John 6:3

And Jesus went up into the mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

The great crowds did not honor Jesus' wish to retire for a rest and recuperation with his disciples, but simply ran around the north end of the lake and gathered around him at Bethsaida Julius.

Bethsaida Julius and Bethsaida of Galilee, although in two provinces, were separated by a narrow stream and were practically one town, situated on both sides of the Jordan as it enters the sea of Galilee on the north .... On the plain of Butaiha, a mile or two to the east, the five thousand were fed.[3]

The mountain ... refers to the massive headland overlooking the grassy slopes where this sign was wrought.