It was a gorgeous day, somewhat cool to start with but sunny with some clouds, a perfect spring day in the Northwest. I did possibly the hardest hill ride I've tried yet -- between 5900 and 6300 feet of climbing (depending on which GPS reading website you trust) in 37 miles, with another fairly flat, fast 13 miles after that to loosen the legs up. We rode around the Issaquah Alps, for you Seattle ladies. We rode down Montreaux; I cannot believe people ride up it. The view from some of those neighborhoods on Squak and Cougar Mountain was *spectacular* -- could see downtown Seattle and Puget Sound plus north for miles.

Before starting, I was really intimidated and not at all sure I'd finish the ride. 20 people left the parking lot to start with, and by the time we got back to the parking lot, 7 of us remained. I hung on the entire time! Just refused to quit, regardless of how slowly I was riding. And I wasn't the last one up most of the hills, either.

...I've vowed to swap out my 12-26 cassette with something a little more conducive to hill climbing before the next ride like that!