Michael's 50th

This past Friday - as a surprise for Michael's 50th - we took Harbour Air from Vancouver to Victoria.  Michael thought that we were taking the ferry over on Saturday morning, but we went over a day earlier and in style.  35 minutes from Vancouver to Victoria, compared to the four or five hours it would have taken had we driven.
I haven't been on a seaplane since I was a little kid and I flew with my Dad to Lasqueti.  Man, what a smooth ride.  The take off and landing was smoother and less stressful than a regular flight.  The views were great and we passed over some islands that I can't even tell you what they were though I've been travelling to the Island on the way to Lasqueti my entire life.  It was a bit loud and somewhat cramped, but it was it was fun and efficient experience.  One guy even nodded off for the flight.  What an expensive nap.
For our first night we stayed at Spinnakers.  I've eaten there a few times in the past and didn't know they actually had guest houses.  The room we stayed in was in a building designated as a heritage building and it was nicely appointed, with a real fireplace and a huge soaker tub.  The downside was that it was a heritage house and there wasn't much soundproofing between our room and the one above us that sounded like they were re-arranging furniture and perhaps bowling or something.
For dinner we went to the pub and it was great.  We had a couple of beer flights and split a meat and cheese plate, and a mushroom pizza.  The food at Spinnakers is really top notch and never fails to disappoint.
Our breakfast was included the next morning and Michael had the Brewer's Breakfast which was a basic breakfast with eggs, bacon, sausages, hash browns and a biscuit.  I had the best eggs bennie I have had in my life: it had pulled pork on it.  Oh my god.
Afterwards we checked out and moved to the Fisher House B&B, and went for a goddamned hour and 15 minute run because we had been eating too much.  Checked out Journey to the South Pacific at the IMAX which was cool as neither of us have been to an IMAX show in ages.  Dinner was at the Keg (thank god for reservations) where we tried to reign in the gluttony a bit with a burger for Michael and seared tuna tacos for me.  Then we went overboard and had creme brulee.  God I love creme brulee.
Today we were up for breakfast at 8:30 which was totally decadent: a fruit and yogurt parfait; sausages; croissant; and some sort of pudding.  Coffee and juice.  I couldn't finish it.  Plus, it was our first B&B experience so you're thrust into a social situation with two other couples early in the morning which is great because I don't like mornings, and I don't like people.  One couple was even more socially stunted than we were, and the other couple were seemingly wealthy and very, very vociferous.  They carried the conversation and then some.  I waver between being put off by how self absorbed people can be,and being faintly bemused that most people seem to assume that we lead uninteresting lives.
After breakfast we rented a couple of bikes and rode 50k from downtown to the Sooke Potholes.  Erm, it was a nice ride and scenic.  Plus there was this interesting point when we drove past an actual shooting range so we quickly realized how soldiers get PTSD.  It was a very unnerving experience and I put the hammer down to get out of that area.  The potholes themselves?  Kind of a let down.  It was equally as impressive as the Lynn Headwaters, which is maybe a four mile bike ride from where I live.  Nonetheless!  We needed to burn some calories and it was good to see an area of Victoria that we'd never seen before.
Came back, dropped off the bikes, showered and changed for our reservation at Il Terrazzo.  It was one of the best meals we'd ever had.  Michael brought up Hominy Grill, and it was also an amazing meal, but this was definitely up there.  I had a delectable salad, and Michael had a tuna and scallop appetizer that was cooked perfectly.  We both had cannelloni for the main dish: mine was stuffed with butternut squash and topped with crab cakes and a mango chutney; Michael's was stuffed with pulled pork.  Half way through we realized we'd overdone it.  Yet again.  The ambiance was nice and the service was very good without being overly cloying.  It was absolutely packed.  Our reservation was for 7:30 and when we arrived there was an hour long wait to get in. On a Sunday.
Tomorrow we go home.
Boo.