Really it is a grueling grind

Day one was 5;45 hours in the saddle, climbing almost 6,ooo feet, over 70 miles and used 5,290 calories. Day 2 was a little more of every thing. 7,000 feet, 6 hours and burned 5,550 calories. And hey, only 14 more days to go! Look closely at switchbacks below

Start point was a hotel on the water below, about 2/3s up