Who knew that our trip up the California and Oregon Coasts would take us in and out of tsunami danger zones? In fact, we stayed for several nights in different areas where we needed to be cognizant of tsunami protocol.

Highway 101 up the coast is absolutely stunning as those who have traveled this way know. Our only advice would be to travel down the coast (not up as we did) as most of the scenic turnouts are on the west, ocean side of the road.

Since 1933, Crescent City, CA has experienced a total of 32 tsunamis, including one in March 1964 that remains the “largest and most destructive recorded tsunami to ever strike the United States Pacific Coast,” according to the University of Southern California’s Tsunami Research Center. It started with a 9.2 magnitude earthquake in Alaska which resulted in a nearly 21 foot wave that destroyed 29 blocks and killed eleven people. We were advised to “Know Our Zone” as tsunamis can happen at anytime and if a near-shore earthquake were to occur, we would only have minutes to get to safety. The beauty California coastal town belies the inherent risk of being here.

At Bullard’s Beach State Park, Sue achieved her dream of standing in the Pacific Ocean but the sea was quite angry that day and she got soaked in the process! Also, the sign in the KOA laundry advised against turning one’s back to the ocean but it didn’t mention how to outrun a wave without turning around…..Sue ran away from the ocean and toward the beach when the surf threatened to overtake her, thus breaking this cardinal rule.