Petra, Roger's comment about rubber blocks rather than bricks is a good comment. Concerning Carrizo plain, that sounds more-or-less correct, except that the folding and thrusting can occur much farther away from the San Andreas fault(can occur close also). For example, Northridge earthquake was thrust and is 50 km or more from San Andreas.
Maybe others should chime in here...Roger, John, Canie, Don, for example...about elastic strain and transients...I may learn something...
Chris