The Victorians and the Redwoods

Friday, 17 July, 2015

California

Today, we spent much of the morning dealing with issues from yesterday.  We called the cell phone company to cancel Joshua's number, called our insurance agent to find out what we could claim, and called the pediatrician to ask them to call in a one month refill for her prescription to the pharmacy in town.  From insurance, they will pay the entire cost of the replacement window--no deductible, but for everything that was stolen, that comes from homeowners insurance, with a (huge) deductible.  Health insurance at first denied Shelby's prescription, saying that she had just filled it.  We explained to the pharmacist that her prescription was in her backpack that was stolen and that we had filed a police report and that we only wanted a replacement for the amount of the prescription that was stolen (about two weeks worth) and the insurance company finally agreed to pay for it (arrrgh--hate health insurance).   Joshua and Randy also bought some snacks for a lunch for later while Shelby and I were dealing with the prescription.

Then, on to Northern California.  When we were here 18 years ago, a waitperson in Eureka recommended that we go see the old Victorian houses in Ferndale, so we went and were impressed.  We went again today and were not so impressed.  (We think it was Ferndale, it sounds right, but it was 18 years ago!)

Then we went on to Eureka and in the historic old downtown, we found a public square and took our snack lunch (granola bars, cherries, apples, pears, and chips) there to eat.  Then we looked around at the cute old buildings (both houses and businesses)--most Victorian age. One block had all Victorian houses--all white!  Why have a Victorian house without painting the trim beautiful colors??  Your are denying that house to reach it's destiny!

The Conway mansion--now a "gentlemen's club"

T

The "Pink Lady" orginally called the Conway house--built for the Conways' son.

Currently a bed and breakfast-love the window bump-outs!

This one needs some TLC

Then we went to Clam Beach County Park to go to the beach.  The Pacific Ocean here is COLD!!!!  Joshua and Shelby got wet to their waists while I was only wet up to my knees (I had a long skirt on).  Randy was caught once, but only his hiking boots got wet (I had my Teva sandals on which are OK to get wet).

On the the Redwoods.  We couldn't find the original small road through the National Park that we took last time we were here, so we got off 101 and took the road through Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.  Very pretty, especially the extra gravel road we too off from that road!  We tried a few short hiking trails, but not enough time to do any serious hiking.  The children were suitably impressed with the big trees!  :)   It felt like the forest primeval.  Shelby likened it to Lothlórien.

The road zig-zagged among the trees--sometimes getting very close!

This is the "Big Tree" from the sign above

Then we drove along the coast into Oregon and are in Grant's Pass.  Tomorrow we will see our friends, Terry and Kathy.