Hi Don,

Well, I still disagree with you on this one. But until a large earthquake arrives that can tie the two ends together, I rather suspect it will remain a mystery.

Here's some basic thoughts about just observing what is seen from mapping. The northbay area seems to be moving in a north easterly direction, while the east bay still runs north and south. During the Bolinas Quake and the RCF 9/22/99 quakes it was obvious that this area was headed for that east n/e trending due to the quakes that followed inland and to the north after these. The Yountville quake I believe as you do is more evidence that since the RCF hasn't had any large quakes in some time, the affects on both sides of the fault are showing up in small quakes around it.

Just in this past week the earthquakes of interest have shown up in past active area's, but not an every day occurrence. I am referencing the triagulation of Concord/Clayton, Tres Pinos, Rohnert Park and back to Gilroy again. Except for the RCF in Rohnert Park, the other two area's are not prone to large earthquakes. Moderate for sure, but not large.

This once again brings me to question, why hasn't the Hayward fault been having more 3's to 5's in the past five years. We know the seismic gap in the northern section of the San Andreas not far from the Golden Gate Bridge is locked as well. One of these days, these mighty giants are going to let go and I'm talking big time. Seems as though if you look between the seismograms what you've seen is small fault stress relief, which in fact may in the end bring on large fault stress relief.

It could get more interesting in the days and months ahead for sure.

Petra