mary e. pearson

 . . . and a world practically right in my backyard that I didn't know existed.  Yesterday I met newport2newport for lunch in San Juan Capistrano.  We had a wonderful time yakking and eating.  She has a fun slideshow and all the delicious details here.  And believe me, it was delicious.  How did I not know about this place?

I've been to SJC a zillion times at least.  I used to live nearby in San Clemente and SJC is also where I went on my first date with my husband.  It's a good halfway meeting point too,  for me and all my family and friends who live up in Orange County.  But in all the times I've been there I have never been down to this one tucked away and completely enchanting little street named Los Rios.  It is old and artsy and funky and eclectic with rows of old, old houses that are beyond adorable.

And it is not too often where you go to a restaurant and they have a rack of hats for you to choose from.  We made good choices, don't you think?


Yes, there were fresh roses on the table from their garden, and there were even edible roses that came on our plates alongside our heart-shaped scones. We even nibbled on a few petals. I had peach fruit tea and my teapot came in a pretty floral teacozy.  Is that what it's called?  I'm new to this tea world, but I like it.  I felt a bit like I was in Wonderland.
 
You never know what might be right in your own backyard.

I've had a lot of fun on this road trip tour so far. No flat tires yet, and only one soda spilled on the front seat.  It looks like the first leg of the tour is complete with all four ARCS reporting in.  We've visited . . . 

Libraries in Longview,  dairy pastures in Vermont, seals in Seal Beach, and haunted hotels in Miami.  It has been great to see all of your miles.  And the gas tank is still full--now that's my kind of road trip.

But while we're waiting for The Miles Between to make it's next stop, I thought I would send out a question to all of you:

If I were  driving through your town and I was hungry, what is the ONE place, hands down, that you would tell me to stop and eat at?

Can you tell it's close to dinner time here?