On Sunday, my husband I went for a drive after cabin fever was setting in. We headed west to Pt. Reyes Station – Bear Valley Visitor Center, for a little hike and picnic. But we first stopped at our favorite deli to pick up lunch. When we arrived at the park, it was practically empty which would make it easier to social distance. 🙂 We also noticed a plethora of signs most likely about Covid restrictions. After doing some light reading, we learned that several trails were closed, except for the Earthquake Trail which was open. More than fifteen years have passed since we took the kids on this trail when they were little, so why not check it out again? The trail is dotted with interpretive signs about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, and my cell remained handy for photos. This quake struck the coast of Northern California on Wednesday, April 18 at 5:12 a.m. and the magnitude was a whopping 7.9. Nature also had a lot to offer, so let’s take a look…
Pt Reyes Earthquake Trail 
A sluggish friend on the trail 
Sounds of a soothing stream 
An abandoned nest 
1906 Earthquake information 
Blue poles indicating
San Andreas Fault Line
This fence moved 16 feet –
original fence on your left,
then look to the upper right
I walked up the stairs and stood parallel
with the poles on the fault line
We may not feel them,
but Plate tectonics are shifting!
Lunch time 
Our surroundings during lunch 
Gophers invade the grounds 
Marveling at the Big Bay tree 
A little lake 
Oh, Deer! 
Keep your distance one Grizzly
or two Cubs apart!
Got any coins???
In case you’re interested, below is a little “earth shattering” information I pulled from https://www.nps.gov:
“The San Andreas Fault runs the length of the boundary between the Pacific Plate and North American Plate in California. The narrow Tomales Bay and the narrow Olema Valley, along which Shoreline Highway (Highway 1) travels, overlie the San Andreas Fault and were formed as a result of tectonic forces.
Not only do two plates meet along the San Andreas Fault, but they move against each other. The forces causing this movement lie more than 90 miles (150 km) below our feet in the earth’s mantle. Currents of magma slowly circulate up from within the mantle, spread out under the oceanic and continental crusts, carry the plates along then sink to circulate again. Like a crowded bumper car rink, the plates crash and grind into each other as they move. It is along plate boundaries where the action takes place. The Pacific plate is estimated to creep northwestward about two inches a year, but the most dramatic displacement of this fault occurred in 1906 when the Point Reyes Peninsula leapt ~20 feet northwestward.“
We have experienced some big quakes in our lifetime that rattled and rolled enough for us to think of the Big One. But we don’t worry about them anymore. California has been our home for so long that it’s probably just a matter of getting used to the tremors – like getting used to hurricanes on the East Coast and tornadoes in the Midwest. No, we don’t want “The Big One” to strike when we’re still living in this state. But natural disasters can’t be avoided. Thus, it’s more of an issue of which would you rather deal with. So, we take one day at a time and hope for the best, the very best!!!!
And now, for your listening pleasure, a little Carole King…
I hope you enjoyed the tune and this glimpse into how the earth moves. And let’s hope The Big One never shakes and shivers in our lifetime!
Stay safe,
Lauren 💗💗💗
Baydreamer ~ Lauren Scott 
Super walk, Lauren. We loved Pt Reyes and would go there often. Thank you for the memories. 😊
Thanks, John! I’m happy you enjoyed the great memories. Have a good day!
You as well.
Nice area, but I don’t think I’d like living so close to a fault line.
It’s very nice around here, Binky, but I get it. Just like how I couldn’t live where tornadoes and hurricanes land. So, we choose what we’re willing to endure, but hope we never have to. 🙂
What a lovely walk to share! Thank you Lauren 💛
Thanks, Val! I’m glad you stopped by and enjoyed the scenery! 💗
Lovely walk, Lauren. I wonder if children see the payphone and ask what it is!
I’m glad you enjoyed, Jill, and believe me, I’ve wondered the same. It seems like yesterday when cell phones didn’t exist and coins were collected for that needed call. 🙂
What a beautiful walk to take!!!
I can definitely relate on the earth moving 😱 I’ve felt 2 very strong ones and quite a few minor ones, so here’s to a peaceful earth for many many many centuries ahead!!!! 😉😘😘😘
Thanks, Marina, and it’s nice that you can relate, though, I don’t want you to experience the big one either! Yes, here’s to a peaceful earth! 💖🥰😍🙏
🙏🤞 ❤🤗❤
It’s been too long since I’ve hiked at Pt. Reyes. Thanks for the pictures.
It’s a beautiful area and I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. 🙂
Although we don’t live close to the San Andreas Fault, we do have a couple faults running not too far from our house that they keep warning us about. Pt. Reyes is a favorite hiking place when we get up to that area. I’ve not been on the Earthquake Trail, though… next time, for sure. Oh, and as a UCSC alum, “Go Banana Slugs!”
Thanks for chiming in, Janis. The unfortunate thing about earthquakes is they don’t come with a warning. C’est la vie! I hope you get to visit this trail. It’s not hard, more of a relaxing, informational walk with nature’s beauty all around. And how funny, your alum mascot is the banana slug. They’re definitely not pretty, but part of nature, nonetheless. 🙂
Looks like the perfect day out, Lauren.
Thanks, Mark. It was good to get out and also great that it wasn’t crowded. 🙂 Have a good evening!
Great music. My first visit to the US was 1980. We purchased a car and did a complete circle of the US visiting most of the states. It was an educational trip for our kids. I remember well experiencing my first earthquake in Bakersfield down south of you. It was a strange feeling to have the ground shifting under the feet so we were almost toppled over. I believe they referred to it as shaky Sunday on the radio.
I’m glad you enjoyed, Ian. A great song! Wow, what a wonderful trip and adventure that must have been. Feeling the ground shifting is a strange feeling. It’s just something we get used to when the shaking is mild. Glad shaky Sunday wasn’t a devastating rumble!
Very interesting trail and some great pics, Lauren. It is okay to be at least reminded about earth’s tectonic movements once in a while and keep hoping for the best…
Thanks, Raj, and I agree. We don’t worry about earthquakes, but we’re aware of their possibilities. 🙂 Take care and stay safe!
Thank you, Lauren. Huge hugs and much ❤ flowing to you all. ❤ Xxx ❤
Thanks, Jane, and huge hugs and lots of love to you too. Stay safe, my friend. 💗💗💗💗💗
❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
What lovely pictures, Lauren!! Lovely way to connect with nature❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thanks, Diana! Nature’s entertainment helps keep the chin up during crazy times such as these. Take care! 🥰💗🐝🐸🦋🌲🌻
The Bear distancing sign gave me a laugh & the fact that they had to have a Phone sign on the phone for people that didn’t know what it was. I don’t know about standing on the fault line. With my luck it would split open while I was on it. That Bay Tree looks like an oversized Bonsai Tree. Came across your blog Lauren from your comment on Wombania
I appreciate your comment and visit, Tony. I’ve been following Wombania for the time I’ve had my blog which has been ten years now. That bear sign and pay phone brought smiles and we just keep our fingers crossed regarding the fault line. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed and hope you have a great weekend.
I have a friend that lives in San Francisco very interesting post Lauren.
It’s beautiful in the bay area, but like other parts of CA, the fault line is there and who knows when the earth will shake. This is a great place to picnic and hike though. Thanks for stopping by, Charlotte! Glad you found the post interesting.
Beautiful walk Lauren. And love me some Carol King. ❤
Thanks, Debby. I’m glad you enjoyed the scenery and the tune. 🥰💗
❤ I surely did xx