Andy Rodker's photos

The battlements and a lamp at Buitrago del Lozoya. When I last visited in 2015, there was no access to the castle or battlements (which extend all around what was a large town for the period - late middle ages) due to serious works. I was surprised to see that they only seemed to be about half way there but at least some sections of the battlements are now open. More to follow. Sight and sound: because I like this. www.youtube.com/watch?v=he5Cj3S1iJQ

Cornish coast. The figures give the scale. The path down starts at the bottom of the photo, left hand corner and it's not for the faint hearted! So it's mercifully free of the summer hordes! Although surfers like it here and can swamp the place if the conditions suit them.

Today, three thunderstorms and a sunset. Sight and Sound. Worth a listen. Canned Heat did well to record this and make it well known at Woodstock. It's a blues gem from 1928! www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8NJ-MIfFHI

Normally home to many Griffon vultures but they were all out as I clambered over it. An oldie but still a favourite as it gives a good feel for the spectacular granite forms. I 'note' where the vultures usually like to hang out. La Sierra de La Cabrera. Unsure if posted on ipernity previously.

Portreath outer harbour. Better on large and large again. Sight and Sound. Big Mama Thornton with 'Ball and Chain' made popular by Janice Joplin, but Big Mama wrote it. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJlBo5KJ3b4

Algete garden. Sight and sound: An all time hero, Sixto Rodriguez: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W978zoLu1w HANWE Everyone!

I have maybe a couple more to post in the fullness of time. The map puts me in the neighbouring parish of Fuente El Saz. I checked and they're right - by about 5 centimeters!

Algete has a surprisingly large number of agreeable green spaces such as this, seen on a walk to the shops. Nothing special but it's all grist to the mill!

I got it wrong! I thought the cloud might dissipate during the day. Instead it got progressively wetter and duller. Completely weird for June in Spain. It was cold too! The cupola of San Lorenzo de El Escorial can be seen almost in cloud. Luckily it was open so I had a good look around. Sadly, no photos were allowed inside :o( To cheer me up, if nobody else, a touch of Jimi at his funkiest! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Elitg1mB5C8

Where I had planned to walk today and catch the last of the spring flowers. But today was just about the wettest June day on record so I ventured nowhere near! But I hope to get up there fairly soon, and before the relentless summer heat kicks in, which it will do in a week or two! This shot was a taken at midsummer but here, high up, it is still showing Spring wildflowers so I still have some hope!

The sun went behind a cloud briefly, giving a differently nuanced timbre to the colour scheme of this poppy field. Not too bad on large and then large again. Sight and Sound: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsJ_N5tBgVM

Where I live for the time being. Algete street scene no. 19. Not strictly a street but it is still named as the old road to Fuente El Saz and the return route is, not surprisingly, referred to as the old road to Algete and as this lies within Algete parish (just), I think it counts. Poppies seen here. Better perhaps on large!

Algete street scene no. 18. Calle de Paloma - one of the three main streets in Algete, looking down to the main square and parish church., caught in the last of today's sunlight. Maybe worth a look on large.

Low sun evening light, and I reckon we've had an average of two storms a day in the past 2.5 weeks. Highly unusual, especially in late Spring / early Summer. And yet they don't bring much, if any, of the prayed-for sustained heavy rain. Perhaps better on large for countryside detail, even though the mountains are obscured by cloud.

An ostrich farm. There were a dozen or so when I approached but they all, except one, ran off at very high speed. This one might have been deaf or old, I suppose, or perhaps just wanted to say hello and have its photo taken! Please see previously posted image for background. Additional info, my brother-in-law, who knows the farmer, says that there are 50 ostriches here and that this one is lame and can't run so always stays behind!

After complaining about the lack of poppies these past few years I went on a poppy hunt - and found loads of them and also an ostrich farm (photo to come)! These two discoveries are, I think, related. Here's what I think. One farmer decided that grain wasn't profitable any longer so he let his fields run to seed, as it were, and invested in ostriches instead. This year, there were a few roadside poppies in mid May but then from that time on we've had thunderstorms everyday and it was just the right situation for the dormant poppy seeds. Et voilà!

An oldie and a winter shot. Bitterly cold. This shows much of the taller western end of the Sierra. I hope to return here before too long. Better on large for granite detail.

My mother's garden. This time a summer shot for a change! Sight and sound: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTj1LpG2SM0 Another from War. I just like their version of blues and funk and soul.