Granite rocks with personality

Carn Brae, overlooking Pool, Cornwall

Granite, La Sierra de La Cabrera. I had to scramble through that rock restriction. Totally safe but awkward to say the least!

El Cancho Largo behind. La Sierra de La Cabrera. Not its true title. It was given by someone on Pano when I first posted it there.

More granite shapes. Winter, but no snow that year.

The bottom pitches of a famous pioneering rock climb of Victorian times, seen from the top of Bosigran Cliffs. The area became a key commando training ground in WWII, hence the modern name of the climb. I can vouch for the fact that it is an extremely enjoyable climb at the lower end of Hard V Diff. I have seen it graded at V Diff. But I think it is a little bit harder than that!

A cute little rock pool!

As mushrooms go, even rocky ones, it really is quite a size! Sierra de La Cabrera, Sierra de Guadarrama, Madrid Province, www.ipernity.com/doc/2247598/46707160 I have been so far behind that I didn't realise last Sunday's TSC was rocks, boulders, etc. Right up my street; not that I've ever joined in the fun but this one will do, albeit a week late!

Sierra de La Cabrera, Madrid Province. As I have said many times; it's great to have this magnificent resource so close to a major city - and yet very few of my Spanish students in Madrid know about it! Lucky me!

I went off one of my more common paths here, looking for mushroom rock. I nearly gave up, when I spotted it. It is in this photo but can you see it?.

The protuberance on the skyline a little to the right of centre is the white guano-stained home of Griffon vultures. I came with the intention of getting some more vulture shots but they stayed high on the prevailing thermals for much of the day.,

Well, I'm fond of this characterful cliff face on El Cancho Largo, Sierra de La Cabrera. Here are two shots from full on rather than side on; www.ipernity.com/doc/2247598/45630520/in/album/1040438 and www.ipernity.com/doc/2247598/43267964/in/album/1040438

Granite rocks and vulture near Mushroom Rock, Sierra de La Cabrera

I was determined to find Mushroom Rock this time! I had just missed it on a few walks previously and I realised that I hadn't said hello to it for at least 5 years. Anyway mission accomplished, even if I had forgotten the amount of scrambling involved to get here!.

La Sierra de La Cabrera and granite par excellence! View looking the other way; www.ipernity.com/doc/2247598/46714942

An old friend. I knew my favourite picnic table would still be there (I haven't passed this way in 4 years), but nonetheless I said a relieved and cheery hello to it as I passed by! I managed to get to the mountains today. The first time in almost a year! Fortunately my feet stood up to it. The downside is that I cannot download my photos from my new mobile phone more than one at a time and until I get this fixed, it will take more time than I currently have to download the 150 I took today. Pressure of work means that I will upload my usual 3 photos a day but I may not be able to do any more than that on ipernity for the time being. I promise I will get to view your photos eventually. It may be days, it may be weeks, I cannot tell. I am far from retired. I need to keep slogging away and sometimes, especially at this time of year (exams) the pressure mounts! I think I took some beauties but I won't be showing them all that quickly!

Well, it was only 45 million years ago, wasn't it dear? We never did get to finish that delicious wedding cake! (see previous picture!)

Granite shapes, Sierra de La Cabrera.

View from El Cancho Gordo along the ridge to Pico De La Miel. In mid distance on top of the ridge is the white guano stained boulder of El Cancho de La Bola, home to my Griffon vulture family friends.