San Andreas Fault

What is better than wisdom? Woman. And what is better than a good woman? Nothing.

Life has been pretty rough for me. Terry won’t be back for a day or two but I’ve been able to manage. The other day I was really roughing it at poolside. It was hot and the water in the pool perfect but I managed. While there I learned about the Thousand Palms Canyon and the Palm Oasis. The San Andreas Fault runs right through this area which is just a few miles from where we were sitting. I knew the fault ran through much of California but I never really thought I would be right on top of it. Anyway, I wanted to go just so I could say I was really there. I needed to stand right on top of the San Andreas Fault. I had to. It’s kind of like being at the equator. If you’re close, you have to be there and you have to stand on it. I’ve stood on the equator in South America and in Africa. I had to do that then and now I also wanted to visit this well-known fault and stand right on top of it. It’s the same idea.

The short drive was interesting because in just a matter of a few minutes the busy city disappeared and the terrain changed to a very deserted desert. Just as quick a group of huge palm trees appeared in the middle of absolutely nothing. These palms were enormous and some were probably 250 years old. They hadn’t been trimmed which means all kinds of critters probably had set up homesteading in the dead palm leaves. I didn’t want to get too close.

At the Visitor’s Center there were warnings to watch out for bobcats, rattlesnakes and a few other critters. In addition, there was another board listing all the sightings and these sightings included recent ones of bobcats or mountain lions and diamondbacks. What do you think the chance would be that I would walk down any trail by myself with those warnings?

However, another couple was heading down the McCallum Trail about the time I was getting ready to walk back to my car. So, I just tagged along but then held my breath as I had to head back by myself.

Thank goodness the only wildlife I saw was this rabbit and it was hiding from me. Whee!

Okay, so now I can say I actually stood right on the San Andreas fault and nothing happened while I was standing there. There was no big rumble and no big shake. I was happy.

Been there, done that and don’t need to go back!

(Anyone notice anything wrong with this sign?)