Our favorite Ariege Pyrenees view taken at Prat Mataou

This amazing view needs a further explanation. At the bottom of the photo is Aulus-les-Bains in the Ustou Valley (el 750m) where the climb up to Prat Mataou started. At eye level across the valley (near the top-center of the picture) is Col d'Agnes (el 1570m) where we had been 1.5 hours before. You can see the steep road we descended from Col d'Agnes on our way down to the valley. When your ride is put into perspective in this way, you marvel at the earth's sheer beauty and what a neat invention the bicycle is.

A video created from the photo using the "Ken Burns effect"

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