumph at reaching the finish at the top but, to be honest, it wasn't a struggle at all. I'm exhalerated to have finally accomplished this. I'm not saying it was easy or that my legs aren't a little tired but, all in all, not bad.

Up to the first five (of 21) turns, the climb was, as expected, quite steep. If it continued that way, it would have been a struggle later in the climb. But it became less steep and my lowest gear was just right. Even at my advanced age, I was going faster than some people who didn't have the right gearing. They may have been younger and stronger but, with the wrong gearing, those advantages mean little. I also had the wisdom to stop to take in the view, snap some pictures, and chat with a few people along the way.

At one point, a man was so intrigued by my Bike Friday that he asked to take a picture of it going around one of the turns. So I went back a ways down the hill and came back up, riding around the corner again so he could get his picture. I had someone take my picture crossing the Tour de France finish line and then it off for a celebratory beer with lunch.

I didn't intend to stop on the descent but the light had changed and the mountains looked even more spectacular.

Going down was great fun but I did take the turns slowly - no vehicles passed on the way down just as Deborah would like it.

The English cyclists who are staying at the lodge also did the Alpe climb today. Everyone is feeling good about the day and I believe an outing to a nearby bar is about to happen.