Sierra de La Cabrera

Sierra de La Cabrera. The Four Towers, Madrid can be seen as a stub on the horizon. (and because I taught at the top of all of them, I also recognise La Torre Europa and La Tore Picasso in this shot).

Seeing as we will be off-line tomorrow at some point, and for between 24 and 48 hours, I wonder if this large boulder will have tumbled inbetween times? :o) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivhauEr3KxU Well ... rock. - Rock and roll, this rock about to roll off ... or maybe not. But the origin of true rock and roll with Little Richard, respect and R.I.P. I think I have to wait another hour or so as I forgot I posted another to the group last night too!

Bustarviejo Valley, La Sierra de La Cabrera. They seem to like poor but free-draining soil near a bit of boggy ground (snow melt perhaps)

Sierra de La Cabrera. Granite country.

An August shot, judging by the haws. I don't remember how hot it was but it would have been H.O.T.!

I know I posted another one recently and this same one a few months ago, but I missed them this year so here it is again! (I didn't think you´d mind!)

Granite rock window. Overlooking the Valley of Bustarviejo. This was taken on 25 May, last year. I haven't walked anywhere in the Sierra since. Please take my word for it; this is a true rock window - I just couldn't quite get all four walls in the shot. I see photos from this Sierra on various sites but never this view. Why? Because to get here you need to scramble and to take (calculated) risks. It's never clear that you will get to a panoramic view or a rock window until it suddenly appears! Plus, there are no restaurants anywhere near so a Spaniard wouldn't even consider a walk here. 'Sandwiches!!!!!!- Are you kidding??'

La Sierra de La Cabrera. My favourite Mushroom Rock can be seen from here but only the cap; the stalk is hidden. Can you see it? Clue: it's on the horizon.

La Sierra de La Cabrera from the north. Granite country. I had a car for a few months when I first moved to Spain. I took this shot from a few miles north of the Sierra. I haven't been here since. All my Sierra de La Cabrera shots after 2011 are from the Sierra itself or from the south. Fecund lichens here! (Can lichens be fecund? I'm not sure).

Monasterio Convento de San Julian y San Antionio below its granite backdrop of Las Canchos Largo, Gordo y de La Bola.

Up above is Cancho de La Bola and that guano stained rock beloved of Griffon vultures. A freezing cold January day! Fred might be astonished but I know for a fact that I've not posted this one before; neither on ip nor on Pano!

Granite, cistus and wild rose. It's mid June but still late spring in the mountains.

Spring last year in the Sierra. Sorry, I've not been active. My laptop hard drive died and I have to rely for everything, including giving classes, on my phone. I don't find using a phone keyboard all that easy and I can't edit easily, if at all. So I will visit infrequently. I hope you all stay very, very safe. Bye for now, Andy

Sierra de La Cabrera - rock window with El Cancho Gordo seen through it.

Sierra de La Cabrera on a very hot day. The Griffon vultures' favourite home is that guano stained boulder top centre.

By the side of the Convento Monasterio de San Julian y San Antonio (and one-time Goya family home) and at the start of one of many possible paths to the summit of Cancho Gordo. Taken on a bitterly cold February day.

From the summit of Cancho Gordo with Cancho Largo (the highest point in the Sierra) on the right, overlooking the Bustarviejo valley.

Lots of granite and a little, defiant, pine tree.