Sierra de Guadarrama

Taken from above this time. La Sierra de La Cabrera.

The two top 'petals' are, in fact, modified leaves,

The widest expanse of this stream I saw. It will be completely dry within the week which is a shame for the many tadpoles I saw. Normally you would expect more water but there has been very little Spring rain this year so a drought is looming. And therefore fewer frogs and therefore hungrier herons, etc etc.

Valdemanco, La Sierra de La Cabrera, Madrid Province.

Peña del Tejo, an interesting little offshoot from the main ridge with some fantastic granite shapes.

Normally I descend from the top to this point having ascended from the other side.

Sierra de La Cabrera. Cantueso means the countryside when the wild lavender is in full bloom.

Cancho de La Bola, haunt of griffon vultures (although very few seen on this day)

She actually came on one of my walks here in the Sierra de La Cabrera some years ago and fell about laughing when she saw something that amused her here. I have no idea why. Perhaps a member could enlighten me?!

I'm fond of these, the flower heads of the cistus seem to have 'personality!'

The path was treacherous even with good boots. So sandy and with loose gravel mixed in; very difficult to get any kind of purchase, but you expect that with dry weather and you learn to cope with experience. I actually find scrambling in among the rocks and boulders far easier and more satisfying!

I posted a similar shot a couple of days ago and didn't realise they were taken 7 years apart! tempis fugit

From EL Cancho Gordo looking along the eastern section of the ridge towards Pico de La Miel. Lavender grandstanding it in the front as usual at this time of year! on 'z', perhaps.

Above Valdemanco, Sierra de La Cabrera

With no more rain (and it isn't forecast), this little stream will dry up within the week.

La Sierra de La Cabrera. Cancho Largo (The Guardian of the Mountains - my name for him!) is the highest point in the Sierra de La Cabrera. The block on the horizon is Mondalindo and centre left is (still snow covered) Peñalara, the highest peak in the Sierra de Guadarrama. There are no climbers here today. Climbing has been forbidden here during the nesting season (perigrine falcons, I think and another bird whose name I didn't catch on the notice cards - they are attached to the first fixed peg on every climbing line - because I didn't have my glasses with me, sorry). But I was impressed; this seems to be working, so not all Spaniards kill song birds for fun and bulls for sport!.

I heard them before I saw them; they sometimes breathe in great snorts! They all watched me quizically and didn't move a muscle as I approached and passed them. They all just kept their eyes firmly fixed on me as I passed. It was only later as I looked back that I saw a kid suckling. I couldn't take a shot of it as the sun was directly in line. La Sierra de La Cabrera. www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG9TMn1FJzc

Sierra de La Cabrera. In the gap: The plateau of the Meseta Sur stretching out below for hundreds of kilometres to the south. And Madrid is down there too, invisible in the industrial and car-induced smog.