The Carson Mansion, Eureka CA

Dinner in Rogue River, Oregon last night was a matter of limited choices--four to be exact. The restaurant we chose had only 6 tables, and when we called for a reservation we were told they were "packed all night". We passed over Miss Betty's since it was too reminiscent of our dubious lunch venue--Miss Q's. Not wanting pizza, we opted for an Italian restaurant deli that had a few tables, but apparently does mostly take-out as we discovered when our food arrived and HL said, "This is the first time I've eaten dinner from a box..." The food was quite good though, and so was the wine. I imagine we were the first people who had ever called ahead for a reservation!

Of all the times I've driven the road along the coast between Oregon and Eureka, today had to be the first time I've actually seen the sun. Usually the coast here is so shrouded in fog and gloom, that it seems unnecessary to designate it state park. Next to some of the long beaches there are often lines of RV's and camper vans, and I wonder who, besides fishermen, would want to actually stay in such a bleak, cold place. Today, however, the water looked clean and sparkling, the sky was blue, and the little town of Orrick, usually grim and depressing, looked merely eccentric and charming with all its chainsaw carvers and driftwood sculptures outside weathered little frame houses.

Lunch in Eureka was a treat. Our goal was the Carson Mansion, built by a lumber baron for his family. Like the MacDonald Mansion in Santa Rosa, its elaborate Victorian design was meant to show off the wood. It is now a private club, and like the MacDonald Mansion has been beautifully restored and maintained. Across the street is the Carson House, built for the baron's son and known as "The Pink Lady", for reasons which would need no explanation had I chosen her for my blip, but I imagine you can guess what color she is. I'm hoping Lady Findhorn chose her for her blip today because she has a charm all her own.

Or perhaps she will choose the two ladies having lunch behind us at the restaurant in the nicely restored "Old Town". Our husbands were highly embarrassed at our efforts to surreptitiously take their picture, but we had to stand up because they were in our way! The ladies were intent on their conversation and oblivious to us. They were rather grand old ladies, but in the end I decided they didn't quite measure up to the ornate Victorian ladies....