Point Pinole & Return to Port Costa - Sept. '24

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On a mid-September Monday, three hikers drove to the Point Pinole Regional Shoreline, in the Bay Area, a place new to us, but later at home I recalled that my nephew John had mentioned the park maybe 18 months ago ? He & Kim and Pepper live nearby, and walk here often.   

From the start, walking alongside a calm San Pablo Bay was appealing. The sky was overcast, with limited visibility looking (east or west) across the water.   

note - you can enlarge any part of a picture by left-clicking in and then out again (with some exceptions, like smartphones). 

	heading north		Eucalyptus trees		directly west is China Camp & Marin County
				start of 'the cliffs'
					Pinole Point & pier
		view to the north		SF ferry to Vallejo & Mare Island
	Jean looking at a Heron		Kathy on the pier, note 1		looking east
		salt marsh		Eucalyptus woods
	juvenile Osprey		return walk
				looking south to Richmond

note 1 - we only walked for a few minutes on the long pier before turning back, and about 20 minutes later saw the Osprey. Some birders at a nearby pond, w/long photo lenses, said the Osprey inhabits an impressive nest, on the furthest wharf post, best seen from the end of the pier.     

This attractive park is managed by East Bay Regional Park District, and is in great condition, with new water fountains everywhere, even to the end of the pier, the brochure says. We saw two large parking areas, with modern restrooms, and many picnic areas, the best being out by the Point, in wooded settings with good water views. 

Our walk was around 4 miles, with minimal gain, a great open-space stroll.  

Postscript - Return to Port Costa (we were here briefly last month)

The Warehouse Bar, on the waterfront, was dark inside, and as we ordered we could hear people at tables hidden in the shadows. Hard driving blues was on tap, as were 4 draft beers & 250 different bottled beers from around the world.   

On Mondays the restaurant closes, so besides a beer, we shared an order of 'cheese & crackers', consisting of ~ 100 saltines + a block of Safeway mild cheddar. We sat outside behind the old 1880s building, in a deserted (biker) beer garden, enjoying privacy & the music was less prevalent, so we could talk.

The cheddar came close to having flavor & the saltines were, um, salty, not that we starved. Twice, Amtrak trains flew by, a complete blur, heading east or west, still connecting the Bay Area to the rest of the Continental US, by rail. 

	Burlington Hotel, circa 1883, see note		the old warehouse		man in the moon look
		warehouse bar entry		Martinez Bridge & Amtrak rail line

note - later research established that the Burlington Hotel closed permanently, in 2024. For a long time it held the distinction of being California's longest continuously operating historic Hotel.  I don't know how long it held that title, but, since 1883, the place was in business for 141 years.  

From street level, the historic hotel's exterior looks original & outdated, suggesting a fire hazard ? "I'd never stay here", I thought. As we drove out of town we couldn't tell if it was open or not, a mystery. 

Back at home, on google maps, the final customer comments were about beautiful Victorian wallpapers & impressive UK-style scones, made fresh every morning, served with butter & jam !

Suddenly, I had a different outlook on the place...

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