Bay Area 2009
Geologically, Point Reyes is not a part of the continental USA as it sits on a different tectonic plate than most of the country. The San Andreas fault runs deep below this area and created Tomales Bay. During our first afternoon at Point Reyes National Seashore, we took a leisurely walk on the "Earthquake Trail" that is an interpretive walk through earthquake. According to Wikipedia, "this trail runs directly over the San Andreas Fault, deep underground. so that it is possible to stand straddling the fault line."
It was quite informative and for those who wonder how we can live in California, at least we don't have "earthquake season" like people in the Midwest and East Coast have hurricane and tornado seasons.bayarea001Tomales BaySan FranciscoZoe Pamintuanzoeblue photographyPoint ReyesBay AreaCalifornia
A nice picnic area next to the Earthquake Trail.
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This type of scene with tall, gold-colored grasses always reminds me of "The Gladiator."
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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Taking photos on the Earthquake Trail was quite challenging with the deep shadows and bright highlights from the late afternoon sun. Our eyes are capable of a balancing a wide latitude between shadows and highlights, but cameras have a much narrower range. So if you expose for the bright areas, the shadows come underexposed, but if you expose for the shadows, the bright areas get way overexposed.
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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I love photographing trees. I love quietly standing in the middle of a forest and listening the wind move through the trees. I think these are aspen or birch trees.
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The trees seem to be having a conversation.
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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This photo shows the unimaginable power that lies below our feet. Look carefully, this fence used to be a continuous one. The infamous 1906 earthquake, the same one that destroyed San Francisco, pulled this fence 18 feet apart. Point Reyes itself moved 20 feet northwest!
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These blue posts mark the active fault line.
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A reminder that our planet is capable of unimaginable power.
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One of the many interpretive signs along the trail.
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I love trees. There is something about walking silently through a forest and stopping to listen to the wind move through the trees. It's as if the trees are whispering secrets to the universe.
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One of my favorite photos from this trail.
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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Views from the Earthquake Trail.
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Tall coastal prairie grasses.
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Tall coastal prairie grasses.
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Tall coastal prairie grasses.
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Nearing the end of the Earthquake Trail. The moss hanging on the trees is appropriately called "old man's beard."
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Lanie and I were laughing at this particular interpretive sign. It tells what happens to different types of soil/bedrock during an earthquake and we found it funny because during a massive earthquake, regardless of what type of soil/bedrock is under you, damage will occur and it's going to be scary no matter what. And if you live in the red zone, then what? What are the proper survival techniques for liquefaction? Is there a swimming class for that?
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People living in the red zone will experience liquefaction. Good luck with that one.
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Tall coastal prairie grasses.
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Why is it that every time I see the National Park Service arrowhead, I have to fight the urge to take it? But I took a photograph instead. Wouldn't want my National Parks pass revoked or suspended!
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Stopped to take some photos on our way to Limantour Beach.
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Views from the short trail to Limantour Beach.
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Beach grasses at Limantour Beach.
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