AUTUMN IN THE PYRENEES: Mazers to Foix

We have a choice of two routes, a 38 KM route and a 84 KM route. Without discussion we choose the shorter route for several reasons: wind, heat, old age, laziness and a different perspective on life (Is this the same thing as "old age"?).

The day starts calmer that yesterday with much quieter winds. Overcast skies also provide cooler temperatures, at least early in the morning.  Again we have quiet roads, even a single lane road for a while.

A few cars pass on the single lane road but, like every country we've cycled in in Europe, they give us wide berth.

This is not to imply that US drivers are less courteous.  I've cycled, primarily in Texas, for 44 years and can't think of  a single bad incident with a driver.  In fact, most days I ride from our home, I come to in intersection where the auto clearly has the right of way, but gives my a signal to proceed ahead of him/her.  

I cycle the roads of the world without a worry.

We came across sunflowers which were not past their prime. But they're pretty small compared to the sunflowers grown in west Texas.

And then there is this cemetery with one tombstone obviously for a "fallen Catholic" (like me).



Our destination Foix is a commune, the former capital of the County of Foix. Today it is the Préfecture of the Ariège department in southwestern France in the Midi-Pyrénées region. It is the least populous administrative centre of a department in all of France, although it is only very slightly smaller than Privas. It lies south of Toulouse, close to the border with Spain and Andorra. At the 2009 census, the city had a population of 9,861 people. It is only the second city of the department after Pamiers which is one of the two sub-prefectures.

We visit Le Chateau des Comtes de Foix.  Climbing to the chateau on stone streets with cycling shoes and cleats proves to be quite the challenge.

Walking back to the hotel Brenda and Patrice stop to talk to other riders, just returning from the longer route.  Glenn and I duck into La Abbatiale Saint Volusien (see below).