Trapped and Epic Escape, Escape rooms, Downtown Victoria

This past week I got older. To celebrate, I got free breakfast at Denny's, had coffee with some friends, and then went to two escape rooms.

I count five escape rooms now in Victoria. Which seems a lot for a small city. But I'm guessing there's the market out there, not least as once you've done a room, you can't go back to same place. And if being locked in rooms and solving puzzles is something you like, you'll want to repeat it.

I like solving puzzles. I also like discovering a story line through play and collaboration games.

Trapped - Wharf Street

The newest place in town, who have rooms across Canada, using the same set ups and puzzles.  Slick graphics on the website, lots of clear branding, and easy enough to book.  $28 per person, discounted by booking online and further so by becoming a member.   Works out to under $25, and FREE if it's your birthday week.

I choose the Escape for the Ancient Pyramid room.  I'm not going to give up any spoilers here, it's Egyptian tomb themed.  Sand on the floor, simple story line about how we go there, and away we went.  The room is the most atmospheric of the four I've visited, and is not crammed in with junk or red herrings.  It felt spartan on the number of puzzles we saw. But it involved all five of us throughout. We needed to work as a team to try out various things and get through the puzzles.

We got out with nine minutes to spare. The very last puzzle disappointed me. The rest was logical, interesting and engaging, with nice little a-ha moments.  We did radio-in for a hint, which was a little bit of a head slap when we got it, but we needed it.

I'd like to have seen one more challenge in the room. But it was getting out with plenty of time to spare (some teams have done it even faster) that made me feel that way.  It was the only room I've ever escaped from, so I should take it as win and whine less.

I liked the clear instructions we were given.  There was the minimum of fussing around, and maximum of getting in.  It is a well run and organized set up there at Trapped. I want to go back and do the other three rooms (Hospital, Medieval Dungeon, Anime Killer).

Epic Escape - Bastion Square

I visited Epic Escape just after they opened in April 2017 (see review here). It's been almost two years, but a second room is now open, called 'Judge's Verdict'.  The aim is to bust your friend out of jail for a crime they didn't commit.   Again no spoilers, but the set up to the room, and instructions are very well done. There is a nice little surprise right at the start.

The rest of the room though kind of fell away. It's a good set up, with lots to explore, but there's no central story. Half the puzzles feel separated from the theme. The ones that do fit were excellent, but too often there was a bunch of stuff that -looked- like clues with nowhere to go from them.  We had to get help once, and had the room operator help us as well as we were getting nowhere. We appreciated that they kept an eye on us.  But overall, there was too many random locks with not enough (to us) places where we could try and work together. I'd like to have seen some more of the random objects used and less of the other stuff.  And a little bit of discovery of a backstory.

I do like how friendly the staff are, and they called to let us know one of us left a coat behind. I'll visit their next room, if it's less than two years away.

....

I have also been to Victoria Escape Games in the past.  To compare, they promise some great themes, but the delivery was lacking. With some areas where they could have sold the story line a wasted opportunity.  If you've built a room based on the legendary Miskatonic University and defeating the Great Old Ones... dress like it, act like it, and don't spend too long on the mechanical stuff.  Get in and playing, and don't explain the introduction to us.  It either stand on its own, or needs re-writing.  They run larger rooms, which does mean there are multiple routes to the same answer.  This can be demoralizing for anyone who spends time on one puzzle to be beaten there by someone else.

I have not visited Horror Escape  as jump scares are not my thing. I've heard good things from those who love that stuff.  I am impressed at what I've seen on the owner's facebook pages on the build and construction. But the theme of dirty horror leaves me cold.

There is also Escape Warriors on Blanshard.  I know nothing about them.

....

If you want a puzzle experience with actors, food and beer, I can suggest www.MurderOnTheAgenda.com. It runs 10/11 February 2017.  It's an event I'm producing, which has been very well received in the first two weekends.

Shirley Day, Shirley, BC

Shirley was named in honour of the joke in Airplane that ends with the punchline: 'Don't Call Me Shirely'.  Surely.

Shirely is a small community on the road out of Sooke towards Jordan River, Port Renfrew and the edge of the Pacific.  As you travel through the woods on the border of the Juan De Fuca, you'll pass a swathe of B&B's, cabins and getaway lodges.  There's small holdings and farms, a meadery and The Shirley Delicious Cafe.  Next to the Shirley Fire Hall and the social centre of this settlement.

The lovely Brunette of my Acquaintance knows the area well, selling her baked goods and jams at a market there every couple of weeks.  But once a year, there's the Shirley Fun Day, where everyone in the area and beyond comes togther, buys local produce, meets, greets and eats BBQ salmon.  All intended to raise funds for the fire hall and to keep the community centre running.

It makes the rural crowd proud.  They chat to the neighbours that they may not see quite as often, bond over shared experiences and check in with each other.  Meanwhile, the kids run around and cause gentle mayhem. And the urbanites in their BMWs drive out to buy the most exquisite chocolate brownies I have ever had ($1 a square).

I could have spent a small fortune on veg and jarred preserves, but came away with some fresh Arugla sprouts.  And a belly full of BBQ Salmon.  Which was delicious, especially with a heaping mound of fresh salad (probably not locally grown) and a chuck of tasty olive oil bread.  And some rice.  Pretty good meal for $12.50.

I also managed to win a case of Joia Natural Sodas and a new baseball cap in the silent auction.  The Brunette is not so keen on me wearing a cap all the time. I maintain it keeps the sun out of my eyes and the sweat of my neck.  Though as The Libertines once wrote:

There are fewer more distressing sights than that

Of an Englishman in a baseball cap

And we'll die in the class we were born

Well that's a class of our own my love

A class of our own my love

(A Time for Heroes)

We left the country idyll to the sounds of the loudest Electronic Dance Music I've heard since I went to 'rave' aged 19.  Apart from that, if you are out that way, stop in to the cafe, or the Sunday markets. 

Jamie's Italian, Covent Garden, London

I was in Central London on a hot day, walking around and just generally enjoying visiting the capital. I decided I needed a bite to eat, and being in Covent Garden area, there's a whole surfeit of options. I came across Jamie Oliver's Italian Kitchen and stopped by to scan the menu. Jamie's got his detractors, but I like his passion for food and his simple dishes with good ingredients. I like how he gets getting stuck in with both hands when cooking, with no messing around wit odd gadgets. His faux Cockney matiness along with his explanations to an unseen and unheard interviewer just off to the side of the camera were artifice. But they at least made him stand out from some of the more boring TV chefs in the 90's.

The menu reflected this attempt to be the every man. Words like 'great', 'tenner' and, I'm sure 'nosh' abounded in the columns of options. Simple line drawings broke up the text listing fresh ingredients and easy, breezy preparations. I went in. It seemed like a good idea. A bowl of pasta and a salad would give me some nutrients before I went to the pub for the third day straight.

Before I walked in, I had no idea this was a large chain that had taken off Britain. I assumed it was a lower budget version of his other offerings, with maybe one or two branches. I didn't know otherwise until I left and mentioned it to friends. But this is a big chain restaurant. There's a small patio area accessible via a set of sliding doors. Though in use, but not full, I wasn't offered a seat outside, and instead sent to sit against the wall of Jamie's books. Hundreds of copies of his recipe books adorned the shelves. I thought about taking one down to read but was worried I might splatter the pages with sauce, and have to buy a copy to lug back to Canada. My bag was heavy enough already.

There were a lot of white tiles on the rest of the walls, the parts visible behind the chalkboards advertising different specials - fish special, cocktail special and bruschetta special. One waiter served me tap water ('still or sparkling, sir?', 'Thames, please'), then disappeared for the rest of the service after taking my order. A different waiter brought the pasta, and a third brought the bruschetta. A fourth brought the bill and a fifth took my money. A sixth and seventh were hanging at the front desk. No-one came by to check if the food was okay. All the guys had groomed beards and tired back ponytails. They had posh accents and pressed trousers and shiny shoes. Like there was a special clone factory for them somewhere in Leicester Square.

The pasta I ordered was the Rigatoni Pomodoro. It promised a sweet tomato sauce with garlic, basil, hard cheese, mascarpone and herby breadcrumbs. I think Jamie must have run out of breadcrumbs. There was none in the sauce. The pasta was mostly a solid al dente... the first bite was underdone, but the rest just fine. The sauce was disappointing. I've done better with a can of tomatoes, an onion and a lump of butter. The basil was scattered on top, not flavouring the food. The creaminess of the cheese lost in the sauce. The sauce that hinted of rich ripe tomatoes, the way a casino hints of winning millions. You hope for it. You see how it might happen. But you don't get it. It just was not worth it the price (6.25 Pounds or $12 Canadian for a small portion), rather than being an abject failure. I expected more from Jamie.

The bruschetta was a different story. A spring vegetable creation, it piled curls of courgette (zucchini in Canada, but I'm in London, so it's courgette) on a minty, bashed pea and creamy cheese base. The idea of freshness and growing vitality came through in the dish, and met the promise of the chalkboard special description. There was a zest and a bite to the flavours. The texture of the peas offset the cloyingness of the cheese. The courgettes added some heft to the dish and gave up their flavours to a bright olive oil dressing. The bread base was a little thin, and a little small, but that's a quibble. If the pasta had been as good as this, I'd have no complaints.

But as it is, Jamie's Italian Kitchen is just another eatery. It's farming out a brand of food that's priced over its value, playing off on the celebrity name. Plus, I am not sure I can forgive being forced to listen to terrible 80's music while I dined.

Tourist in your Hometown, Day 2, Part 3

After a day of visiting Victoria, and a night sleeping at the James Bay Inn, I got up in time to grab breakfast and head out on my way up island. I had one person to pick up on the way. I was being accompanied by the eleven-year-old spawn of The Brunette of my Acquaintance. She likes to be referred to as Mavymag when going incognito. So, I picked her up and headed up island to The Butchart Gardens. Voucher Fourteen was free entry to probably Victoria's most famous attraction. The Gardens remediated lands that were once a quarry and gravel pit for a concrete works at the end of the Saanich Inlet. Mrs. Butchart spent years turning the area into a series of planned gardens, showcasing all different styles.

We started our walk through in the Japanese Gardens, which is complete with a maze of streams and paths, bamboo bridges and arches, raked zen gardens and quiet little corners for contemplation. If you're not disturbed by a horde of other visitors coming through to share the peace with you. We walked back through the English Rose Gardens which were lacking in Roses (it being February, not July). We then scuttled through a maze of twisting little paths, all the same, and into the Sunken Garden. Here there's a mix of alpine rockeries and formal lawns, leading down to the Ross Fountain. These are Victoria's answer to the Fountains at the Bellagio in Vegas. Mavymag was fascinated by the patterns the water was making, with the jets changing in power and direction. It's very restful to look down into the pool at the base of the quarry and just watch the water spraying up and around.

We didn't have time to visit every corner on this trip, and headed out against the incoming crowds, and over to the Butterfly Gardens. I had hoped for a coffee shop there, but instead we walked across the road to Sassy's. Coffee for me, a portion of Poutine and a glass of milk for the eleven-year-old. It got us fuelled and ready to face the butterflies. Voucher fifteen was a free entry to the Gardens, and we headed into the big greenhouse. It's warm and humid inside, and was another popular destination. We didn't do the location justice in the 45 minutes we were in there. We got landed on my large iridescent blue butterflies, saw giant moths who can't eat, watched a blue macaw who was gobbling down seeds and nuts with aplomb and searched out the flamingoes. Mavymag made friends with a green parakeet, and I think she wanted to spend the rest of the day chatting to the bird. It certainly seemed to be happy with all the attention, walking around the stone walls, and all over the visitors. I enjoyed looking at the huge pitcher plants and the insects emerging from the racks chrysalises. There was a lot of staff on hand to tell the children fun facts about animals too. Worth a longer trip if you have children who like wildlife up close.

Into Sidney, was got rockstar parking outside the Sidney Archives. Voucher sixteen was another free entrance. This basement museum wends and winds all around underneath shops on Main Street. It's a mix of items, some local history and a lot of Lego. There are lego kits and models from the eighties and nineties to more modern stuff. Shelves and shelves of models made and on display. Not to be played with. There are several dioramas, mixed in with mannikins modeling old-time clothing or old farm equipment for separating out the cream from milk. It's an odd mix, but I supposed the kids love the Lego, and the scavenger hunt to find certain models. While the adults can learn about the local history. This adult learned Sir Arthur Currie used to teach in Sidney before he made a name for himself during the first world war, especially the storming of Vimy Ridge.

We then went down to the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, for Voucher seventeen, and half priced entry to this watery world. I like aquariums and animals under the sea, watching them just hang out and float around. The Centre specializes in only animals from the local waters of the Salish Sea. Somehow, while I found it very restful and interesting, it seemed over too quickly, even wandering through slowly. There's an amazing mix of colours and types of stuff around here, not least the kittens of the sea, the giant octopi. The one here was sitting around having a rest during our visit though. But while giant octopi aren't man-sized, dangerous predators, they are smart and curious. And being able to flow into the smallest cracks has got to be a useful talent. For a cat burglar, especially. Maybe they should be called Octopus Burglars?

On that, we headed off south towards SeaCider, to see what they had to offer. But the time was conspiring against us, plus I couldn't drink samples as I was driving. Mavymag only drinks champagne. So we took and executive decision to head straight down to the Ashton Armories on Vanalman Road.

Using Voucher eighteen, I wasn't sure what to expect here, which was the main reason for trying to get there before it closed. Inside a gym hall, there was parked up several light vehicles, wrapped in the smell of oil, diesel and various lubricants. One old soldier gave us a personal tour of the museum collection. This was a whole heap of decommissioned guns and rifles, swords and clubs. I enjoyed being able to pick up a Lee-Enfield, the standard issue rifle during World War Two. It's heavy, and I can't imagine having to carry it with a full pack up through the surf and onto the Normandy beaches.

There're all sorts of curios in the collection, that required a little historical background to understand. The labels are purely informational rather than contextual, so you had to know why a Zulu shield was there and what it meant, for example. Still, I got to show off my knowledge of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. We then toured around the vehicles. The Armory keeps up newer, logistical vehicles while preserving old trucks used by the Canadian forces. There was a stripped down Ferret (a reconnaissance vehicle) which an enthusiast was taking about the transmission on. A UN jeep. A 3 tonne truck built for use in the UK during the war. And outside a HUGE hulking beast of a tank recovering truck. Designed to pull massive lumps of wreckage around, it was impressive in its size.

We had to leave as they were shutting up shop for the end of the open day, but there was a fair amount to see, and talk about, even if it needed someone to tell you what you were looking at. Mavymag enjoyed getting to clamber into the driver's seat of a few of the vehicles too.

And that was it, time to head home for a nice cup of tea, and meet up with the Brunette herself. I had seen a lot of Victoria in the last thirty-six hours. I now just wanted to put my feet up and digest it all, and work out what was really worth it, and what was just so much foam.

Tourist in your Hometown - Day 1, Part 2

After hitting up the Bateman Centre, Miniature World, the Parliament Buildings and various sundry shops, I was ahead of my schedule for my Victoria vacation and sight seeing whirlwind.

I headed over to Market Square to use my ninth voucher from the play book, a free tour of Market Square, which promised 'Gamblers, Gold and Ghosts'.  Two hosts, Chris and Kit from a local walking tour company were giving a forty-five minute taster of their product.  Using Market Square as a base, Chris guided me and about fifteen others through the corners of the square, giving bits of the seedy history of the city and a few ghost stories mixed in.

I hadn't known that between Johnson and Pandora there once was the Johnson Street Ravine, which divided the European section of Victoria from Chinatown.  Nor did I know that there was a pub called the Drake on the corner of Johnson and Wharf in the 50's that was as disreputable as they come... a far cry from today's Drake Eatery. Chris related the importance of the Chinese immigrants into Victoria, as merchants, workers and traders during the Fraser Valley Gold rush.  And the subsequent heavy use of Chinese labour in building the trans-Canada railway. The various ghost stories were interesting but only in a the context of the history that surrounded them.  I don't believe in ghosts, but I quite like a good detective story or unsolved murder.  It was a good tour, with the one thing I didn't like was the slightly episodic nature of the stories rather than a central narrative.  For people who like to hear about the local level of history and see what the streets of Victoria were once like, worth going.

Walking out of Market Square, I headed over to Harbour Air.  50% of postcards and souvenirs led to more postcards for the veritable pile I've created to send home.  I didn't take them up on the 20% flight discount, but that's a great deal if you knew you were flying that weekend. Voucher ten torn out.

A quick walk to Roger's Chocolate in Government street and some Victoria Creams purchased in a two for one deal.  This shop is awesome for chocolate lovers, of course with rows and rows of locally made goods, displayed in racks like a old-time store, with old-time wooden shelves and an old-time hexagonally tiled floor.  Chocolates were given to the Brunette later.  Voucher eleven completed.

Voucher twelve is the rather boring free gym bag and four weeks membership of Good Life Fitness for $10.  I figure if I can hit two classes or sessions there I'll have got my value out of it. (The Brunette just commented on the bag that she's not quite sure where I got it from.  There's only four logos on it, so it might be a bit too subtle for her. I'll let Good Life know they need to make it a bit more obvious when creating promotional hand outs.)

Voucher thirteen was the one I'd really been waiting for, though.  Half-priced afternoon tea at the Empress. The Brunette and family had to cancel due to illness, to their dismay and mine. I had a reservation to the hottest deal in town and no-one to share it with!

However, I managed to convince Andrea to come for tea at the last minute.  Everyone I know whose visited Victoria talks about Afternoon Tea here as an option, served in the traditional style with plates of tiny sandwiches and little sweet desserts.  But at fifty bucks (plus) a time, I'd never been, preferring a $5 cuppa at Murchies or a $2 brew in a paper cup from Speciality Teas.

Okay, standing on the side of the street sipping an Earl Grey while watching the traffic pass by and the homeless guy panhandle for change is NOT the same experience as having a smartly dressed lady usher you to an over padded chair with a view of the harbour.  Tea here is not just about what you get, it is HOW you get it.

After being seated Yousef, our server, came over with a couple of bowls of Strawberries and Cream, and a tea menu. We went for the recommended Empress Tea, a mix of various leaves, and probably served here since the hotel was built.  Tea came out in two massive pots, and poured into some fine china tea cups by the extremely polite and effective Yousef.  Splash of milk and a big long sip.  Ahhh, that fine, fine feeling of good black tea.  It rushes up the tongue and into the brain and tells me that world is spinning in the right direction and I don't need to get off it, not today.

I tried to teach Andrea how to sip it with the pinkie properly extended, but that was didn't go so well, and we just supped and sipped as we cared.  Neither of us poured it into the saucer(*), so I think we passed the social etiquette test required.

Along with the tea came a stack of plates in a serving tower.  On the bottom rung we had a set of little sandwiches, including cucumber on white bread with the crusts cut off. Level two contained a large scone, cream and jam.  And on the top, some petit fours, little elegant little confectioneries.

The rolled salmon sandwich tasty, with fresh meat.  A thin slice of salmon rolled into a spiral with brown bread and butter, then thin slices served.  Like a very savoury Swiss roll.  The tiny egg-salad croissants were nice to, with lots of creamy, fresh flavour.  The cucumber sandwiches were indeed refreshing, as they should be.  The rye-bread and coronation chicken was not so enjoyable... not enough filling, rye bread was a little dry.  Plus it's rye bread, and I react badly to rye beer or rye liquor, so I associate it with moods swings, nausea and general mardiness.  I believe Andrea enjoyed all the sandwiches she tried, avoiding the ham and chicken.

The scone was fresh and soft and full of dried fruit. I experiemented having it both Cornish and Devon style.  Fruit first THEN cream (Cornish), or cream first THEN fruit (Devonshire style). My experiment came to the conclusion is that it doesn't matter, as long as you are feeding your face with good jam, fresh cream and crumbly, dense scones.  Which I was.  I know my tea partner enjoyed the scones as she was oddly silent for five minutes while she ate it, with a far away look her eye, like she was contemplating something.

Finally, the petit fours.  I avoid the coconut macaroon, as I dislike dessicated coconut.  I loved the tiny chocolate tea cup filled with a thick chocolate ganache and raspberry syrup. The lemon cup thing was super tart, and sharp.  The thin shortbread was shortbread, delicate and easy to digest with just a hint of biscuit and butter flavour.  If there was anything else up on that top level that I ate, it wasn't very memorable.

Overall, we had  a nice, relaxing long hour of tea and chat and good food.  The surroundings are elegant, with a mix of sofas, chairs and slightly more formal dining table chairs.  The staff are super effective, friendly but keeping out of the way to allow you to enjoy the experience.  For the $25.00 we paid (plus a generous tip) it was worth it.  I am not sure I can convince myself that the peak tourist season cost of $63 is worth it.  The line ups to get will of course tell you that many people think it's the thing to do in Victoria, and there's nowhere else quite like the Empress in the city.  And nowhere else that does afternoon tea to this scale.



I said my thanks and goodbyes to Andrea and headed back to the James Bay Inn for a sit down, write up the report and a night in the pub with some other friends.  And we'll leave that section for another post.

(*) Historical note: Iranians traditionally drank tea this way, and it was a common way to cool hot tea down in the past.  'We've' just all decided it's not the done thing any more.

Tourist in your Hometown - Day 1, Part 1

It was a grey and drizzly day as I left home to drive the shortest distance I have ever have for a holiday.  The James Bay Inn, just outside the downtown core had a cheap deal for the nights of 'Be a tourist in your own Hometown', so I decided to take a mini-break and take a look around Victoria with a slightly different perspective.

The side plan was also try to use as many vouchers from my Attractions Victoria 'playbook' as possible in two days.  Because it always has to be a challenge and a project.

Walking down from the JBI (voucher 1 used), I noticed on the corner of Superior and Government how many different styles of architecture I could see.  The 'free classical' of the legislature building, the art deco bulk of the rear side of the BC museum, the wooden west coast detached buildings next door to a very modern, angular wood and concrete house. Many parts of Victoria seem to have a melange of styles and ages, and there's very little identi-kit housing in the central area.  If you want that, head to Bear Mountain....

I walked into Tourism Victoria to use Voucher 2, a half-priced transit pass.  Not that I used it today, but it's a scratch off, so we can save them up for the future.  A quick trip downstairs, and I pick up some postcards from Oceanside Gifts, and a Canadian Flag patch. Getting 15% of with Voucher 3.  I've been sending cards home to the family in the UK on semi-regular basis recently, so stocking up seemed like a good plan.

Next up, Starbucks in the Steamship terminal.  A space that once had the stalwart of hometown tourism... the Waxworks. Now home to the Robert Bateman Gallery... who I always refer to as 'Lord Bateman' after the British folk song. Voucher 4 got me half-price entry.  I was prepared to be cynical and snarky.  I left being much less cynical and appreciative of the massive output of his.  While I still think his natural art is wonderfully detailed yet lacking in life, giving a mawkish and distance feel, I found his other works much more engaging.  He did a series of more impressionistic pieces in the 60's, and one of a short path in Toronto called the 'Belt Line' really grabbed my attention.  Enough to see if I can find a print.

They also have a display of parts of a forty year collection of letters between Robert and his wife Birgit.  These are lovely objects, collages of art and ideas and objects from places they've stayed, visited and memories they've made together and apart.  They set themselves the challenge to create a letter to each other every three months, and kept it going this long.  It reminded me of the Griffin and Sabine books and images from Nick Bantock.

Still, onwards to the Legislature to use Voucher 5 - a free tour and Voucher 6 - 10% of in the gift shop.  Voucher 5 is not worth the paper it's printed on, as all tours are free here, all the time.  Thanks, Attractions Victoria for the padding.  That said, the tour itself was a good use of forty five minutes.  It combined information about the building with history of the province.  The building is officially called the BC Parliament Buildings, as that was the act that paid for it in the 1890's.  The architect, Francis Mawston Rattenbury, looks like Matt Damon with a big moustache.  He was twenty five when he designed it, on the strength of a forged resume. There are some rather nice stained glass windows, especially the one of the twelve areas of study.  That, and the four traditional jobs of BC, have sparked off a couple of ideas.  We also got a background on how the legislative assembly works, both the ceremony and the business.

Next, I walked over to Miniature World, just as I learned the news about Leonard Nimoy's passing.  So it seemed appropriate to have a minute of silence in the space section.  Which is a delightfully camp corridor with strange models of space stations and asteroids, with a voice over talking about warp tunnels and holidays in space.  Voucher 7 got me free entrance.  The best part of this museum is the large display showing the Trans-Canadian railway from coast to coast, with the  sound track telling you all about how it got built.  The rest of the displays are an assortment of items, which if you like miniatures of stuff is interesting but otherwise not so much.

Most curious is the new section, with a series of models telling the tales of Camelot, King Arthur and the Round Table.  With a very annoyingly loud soundtrack.  I have no idea why this is here. The models aren't that exciting, the buttons to animate things are laughable and the 'history' lesson is based on multiple, bastardized version of the Arthurian legends.  Still, I am sure kids love it, so that might explain exactly why it's there...

Voucher 8 was lunch at Dog-Gone-It which  serves the finest in gourmet hot dogs. I think that is the claim. My voucher got me a free bag of chips.  I ordered the Labrador Dog.  Hot dog, maple bacon, grated cheese and crispy onions with hot sauce.  Something smelled weird about my food.  Or the place.  The staff were busy and friendly in that rushed sort of way. The eating area felt like a airport lounge, designed to serve people's needs but not their wants.  My hot dog was loaded with the extras, with a soft white bun and a huge strip of bacon, piled with cheese.

I unhinged my jaw, and took a bite.  It was sustenance, but still with this odd, cake-like smell.  I realized suddenly... it was the bacon.  It smelled sweet from the maple syrup.  Sickly sweet.  Poor bacon, it died in vain.  Otherwise, the hot dog was fresh and juicy... but Mr Tube Steak will do you better from a street car.  But for $5, I didn't go too wrong.

And that was my morning... I have more from the afternoon to report, but will leave it for another day.

Saltspring Island trip, Christmas 2014

I've been to Salt Spring Island more times in 2014 than I've been to Vancouver.  Once with friends, once with my mum, and now once with the Brunette (the one of my Acquaintance and often mentioned as being gorgeous).

We headed over after I found a good deal from the Salt Spring Harbour House.  It was in that Christmas to New Year limbo, my favourite time of the year, if I am off work. There's no commitments, nothing planned, everything is quiet and you can relax a little.  If you are in London around then, its the best time to see the place without too many people.

The hotel was fine.  We took the non-scenic view room overlooking a corner of a farm paddock and the air conditioning units on the roof of the backside.  It was large room with high windows and lots of pine.  And a paint job that seemed to be half covering some of the pine beams.  The room had two Murphy beds, so I am guessing it is used as a break out room for meetings when not having oiks like me sleeping there (the Brunette is not an oik, just to be clear, just me).  No table, so no board games. Because that's what I like to do in hotel rooms... play board games.

I had hoped to get a chance to tour the farm as well too, you know, as part of my continued understanding of where my grub comes from, but that didn't happen as a long lie in was more important for me in the morning.  As sadly, dear readers, I got a cold.  Everyone feel sorry for me now, please.

Thanks.

Still, I had a decent nights sleep despite my cold and woke up plenty rested.  I'd stay there again if I got the same deal.  I wouldn't pay high season rates, which I suspect probably means I won't be staying on Saltspring during the high season very often.

Before the hotel stay, we had a wander around Ganges.  First order of business was food, and from the choices on one side of Gracepoint Park (nothing to do with the TV show) we went to the Saltspring Wok Bar.  A small space with a bar, and prep area for the chef.  Who was in residence and happy to tell us all about the daily specials (something laden with peanuts), and his former career as a heavy duty mechanic on VIA Rail.



The food was great, big salty-savoury noodles covered in a Green Thai chilli curry with chicken.  Creamy, with some heat and a lovely combination of flavours.  The Brunette had the same thing with smoked tofu, something he was happy to let us try before eating.  She's not a tofu lover, but she dug his smoked tofu (locally smoked, which doesn't have the same cachet as locally smoked salmon).  This was all eaten up happily in The Local, a small corner of the liquor store dedicated to serving beer and letting people bring in food from the row of small eateries.  Great idea, and you also get a view of the harbour. There is a patio for the summer, but we kept well inside.

We then hit up all the craft and independent shops that were open, including Black Sheep Books and Fever Tree design.  The former, I think I have mentioned before, is an awesome maze of new and used books. The later sells wholesome clothing and interior design pieces, and was being run by Tarquin, an Aussie who has travelled far and wide.  Had a good chat with him before moving onwards.

For the evening libations, we stopped in at Moby's Pub for a pint. Seems to be the place for craft beers in town, and I had a very satisfying pint of Russell's Blood Alley bitter.  Russell's every day draft beers are terrible, cheap and have the flavour that you'd expect by wringing out a damp bar towel after hosing down the bar top on a Friday night rush.  Russell's premium line makes great, flavourful brews well worth finding and spending a little time with.  Go figure.  I had originally ordered the Mile High Mountain Ale from Vancouver Island.  Described as a American Red Ale, it was pretty damn good, but I swapped with the Brunette who preferred it to the hoppier Blood Alley.  She's insisted I mention this beer as it was 'fantastic'.

I also ran into my old next door neighbour from Victoria, now serving behind the bar.  He lived in the basement of his parent's house when I first got here, while I lived in the much bigger helper suite. Very odd to run into him, but was nice to be recognized after five years... it took me a second to work out who it was, but he knew me straight away.    Nice locals style pub, I would certainly drink there again.

We then took a cold, dark walk down to the Salt Spring Inn.  The Inn has a medium sized dining room, overlooking the main core of Ganges.  It's an open space with high backed booths but with large picture windows.  This gives it a cosy feel but not claustrophobic.  You can shuffle into a booth with your date, gossip about the day but still part of the general dining crowd.



I ordered up a lasagne, despite there being a tonne of options I could have chosen (burgers, steak, jambalaya) while the Brunette went for Halibut tacos.  The lasagne was awesome. Deep filled, lots of juicy sauce and crisp, gooey cheese on top.  It was grilled to finish it and that made it piping hot.  I was accused of 'Dyson'-ing it up, which I claim was an unfair description of someone enjoying their food.  The Brunette said the tacos were delightful, served with a crisp green salad.  The fish was well cooked, kept moist and flakey, not a dried out mess.

We finished with dessert.  The cream cheese iced carrot cake I had was expertly made.  Moist, light and tasting of sweet grilled carrots, while the icing had sharpness to it that offset the cake.  The 'Death by Chocolate' my date had was nibbled at and savoured.  It had a dark, rich ganache coupled with a dark, dark cake. I was allowed a small morsel, and I have to concur, it was an awesome, intense dish.  I couldn't have eaten a whole portion myself, preferring my carrot cake. But others would disagree.

We paid, said hello to the restaurant's very friendly, old cat and toddled back to the hotel, happy and full.  And I was about ready for a NyQuil and a long, long sleep.

The Pickle Pub Crawl, After Action Report

Today, we went pub crawling. The Victoria Harbour ferries run a crawl in association with eight of the local pubs.  You pay $15 for a day pass for the ferry and for every four people buying drinks at these partners, you get a plate of appys.  It's a self organized, casual type of thing.  You tour around all day, heading where ever you fancy, calling into the Harbour ferry from each pier when you want a pick up.  Get 10 or so friends together and see what happens.

We started in the Canoe club.  I continue to dislike the beer there, but love the patio and the food is reasonable.  I had the eggs diablo, a baked egg and chorizo sausage dish.  Not exactly filling, but very tasty and a good start for the day. The IPA was terrible, and I should have passed on drinking here.  But with fine weather and even finer company, the mood was set in for the day for me. The shared appy here was some just about passable calamari and a mushy, sour tasting white bean dip.  

We then took a hop over to the Lido.  A small cafe and patio bar right next to the Hyack air terminal.  I've had a great coffee there before one trip to Seattle.  The beer menu is short, but good. Two jugs of Driftwood's White Beer were shared, and the conversation was set for the day.  The very attractive Brunette of my Acquaintance enjoyed her Pimms cup, served properly with cucumber and a basket full of raspberries.  The G&T drinker declared the mixed drink to be fantastic.  I love the space here, and for summer drinking, it's well worth it.  The appy was perfect drunk food, a cheesy garlic thin crust pizza.  No sauce, just cheese, bacon and garlic.  Served with a 'special' white sauce (sweet, thin and terrible) and a thick oregano paste (really good).

A real ferry ride took us to Spinnakers.  Not part of the official Pickle Pub Crawl, but one of my favourite places in Victoria.  Sadly we sat inside, so the day seemed to slip away and the energy lowered with the lack of sun light.  Still, I drank a fantastic saison from Gigantic Brewing. 8.5%, in a 13oz snifter.  Dry, slight fizzy, slightly spicy and crisp.  Too many would have made me slip into a happy coma.

Fresh air, and we left the Brunette behind for errands, while nine of us continued on to the Steamship Bar and Grill.  Their beer menu is super short.  Four beers, two pretty dull premium lagers and a really nice dark wee scotch ale.  Everyone else got stuck into the big fruity drinks.  The sangria was voted as worth a second drink.  And second were had.

The free appy here was more calamari.  Tender pieces, lightly breaded and served with also breaded and fried pieces of lemon and jalepeno pepper.  Really good, one of the better calamaris I have had in town.  The view here is great, the patio over looking the harbour gives you plenty to watch the world go by, and the service was super friendly outside.  Inside, the big high ceiling space looks a bit sterile, and I'm not sure I'd go for dinner... it feels more like a tourist bar than a local place.

Finally, we took the ferry over to Lure at the Delta Pointe.  We were reduced to six by this point, but this fine and hardy bunch took in the patio there.  Or we would have, but it was being maintained and the builders were in.  Odd, as I think it's just been opened, so maybe it was made from sketchy concrete.  We sat inside on a big long table. Really comfortable chairs, but that's about the best I can say about the venue.  The service was rushed, and they seemed to have much debate about a missing cucumber for the Hendricks and gin.  We saw the cucumber, but were told it was still missing.  I have no idea why...  Maybe I was just beginning to really feel the glow of the beers by that point, and cucumbers gained to much importance.

No matter, we finished off and headed back to the Canoe to wander home.  Or to friend's houses to write blog posts about pub crawls before going to fringe shows. 

Random Thoughts Week.

The Lefsetz Letter, a highly readable blog about the music industry, often covers a variety of topics in one post.  The ephemera of ideas and thoughts that don't make one single post.  This week, it's one of those for me.  No new place to write about, but just some thoughts on eating, drinking and going out...

1) Your steak may look over done in this light. Our server told us this in the Keg in Yaletown, Vancouver.  I've never heard this before, but she was telling me to check the taste before sending any steak back.  The evening light made everything look darker.  The steak, a medium rare, Chicago-style New York steak tasted great.  I didn't notice it not looking pink enough in the middle.  Though the warning made sense, it also worried me that I was about to get a bad slice of meat.  I didn't, as ever the keg delivered its consistent level of good food.  Good but not stunning.

2) Outdoor tomatoes taste better.  Eating outside in the sun makes things taste different.  It might be the air, or the wind, or the smell of the woods and sea, but somehow, a juicy tomato on a picnic bench in Sidney is far better experience than one eaten at my dining room table.  Even if I have all the windows open.  Maybe it is the juice dribbling down my chin, or the paper napkins. Rather than the metallic knife and fork, and the clean china plate.  But the simplest foods taste better outside.

3) Open Markets everywhere.  This Canada Day in Victoria seemed to be dominated by the markets.  Celebrate the anniversary of the country by spending money of maple smoked salt, printed t-shirts and sugar-lollipops.  The mix of what feels like mass-produced "hand crafts" and expensive real originals looks identical across the island.  In Salts Spring Saturday market, Moss Street or Duncan, it's the same. Not the same vendors, but the same over all whole.

There is not that certain original feel to these venues.  Here's the hippy selling bunches of Kale, there's the home mixed spices and over in that corner is the pottery mugs... that might have been made in china before being hand stencilled in a barn just of the Pat Bay highway.  Thing is, wandering around one is enjoyable, as you might find something you like, or pick up a restock of something you got before, or find the perfect curry paste. But when you've seen four in five days you realize the formula is the same, and is is not necessary to go to a fifth tomorrow.

4) Making a good restaurant. I have no idea of all the formula to make a great place to eat or drink out.  But I think part of it is that the experience counts as much as the food.  The way the staff treat you, the seats, the decor, the sounds.  And this has to come from the management, or the experience you got one week will be different the next.  And that can lead to disappointment.  Which leads to telling your friends about how it was -quite- as good this time.

You want an experience you can share with friends and family.  One's who were there at the same time... and people who weren't.  Telling people about a great night out is satisfying.  People want to share new experiences, and hopefully get validation back from them that they too had a great time when they went there.  Getting the thanks for recommending a spot adds to the general good feelings about a place, reliving the original experience, which pays of for repeat visits.  You want to recapture that night, that meal, that joke.  Sometimes you do, sometimes it's even better, or just as good but different.

Those places stay in your mind and keep paying back after the credit card bill is paid. That makes a good restaurant or bar or just place.  That's what sells to me.  Until it fades and a new shiny bauble comes along to entertain us.

But the new and the old can run along side each other. Keep looking, and keep coming back.

Eagle Wing Whale Watching, Fisherman's Wharf

Orcas! Whales! Dolphins! Oh my!

I think there's a least a half dozen operators in Victoria that promise to take you out to see the whales and dolphins that swim around in the Salish Sea.  I have heard little about the reputation of each, knowing only what I've seen myself on the Prince of Whales, several years ago, and MacKays of Port McNeill.  Both had let me see whales from a large covered ship, and the trip in Port McNeill is a favourite memory of my mother's and also mine.  So if you are up there, use them.

But down here, each of the companies seem to tell you they are the best, they guarantee whales and that, if you'd only come with us, it'll be a magical experience.  I can't find a comprehensive review of them all head-to-head (if someone has the $600 or so it'd cost me to go out on consecutive days, I'll volunteer to do one).

But, my mother had been out with Eagle Wing Tours four years ago, and while we were on Fisherman's Wharf a couple of weeks back, we saw that there'd been sightings of the J and L pods around the San Juan islands that morning.  This was useful to know, as Mum sponsored the orca Rhapsody of the J-Pod at Christmas. This sponsorship help pay for research and to protect the southern island resident orcas.  Mum, she likes orcas.  So we signed up for that afternoon's tour, heading out in a fast 'scarab' boat... a long, narrow aluminium hulled boat.

The staff gave us the complete run down before we left, of what we might see, and how to be safe on the boat.  Also, we were kitted up in a survival jacket and over trousers to keep us warm in the wind.  Eagle Wind were keen to stress how they are carbon neutral and supportive of the research programmes, as well as their experience (something like 30 years worth of doing this job and working as marine biologists).  All very good, but without being out there to see them in action, talk is just talk.

We got seated at the front (the worst place for rough seas, but the best place to stay out of the wind and spray), and off we meandered out of the harbour.  Gentle, easy ride, we could watch the kayakers and the cruise ships and.... warp speed enabled!  This boat carved up the miles, around Trial Island, and up towards Sidney.  The whales, according to the radio links with the other boats in the area, were going through Active Pass.  Three groups were headed north, two from L-Pod with J-Pod in the lead.  All the boats in the business seem to stay in touch to help each other find the whales for their paying customers.  So, I guess if they are out there, someone will know where to find them. The limits of most of the smaller boats like the Zodiacs is about the edge of the Pass, but the captain here said this boat would take us to Tsawwassen if needed.

45 minutes or so of flying along and we slow down into the entrance of the pass, dodging around a BC ferry or two.  Up ahead, two other tour boats are drifting with engines off, a sign that there are whales nearby. We were treated to the pod rising for breaths out of the water every minute or so.  One or two smaller calves, their mothers and a large male (seen easily due to the large fins).  They even cut underneath the boat, rising just a few metres of to the side of us, unexpectedly to all.  The boats try to keep a respectful distance away from the animals, but the orcas seem to consider the boats just a small speck on the ceiling of their world.

We left the back group behind and headed to the north end of the whale convoy, where J-pod was.  And we got a display.  One orca was breaching; leaping out and crashing down on its side.  The crew's biologist suggested it may be for fun, or to scratch an itch or stretch out a little after a slower travelling cycle. He reckoned he sees this behaviour half the time they come through the pass.

The breeching happened every time the orca came up for breath, which was about every 2-3 minutes.  A little calm, some fins would pop up, the majority orcas would snort and suck in breath so close you could hear it. Then this huge beast would leap, and splash down.  A sight that makes you hold your breath.  It sounds like hyperbole, but to me, it's just wonderful to see.  I guess you could see some poor, captured 'killer' whale do this at Seaworld down in the States.  Or you could see it in the wild (luck, but the best experiences happen by chance, and not because they are fed to you).

There was a UVic researcher, Valerie Shore, on the boat who is also a professional wildlife photographer. Her guess, from the markings, that it was Rhapsody making the leaps.  A show, specially for my mum.  It was awesome to see the whales close, and in the quiet of the Georgia Strait.

The crew kept us to fed with knowledge between the surfacing of the animals, explaining the habits and lives of these mammals, with a clear care for their environment, imploring us to try and do a small bit to keep the rivers clean, so the salmon runs are large.  These beasts needs a colossal amount of fish per day, and there's a worry that the declining fish stocks will have a long term effect on the orca population.

The trip back was much the same as the trip up, speeding down past the Sidney.  Those not quite so sheltered behind the wind shield looked a little chilly. Those who'd refused the hat and gloves probably regretted that decision.  And as we rounded Gonzalez Point, the wind and waves got up, and the boat started to skip between the peaks.  This made for a much more jolting ride than on the way out.  And a couple of big splashes probably woke those up at the back with a sea-salt spray.  Good for the skin, I'm sure.  All part of the deal, and not unexpected from the briefing we'd been given.

Two things to note on the scarab : there's no hot drinks service, but there hot chocolate available on your return to warm you up.  There is a toilet, but I'm pretty sure you'd not want to be in there while travelling... right at the front it's likely to be a rough ride.

We got back after being out for close to three and half hours, and travelling over 100 km.  Well worth the time.  Eagle Wing seem to be a bit more expensive than other trips, but their extended range in this case meant we got to see the Orcas, and for a long time.  Also, the knowledge and passion for the job was clear. Eagle Wind seem to win the top tour company on tripadvisor.com (over hearing their radio conversations, they are keen to keep this as well), so definitely a bar to measure the others against.