First hike of 2010

Here is a very brief trip report on our first hike of the Season, last Saturday, March 13. Eight hikers joined me for a wonderful hike in Benicia State Recreation Area. We hiked the entire park from one end to the other (7.4 miles) , sometimes on the blacktop trail and roads, but also on the improved trails that wind through the hills overlooking the Strait.

We enjoyed the cool breezes and blue skies. Checked out Dillon Point and the trails along the water to get there. The flock of egrets that has called the marshlands adjacent to Southhampton Bay home is still there.

We went to Benicia State Rec. Area because after the heavy rain on Friday, the trails in Lynch Canyon would have been muddy and slippery -- not fun.

But where are all the guys? Eight hikers and no guys? Come on!
Hope to see you on a hike soon!
Bob Colby, Leader

Hike, potluck, and birthday party

Once again our annual pot luck dinner (Saturday, 12/12) was a success.
We had a wide variety of delicious foods, main dishes, salads, relish tray, deserts galore, on and on....

Of course we enjoyed the baked salmon supplied by Steve Chrisman and it disappeared fairly quickly.

I did not do a head count, but I would guess we had between 25 and 30
hikers and their guests. Conversation was humming nicely all evening long.

To my surprise the event also turned into a birthday party for your leader
who turned 75 on December 7. A birthday cake with candles and all the
trimmings showed up. Luckily not 75 candles to blow out. The biggest
surprised was when Pepe showed up with his guitar and played several songs especially for me. WOW! That really made my day.



And what happened to the hike scheduled for Saturday morning? Believe it
or not, seven hikers showed up and we did a couple miles in the hills of
Benicia State Recreation area. A little drizzle with fog and the sun
attempting to burn through was quite enchanting.