Anchorage to Seward 200K

So, I did my first brevet. Hey I completed my first brevet. It started in Anchorage on a sunny morning at 6am, about 10 miles down the road the wind started. To me, it totally defeats the point to go downhill on a bike when the wind is blowing so hard that you have to pedal to go downhill. At about Girdwood, the rain started. It was now pouring rain and blowing wind. The first controle was at Portage Glacier. I stopped there and swore I saw blowing snow. The kind gentleman signing my card gave me a cup of coffee. I got myself back together and headed down the road. Initially, the wind was at my back and the rain had stopped briefly so it was quite beautiful riding up into the pass. But now it was time to climb hills. I had knee surgery 7 weeks ago and it was time to test out the knee. In short, the knee did great. When I got to the second controle it had started to rain again, so I stopped briefly to get my card signed and some small sips of coffee and I was off again. It was essentially downhill the whole way to Seward but the wind was in full force again so I felt like I was going no where. A short 9 hours and 55 minutes later I arrived at the Subway in Seward and I was done. I really admire the folks who did the 400K. Maybe I'll be one of them next year. Oh well, next month, 200 miles. 70 more than I did on Saturday.