Benicia-Martinez Bridge, Dec. 31, 2010

Walking Distance: 3.3 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 1 hr., 10 min. (3:47 - 4:57 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Jefferson St. -- near Park Road, Benicia, CA

The last day of 2010 was somewhat overcast and cold. But, it wasn't too windy and it wasn't raining (yet). It was a fine day to walk across the Benicia-Martinez Bridge.

After lunch in historic downtown Benicia, I headed east toward the Benicia-Martinez Bridge -- which runs roughly north-south across the Carquinez Strait. I started from the Benicia side; from Jefferson (yellow lines on map), I walked up Park Road.

Near the intersection of Park Road and Oak Road, I turned right onto the paved, 2-way bicycle and pedestrian path toward the bridge. A few pieces of thistledown from large, dried thistles floated across the path.

On a clear day, there are probably nice views from this bridge (of Benicia and the Carquinez Bridge to the West). I turned around after I'd crossed into Martinez and Contra Costa County, and walked back over the bridge.

There were not too many other people (2 pedestrians and 4 bicycles) crossing the bridge today (New Year's Eve).

I enjoyed watching a small group of swallows flying around at dusk. Where there are bridges and  lots of overpasses, near the Bay, there are usually swallows.

Wildlife:

22 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 hawk; 21 swallows; 4 sea gulls; and 1 great egret

Glen Cove Marina to Carquinez Bridge Overlook - Dec. 26, '10

Walking Distance: 2.0 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 1 hr. 2 min. (2:40 - 3:42 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Glen Cove Marina Rd. East - up hill from Elliott Cove/Glen Cove Marina; Vallejo, CA

I walked out to both ends of the Glen Cove Marina. Although walkers are skirting private property, there is public access, and it's a nice area for a stroll, and maybe even a light picnic out by the water, weather permitting.

After walking around Elliot Cove and Glen Cove Marina, I worked my way up a series of earthen and wood reinforced steps and a dirt trail leading uphill -- to an overlook area with good views. This stretch of trail is part of the San Francisco Ridge Trail and the Bay Trail.

From the top of this hill, I could look West into the San Francisco Bay; look East into the Sacramento Delta; look South, across the strait, to the old C&H Sugar plant and trains moving along the shoreline; and I could look down onto traffic moving across the Carquinez Strait bridge. It was worth a little climb to get there.

Wildlife Sightings:
2 pigeons; 5 little brown jobs (LBJs); 6 sea gulls; 2 hawks; 14 coots; 20 ducks; 2 slugs; 3 snails (dark); 1 cormorant

Glen Cove Waterfront Park - Dec. 26, '10

Walking Distance: 1 mile (estimate)
Walking Time: 34 min. (1:57 - 2:31 p.m.)
Start and End Point: End of Westsides/Shoal Dr. (cul-de-sac); Glen Cove Waterfront Park, Vallejo, CA

I first walked East (following what is a dotted line on the map near Glen Cove), past the deserted Stremmel mansion, and found the paved road/trail (shown as a red line) that led to the wooden sign -- just West of the Benicia State Recreation Area, where I'd ended my walk two days ago.

After I reached the sign and admired the view of the Carquinez Strait, I turned around and walked West - as far as the narrow, muddy (dotted line) trail would allow.

The trail narrowed, and at one point I reached an area that I thought might have been an improvised camp or children's fort under a tree; however, the hand-drawn signs hanging from some low branches advised passer-bys that these were Native American burial grounds; and asked that hikers please pass respectfully. It would be great if these facts were called out or recognized as part of the Park. But, it looks like the city may not have finished developing this area. Or, like many areas right now, funding may be an issue.

At some point the trail got even narrower, muddier and sketchier -- enough that I decided to turn around and walk back to the car. It's possible that it continued around the point, and into the next cove (Elliot Cove, where the Glen Cove Marina is located); but it was hard to tell. All the recent rain contributed to a bumper crop of wild mushrooms.

Wildlife Sightings:
20 ducks; 20 coots; 3 turkey vultures; 2 sea gulls; 13 little brown jobs (LBJs); 1 (bumble) bee; 1 (tennis) ball in reeds/water

Benicia State Recreation Area, cont. - Dec. 24, '10

Walking Distance: 2.8 miles (estimate)
Walking Time: 1 hr., 20 min. (2:32 - 3:52 p.m.)
Start and End Point: Benicia State Recreation Area, parking lot near botanic garden; Benicia, CA

Today I continued my walk through the Benicia State Recreation Area (the portion of the red line further West on the map). Unlike the clear, sunny weather yesterday, today was quite foggy. So, I missed what I'm certain would otherwise be some beautiful views of the Carquinez Strait and bridge.

Instead I saw a few ships appearing and disappearing in the mist, and listened to the blast of a train across the strait, in Martinez.

What's not shown on this Bay Trail map is there is actually a fairly dense network of trails in this lower "lobe" (west of Dillon Point). I followed all the various trails to make sure I didn't miss any of the segments of the Bay Trail in this area.

At the end of the hike I had a car picnic (view of tables and trees shown at right). I have to say, I enjoy car picnics -- no matter how simple the food and drink.

I noticed there were a lot of land snails on wild fennel and other plants in this area. Their bodies were a bit darker than regular garden land snails that I see in my garden. (I'll need to do some research to find out what kind they are.)

My efforts to photograph a kite (bird) in a dead tree failed. Sea gull-sized birds, kites are striking white birds with dark around their eyes, and they have a flutter hover that is very distinctive. Ah well. Next time perhaps.

Wildlife Sightings:

60 snails (with darker bodies); 1 kite (bird); 5 sea gulls; 41 little brown jobs (LBJs); 22 ducks; 2 large "rafts" of birds way out on water/strait - but they were too far away to identify (probably ducks or coots); and 1 Western or Clarks Grebe.

Benicia State Recreation Area - Dillon Pt. - Dec. 23, '10

Walking Distance: 3.2 miles
Walking Time: 1 hr., 23 min. (3:10 - 4:33 p.m.)
Start and End Point: State Park public parking lot ($6.00 for Day Use), Benicia State Recreation Area (end of Rose Dr.); Benicia, CA

Today was a gorgeous, sunny winter day; it was a perfect time to walk around Southampton Bay and out to Dillon Point, in Benicia. The pictures tell the story. I followed Dillon Point Road (red line on map), inside the Benicia State Recreation Area -- continuing where I'd left off a few days ago.

On the way, I passed the Forrest Deaner Native Plant Botanic Garden (which contains some 250 species on 3.5 acres, overlooking Southampton Bay.

This dog-friendly stretch of of trail was suitable for all types of traffic -- walkers, runners, bicyclists, and cars. At the end of Dillon Point Road, there were restrooms and what appeared to be the end of the road; a small section of unpaved trail continued out to Dillon Point from there. Looking West (toward Vallejo), on a clear day, was a nice view of the Carquinez Strait Bridge.

Wildlife Sightings:
4 robins; 14 little brown jobs (LBJs); 9 ducks; 9 egrets (6 snowy, 3 great); 4 sea gulls; 5 ground and/or other squirrels; 7 Western and/or Clark's Grebes; 22 coots; 1 cormorant; 11 red-winged blackbirds; 6 crows