Muir Beach Overlook

The older couple sounded decidedly British as we walked toward the railing, information signs showing maps and the location of the San Andreas Fault. "We're standing on one plate here, but if we go over to Point Reyes," she said pointing to the map, "we'll be on an entirely different techtonic plate." Looking up from the signs, the sunlight danced on the ocean water as we gazed north from this vantage point overlooking Muir Beach, the Point Reyes peninsula off in the distance.

Mia and I were driving south from Point Reyes and Stinson Beach, veering off to the right and up a steep hill to the promised overlook. We were rewarded with sweeping views south to San Francisco, west to the Pacific and Asia, and north to the coast we'd just driven along.

"I'd like to feel another earthquake," offered Mia, who has been in California during one teensy little 3-point-something temblor that caused me to break out in sweat. "Oh no you don't," said the woman. She and her husband had visited Christchurch in New Zealand after the quakes of 2010 and 2011 and observed the damage. I pointed out on the map the location of the Hayward Fault and told them the Bay Area was fractured with a number of faults, cheerfully pointing out they were in grave danger wherever they stood. They smiled, compared British whereabouts with Mia (London and Yorkshire), and we all walked down the path to the overlook, jutting out over the sea. I let them go a bit ahead of me. English southerners and northerners have this unnerving smile they give each other while speaking politely and privately thumbing their knives.

I soon forgot the imminent breakout of war (which is comprised of British witticisms, recognizable only to the Brits) as we all gathered in the colors of sea and coastal heather, with San Francisco shimmering in the distance. Sutro Tower stood like a distant Statue of Liberty, a welcome sight to sailors, travelers, and foreign nationals looking forward to visiting the city.

It had been a summer and early fall of beautiful coastal views. I filled in another hole in my Bay Area negligence over the years. I've been along Highway 1, north of San Francisco, but I'd never come along this stretch. The ocean views from here on a sunny, blue autumn day make you feel like you overflow with treasure. At the same time, you feel like you can never get enough, no matter how many gorgeous vistas you've seen. I wanted to stay and look for a long time. Given the number of selfie poses Mia orchestrated, we certainly did.