The San Andreas Rift Zone

So, ran into a wonderful "early" retired couple who were geologists from out East. I asked them a billion questions about rocks before moving on...they were very nice, and seemed to be just enjoying taking their own good time along the trail (more so than me :) ). Entered this area at Cajon Pass that has the San Andreas Rift Zone passing through it and right up into this cool little town (Wrightwood), that sits right on it....the geologic formations in the 20+ miles leading up to the town are truly, as noted in the guide book "bizarre"---Mormon Rocks, lots of sedimentary rock crumbling away--friable seems to be the proper term, though I think of tissue not holding together well when I think of friable--many uses for a word.
Came across a sizable adult rattler on the trail yesterday--I told to get out of the way as he was already rattling, and backing off the trail under the cover of a bush(it was mid-day anyway, so it was too hot for his own good). I've been using the new "birdie Pal" sun/hiking umbrella rigged to my pack---hopefully get a good picture of it soon to post. It looks very ridiculous, but it WORKS! Portable shade.
There wasn't much agua to find on the trail this section, though I started with quite a bit, I was down to a half liter when I came across a big snow bank and after scraping off the top few inches, when to town filling up a couple of bottles...probably gained a liter's worth. I didn't need much as I was hitting a road to hitch into town for my resupply pickup. Fortunately, I got to the road as my new trail buddy's Gregg and Chris (guitar guys) were getting out of a buddy's car dropping them off after being in town (they are a day or so ahead of me), so I scored a serendipitous ride into town, and just finished a 3 hour conversation with "Earl" at this coffee shop---a very existential, metaphor filled, positively interesting 60ish fellow. Good chat.
Had a smallish critter attempting to gain entry into my netting tent last night around midnight...I had considered just crashing on the ground in my bag, but decided against it due to the bugs about. If I had done so, I'd probably have woke up with a couple of holes in my pack and food bits and such strewn about.