I’d say these were old and new rocks, but I’m confident someone would quibble that they both look pretty old to them.  So, old and not as old.  I’m not even sure which are the older ones either – for all I know they’ve folded over on themselves and the oldest are on top.  The … Continue reading "Older rocks, newer rocks"

Finally, it all comes together.  I’ve seen several old/new combos, but at the wrong time – wrong month, or when we’re on foot and there’s no bike nearby to yank into the frame.  Not the most inspiring subject, but there’s still time in the month to come up with something better. While you wait for … Continue reading "Old wall, new wall"

So is there a proper term for roadside distance markers in metric countries?  It’s impossible to not just think of them as milestones. Whatever you call them, they’ve provided my initial submission for the June challenge.  As soon as I started seeing old stone markers on the Gargano promontory I’ve had my eye out for … Continue reading "Old and new: kilometerstones?"

Matera is renowned for many things, including its claim to being the third oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.  Less well known though is its use of brick.  Most people associate the city with its famous caves, which many of the city’s residents lived in until the 1950’s, when they were forcibly relocated for … Continue reading "The famous bricks of Matera"

This is not, I repeat not, a monthly challenge ride.  If it were, I’d have to disqualify myself because there’s no photo with both bricks and bikes to show you.  There is a very nice brick tier along the base of the featured arched bridge crossing the Lao River in Calabria, but we didn’t stage … Continue reading "In Pollino NationalPark: Bricks without bikes"

Ashlar!  That’s my new word for the day.  I’ve been staring at ashlar walls and streets for much of my adult life, but I don’t remember even seeing the word before now.  It took a lowly brick to bring it to my attention. Thanks, Brick! Ashlar is finely dressed (cut, worked) stone, either an individual stone that … Continue reading "Bricks over ashlar"

Well, actually time for two.  One is the featured image, because I like it best.  You won’t see a bicycle in it though, because despite some intense wheedling the hotel manager wouldn’t let me bring the bike up the hotel stairwell for this shot.  There is a qualifying photo though, reflecting TWO bikers and their … Continue reading "Time for one last October selfie"

I have some reservations about this October Challenge submission.  I have a terrible record at complying with the Challenge rules, so I’m doubtful.  The rules this month are precise: the selfie must include the biker, and the bike. My submission pushes the definition though, and in fact is a selfie for the ENTIRE Anderson Team … Continue reading "Team selfies: OK or not OK?"