Dillon Point - June '25 

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On the last Wednesday in June, six of us met in Davis and then drove an hour to the Benicia, to walk in the hills at Dillon Point, an area new to all of us. 

Our walk meandered through the hills to Dillon Point and then west along the water towards the Glen Cove Community Park  There were strong winds coming up the Straits from San Pablo Bay.  

On the way back towards the marsh area, we found a shady rock outcropping and had an extended break.

note - on a pc or laptop you can zoom into any part of a photo, but alas, not on a smartphone. 

	at the Dillon Pt. parking area		Mt. Diablo to the east		fennel & fences
		dehydrated Artichoke thistle		Carquinez Straits
	first look at the marsh, see note		nearing Dillon Point		Marcia & Jean in the fennel
		back towards the marsh		break time

note - this is the Southampton Bay Wetland Natural Preserve.

Back at the parking area we had a look at the Forrest Deaner Botanic Garden. 

			mountain mahogany
				button willow

Next we found a coastal trail on the eastern side & walked back towards the Point, where we found a Neolithic style rock, a photogenic spot for the group.

	some of us, see note 1		teasel (not a thistle)
		Cynthia, see note 2		fennel again
	Neolithic rock
		Benicia marsh & and dry hills		fern pine at the parking area

note 1 - by chance, directly above the hikers & across the water is the mostly-hidden town of Port Costa, surrounded by recognizably steep hills, from a walk we did last summer on the Bull Valley Trail. 

note 2 - behind Cynthia to the left is Benicia and towards the center is Martinez, where the old refinery is no longer in operation. 

Plant identification is by Pictue This, or, from signs (in the Botanical Garden).     

We only walked 3 miles today....it was nice meandering on the many trails while enjoying great air & scenery.  

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Postscript - the initial hiking plan included an option to drive into Benicia after the walk, for a brew at the Mare Island Brewery, in the Marina area, but we opted instead to head back home.

There is a 4 mile rt walk from the park into Benicia and back, plus a historical route in the heart of town, so maybe we will visit this area again in the future.