A challenge to mark my birthday

The cheer squad at the top of Alpe D Huez
cheering their friends on as the reach the finish.

Today is my birthday, unfortunately the weather wasn't looking too good for my planned challenge that I had set myself to mark my birthday, it was raining and cold. It did start to clear as the morning wore on though so I decided that I may well have a crack at it, a triple ascent of Alpe D Huez, not everyone's idea of the best way to celebrate your birthday but I figured at least I'd remember it.
So off I went, I tried to make sure I paced myself early and managed to get to the top of first ascent feeling pretty good, celebrated ascent no.1 with an espresso up the top. Then headed down the mountain, quite cold and a bit hazardous due to water running across the road off the mountain in several areas.
Climb no.2 didn't feel too bad either, got to the top for espresso no.2 still feeling pretty good, headed back down the mountain feeling I could do it.
Something to eat down the bottom and a energy gel and I was off for the final ascent, this one of course was tougher but I was still feeling that it was achieveable, it was a tough climb but it got easier as I got closer to the top running more on adrenaline from the thought of ticking off the challenge.
Got to the top and celebrated with a well deserved large beer!!!!