Unexpected reminders of Maine

Who would expect to find a New England village on the coast of northern California? Yesterday we came upon Mendocino, settled by folks from the East who felt right at home on the rugged, rocky, haunting coastline. Cape Cod-style and Victorian homes are perched on the bluffs over-looking the crashing surf of the Pacific Ocean. A redwood sculpture of Father Time and the Maiden decorates the top of a tower on a Colonial-style downtown building. The homes and attractive shops reminded us of those in Camden, a favorite destination for tourists looking for windjammer cruises and the flavor of coastal Maine. Today we moved further north to Humboldt County. We had a break in the rain by afternoon, so we headed off to explore on the Harley. Lo and behold, another Victorian town is tucked beside our new home-base of Eureka. Ferndale was built years ago by successful dairy farmers. Their gingerbread-decorated homes have been dubbed "butterfat castles" by the locals. The Humboldt Creamery is famous in this area for an assortment of milk-products, including many choices of delectable ice cream. Our taste buds and stomachs are still leading the way... yum, yum!