Unusual or different

Chance shot as I crossed the M40 motorway (Madrid; not the London M40!) en route to a class today. I often have to walk a long way as classes are often at companies in industrial complexes which are great for access by road but not for access by public transport! Travel time is unpaid so I would begrudge all this walking were it not for the fact that I welcome the exercise. Needs good weather though!! Taken with my new mobile phone - Huawei Honor 6X, I think the camera is better than my old Moto E. I have yet to take it to the mountains of central Spain, let alone Cornwall!

As explained 3 months ago with its sister shot (here: www.ipernity.com/doc/2247598/46164932/in/album/1042038) , this was above head height but I knew the view I wanted. It involved lots of jumping up with the camera held high! Only two shots worked out of very many attempts! Granite, Sierra de La Cabrera.

Porthcadjack. I used to like to eat my sandwiches from this location on top of the crest of Samphire Island. I think these were no more than exploratory mines, sunk more in hope than expectation. Nonetheless you have to admire the skill and the bravery! Access only by boat or from above; neither easy at all! Where you can see the orange lichen, such as under my foot at the top of Samphire Island, that would be granite. Much of the other rock is Devonian sandstone. Places such as this with a mish-mash of rock types might indicate mineral presence as well which is why the prospective miners had hopes. Much of the tin, copper etc is to found right on the edge of granite country.

Sierra de La Cabrera granite. A 'map' rock window. On the horizon; to the left, the granite playground of La Pedriza, the distant central peak is El Bola del Mundo, visible from Madrid and thought by Madrid folk to be the highest mountain in the world, and just visible to the right is the bulk of Penalara, at 2,428 m (or just shy of 8,000 ft) the highest mountain in the Sierra de Guadarrama.

Photo taken in August 2014. I previously walked this stretch of coast path in the summer of 2010 and the path did indeed go straight across from this point! A massive land slip had occurred in those few years. Porthtowan and St Agnes Beacon can be seen. First posted on ipernity in 2018. Better on large.

I posted another shot from here 5 years ago. www.ipernity.com/doc/2247598/44044182/in/album/1049422 The idea was that this Godforsaken area of desolate land would soon be re-developed, after all it is in the middle of one of the most exclusive business areas in Madrid. Ha! The only change I see is that graffiti has somewhat obscured the original fence colours! The spring flowers don't mind though!

Dead tree and granite having a private party, Sierra de La Cabrera. Music provided by that popular beat combo; 'The Wind'.

Accidental shadow! Granite and lichen too!

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

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!

Mar de Cristal metro station, Lines 4 and 8, Madrid

Not sure what happened here. It started life as an accident and I tinkered with it for a while; apart from that I remember nothing!

Torre Espacio. In its windows are reflected the other three. Left to right, Torre KPMG (twice), Torre PWC and (just about) Torre Cepsa. The British Embassy is situated at the top of this one.

Bonsai juniper growing in it's own little granite basin. El Cancho de La Bola, Sierra de La Cabrera

These shallow hollows are everywhere in La Sierra de La Cabrera. The eastern end, looking towards El Pico de La Miel and the Embalse de El Atazar.

A long way down; the view from the top of the ridge of La Sierra de La Cabrera, through this rock window, to the town of La Cabrera below

Possibly a juvenile Griffon vulture, unsure of it's wings as yet. I wasn't sure. It kept taking tentative steps to the edge then backed away, rustling its feathers all the time. I had a bus to catch so couldn't wait to see what happened. I would have loved to have captured a maiden flight! I also took a shot with the vulture nearer the top of the picture, with a greater expanse of cliff below it but it had nothing like the same impact, curiously!