Well, I went back and did it again for old times sake. Of course everything has changed in Katsuyama and I wasn't even sure if I would be able to find the old road up the mountain. But sure enough, after getting lost a few times, there it was, just as I remember. The gravel was all gone but it was just as steep as ever. Your lungs feel like they are going to burst, your heart is pounding so hard that it gives you a headache and your legs are on fire with lactic acid.
Anaerobic rides are the best.
It gives you a high like nothing else. I didn't meet another soul on the way up. That was good. I didn't want to meet anyone. And actually the chances of me running into someone there are pretty slim in the first place.