EARTHQUAKES!!?? YIKES!!! All my adult life, I have heard about the San Andreas Fault, even though I live in Arkansas, thousands of miles away from its location. Yet, I always paid attention to what I learned about it, because I have many relatives who live in California, and have heard them talk about earthquakes and tremors they have experienced over the decades. SOOOoooo, when I read there was a Road Scholar hiking program that would be exploring and studying about the San Andreas Fault area of California, I was intrigued, and signed up to participate. (It was Program #21900CGT, and you can sign up to make this trip yourself at www.roadscholar.org . It is offered several times a year, and I highly recommend it!) The first hike our group went on, was along the Earthquake Trail, that is accessed from the Bear Valley Visitor Center, of the Point Reyes National Seashore.
The trail gets its name because you can see the actual fence that got split in two, during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake! The Point Reyes Peninsula is separated from the mainland by a narrow linear valley, that lies directly on the San Andreas Fault, where the Pacific and North American continental plates meet. Point Reyes is part of the Pacific Plate, whereas the California mainland is part of the North American plate. The San Andreas fault zone is actually many large and small faults running parallel and at odd angles. The plates can "catch" on each other, pressure builds up, and eventually the underlying rock breaks loose in a sudden jolt. This is what happened in 1906 when the peninsula leapt 20 feet northwestward in less than a minute. 
The trail also takes visitors by other interesting features, including this tree that gives viewers the idea it may also have been split in two by the earthquake!
The Bear Valley Visitor Center at Point Reyes National Sea Shore is a huge, barn-like structure that has fascinating exhibit inside, telling about the flora and fauna of Point Reyes, and also explaining about the shifting ground where it is located. Besides outstanding exhibits, the center has clean restrooms, vending machines, book store, and gift shop. Besides the Earthquake Trail, there are many other trails that get their start, or pass by, the Bear Valley Visitor Center. These include the Rift Zone Trail, Kule Loklo Trail, Morgan Trail, Woodpecker Trail, and Bear Valley Trail. This area also is the location of the NPS Park Headquarters. 
Following out hike on the Earthquake Trail, our group went by van to the Hearts Desire Beach for a box lunch. Our picnic table looked out on to Tomales Bay, which lies directly over the San Andreas Fault. Thankfully, I did not feel the slightest tremor, as we enjoyed our sandwiches, looking across the water at the Tomales Bay State Park. 
There were enough tables, and our group was small enough, we all were able to have a view that looked out onto the water, instead of towards the parking lot. It was also reassuring that the Hearts Desire Beach had restrooms, so we could stay hydrated without concerns of about no place for a potty break!
After lunch, we drove in the van through the Tule Elk Reserve, and had the good fortune to spot a huge heard of the elk, as they grazed on the lush, green grass of their meadowlands. It was a foggy day, so views of the herd would fluctuate with the fog conditions, but finally there was a short lifting of the mist, so that I could get a single photo of the majestic creatures. A
After watching the elk for a while, we continue to to the parking lot that served as the trail head for the hike to Chimney Rock, located at the end of Sir Francis Drake Blvd. It was a pleasant hike, always going slightly higher into the headlands, on a gravel trail, surrounded by incredible wildflower blooms 
The day was damp and misty and cloudy, but we had been instructed beforehand to have rain gear, and to dress in layers, so all of our group was prepared for the situation. I have heard it said that there is no such thing as "bad weather"; rather, the problem is people "badly prepared" for the weather!
I took this photo of our group as we ascended, because I like the way the evergreen trees formed an arch across our path. All the members of our group used their trekking poles for this hike, as the trail was steep at places, and a few potholes and ditches, caused by water run-off from recent heavy rains.
These two ladies from our Road Scholar group were deep into conversation, and oblivious to the fact that they were being photographed. Personally, I did not want to get that close to the edge of the cliff!
Our hike took us by some of the historic structures of Point Reyes National Seashore. Sadly, we did not get to see the Point Reyes Lighthouse, as the road to the lighthouse, as well as the lighthouse itself, were closed for repairs.
There are no impenetrable barriers that keep people away from the edge of the bluff, but this sign was enough of a warning to me! As you can see from the path that leads to the edge, however, not everyone obeys the sign!
At one point, a visitor can get close enough to the edge to see the rocky beach below. Even though it is called the Chimney Rock Trail, none of us saw any rock formation that resembled a chimney! Our leader told us that the erosive action of the waves, and possibly tremors/earthquakes, had eliminated whatever landmark used to be there, that looked like a chimney.
There were some narrow inlets that provided a water show, as the waves crashed through the openings, and ejected sprays of sea foam into the air. Who knows---maybe it was this sea foam that formed the basis for the word "chimney", and it resembled smoke coming from a chimney!
We continued on our hike towards another area above Drakes Beach, where we would see a different kind of mammal, than the elk we had seen earlier.
Those critters laying on the beach are called Elephant Seals. 
As we walked down the paved road towards the pier, the noises became louder and louder, as the elephant seals went about their routine squabbles over territory.
Some of the seals (like the ones in this photo) seem to be loners, and did not huddle up together.
There were baby seals that could capture your heart with their big eyes staring at you!
This is a photo of the seals that are NOT loners. They were huddled up together and making squawking noises, that could be heard from very far away. Likewise, the smell also carried a great distance!
Part of the smell comes from their fecal matter, but part of the "aroma" is associated with their molting characteristics.
The literature said visitors can watch elephant seals as they breed, and these two "lovers" look like they may have been ready to do just that!
I have a fascination with "Bench Mark" imagery, so I did not want to pass up the opportunity to photograph a U.S. Coast Survey marker, as proof I had visited this area!
Another beach our group visited just a short distance from where we had seen the elephant seals, had a completely different habit, and there were no seals in sight at this location.
The park literature talks about the Douglas fir
Point Reyes National Seashore is famous for its wildflower blooms, and although the purple flowers in this photo of colorful, they are evidence of Ice Plant, that was introduced by well-meaning government workers decades ago, to prevent erosion of the coastline. Although they may have been effective for eliminating erosion, they have also eliminated most native species of wildflowers, and concurrently, the ecosystem that go along with those native plants. Efforts are on-going to mitigate the effects of the Ice Plant, on the native species of the California coast. 
This is a photo of our Road Scholar group, as we dined the evening of our first full day of Program # 21900CGT. This lovely restaurant was located in the Town Center Corte Madera, which also had numerous other cafes and popular stores. The lodging for our group was the Best Western Inn of Corte Madera, California. The hotel was part of a five-acre property, located in the heart of Marin County, just across the street from the Town Center.
If you would like to learn more about everything Marin County has to offer, just visit their website at www.VisitMarin.org
The global significance of protecting Point Reyes and its surrounding waters continue to grow, aided by federal and state law. The park is part of the Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve, and you can learn more details about it at www.nps.gov/pore I am very thankful I had this opportunity to visit this area, and even more thankful there were no big earthquakes while I was there! All in all, it was an experience that gave me "MILES OF SMILES"! TriciaAddendum: The words of Jesus in Matthew 24:7 clearly state, "There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.", so after spending a week in "earthquake country", my recommendation is to get your heart right with God, and "live each day as if it were your last---and one day---you will be right!"
