Mayday, Mayday…this is ORCA SPIRIT!

Well it certainly wasn't a distress call, but an invitation from Orca Spirit Adventures to check out their whale watching business.  Oriana Smy, Sales Manager, organized a wonderful day for us.  Paul, our driver for the event, shuttled us over to the Canoe Brewpub where we enjoyed food and drinks. 

The CANOE BREWPUB, Restaurant and Marina located at 450 Swift Street features waterfront patios and the best western exposure along Victoria's Inner Harbour.  They offer some of the best handcrafted beers in Victoria, a diverse award-winning wine list, a pub, lounge, dining room, patios and friendly, knowledgeable staff.  The soaring timber frame and rustic brick architecture creates a vibrant atmosphere, the perfect setting for our group of twenty where we sat upstairs.  The Canoe Brewpub provides comfort food, showcasing local farmers and products.  The menu is always changing and highlights seasonal organics, local quality meat and Oceanwise sustainable seafood.

Our meals were delicious and the staff served our large group with ease.  Thanks to Amanda our host and Pam our server for a great lunch and brunch.  Part one of our Mayday Adventure was over and Paul shuttled us back to the docks behind the Coast Harbourside Hotel.

Whale watching was offered as Part Two of our adventure.  The “wild at heart” half of our group chose to go out in a zodiac, with Captain Tristan and Naturalist Alex.  Obviously they needed their souls stirred!  The zodiac ride was reported as being exhilarating and a tiche wet.  The zodiacs are fast and fun and certainly an adventure to remember.  There is a fully enclosed washroom on the zodiac… so no worries on that account. 

The “softer seat” half of our group chose to go for a little more luxury on one of Orca Spirit's covered vessels with Captain Christian and Naturalist Rachel.  Built specifically for whale watching and wildlife viewing, these vessels offer comfortable seating, washroom facilities and elevated outdoor viewing decks for excellent photo opportunities with uninterrupted 360 degree panoramic views.  Many of the Orca Sprit fleet vessels are equipped with hydrophones, allowing guests to hear whale vocalizations in the wild.

Our captains took us to the north end of San Juan Island where a small group of Orcas were swimming at high speed.  Unfortunately the whales are not trained to be where you want them and do what you want them to do.  On occasion, they are just not available but the percentage of views in the waters surrounding Victoria is very high.  You may see only one whale or you may be lucky and see a super pod (all three resident pods together), or something in between.  We enjoyed watching a group of three transient Orcas, with a mom and a young one in the group.  After some time with the whales, we headed for Sidney by the Sea, where Paul was waiting to transport us onward to Muse Winery.

Part Three was a private wine tasting while enjoying scrumptious appetizers, and a tour of the vineyard.  Muse Winery is a delightful stop on the north end of the Saanich Peninsula,  just off Deep Cove.  It is owned and operated by Jane and Peter Ellmann.  Jane & Peter bought Chalet Estate Winery in 2008.  With years of hospitality, food & beverage savvy betwixt them, the dynamic duo has found their dream lifestyle.  Peter’s homage to Jane, his life’s inspiration, was to rename the winery MUSE.

Muse grows grapes under the warm sun of the Saanich Peninsula.  With grapes from notable vineyards in other regions of Vancouver Island, the Southern Gulf Islands and the Okanagan Valley, they use this fine collection of high quality BC grapes to create exceptional award winning wines, with their signature Mermaid labels.

We were greeted in style as we arrived, being offered a glass of their Ortega wine as soon as we stepped from Paul’s chariot.  We were led to the spacious Bacchus Room, which is set up beautifully for art, music, brunches, luncheons, dinners, and receptions. Doug Stewart from Stone Street Catering prepares all the food for Muse and we were treated to some of his excellent appetizers and more tastings of Muse wines.  It was a happy crowd for sure.  After our tasting, Peter toured us through the vineyard and showed us how the wine is processed.  At Muse you can purchase their award winning wines, taste a few samples or just try a glass.  The gift shop has an eclectic choice of items to choose from.  One of life’s great experiences is dining al fresco on the Bistro Muse terrace and watching the resident eagles soar above while bees buzz in the vineyard.  Muse produces excellent and entertaining plays in partnership with the Peninsula Players during the summer.  The Muse Winery is a gem, well worth the short drive out from Victoria.  Thanks to Peter, Jane, Doug and their attentive staff for this part of our adventure.

Ever ready, Paul drove us back to the Orca Spirit office where they hosted an after-party.  Held aboard their newest vessel, the Orca Spirit II is a 29 metre (95 foot) fibreglass catamaran built by the prestigious Yamaha Corporation, known for its state-of-the-art technology, construction and design.  The vessel has a capacity of 168, a cruising speed of 20-25 knots and offers two levels of spacious, heated cabin area with large outdoor viewing decks and all the amenities.  What a boat for a party!  Great food catered by the Blue Crab Grill of Coast Harbourside Hotel, gracious hosts, the company of good friends and colleagues, and a nice evening made for a wonderful way to end the day.  Thanks to Orca Spirit for the adventure, you run a great show!

For more pictures, please go to our Facebook Page.

Chateau Victoria Hotel

Tonight we had the privilege of attending a VGSN FAM (familiarization tour) of the Chateau Victoria Hotel. Located near the Inner Harbour, this is one of the better hotels in Victoria. The staff ise exceptionally friendly and the hotel has been recently renovated. It has always been kept in prime condition. The lobby is comfortable and appealing and there are lots of places where guests can lounge and enjoy the surroundings. Just off the Lobby is the world famous Clive’s Classic Lounge, undoubtedly the best cocktail lounge in Victoria. They have an extensive cocktail menu and a staff that can meet the needs of every lounge guest. We enjoyed some of their signature cocktails, then toured some of the rooms and suites. The room updates provide major improvements in comfort and amenities. Upstairs at Vista 18, Victoria’s only roof-top dining facility, we enjoyed unparalleled scenic views of Victoria’s busy Inner Harbour, the snow-capped Olympic Mountain range, impressive Mount Baker, the Strait of Georgia and beautiful downtown Victoria. The view is truly spectacular. The modern, comfortable décor allows you to enjoy a menu focusing on free range, organic and local products. The emphasis is on local food and a West Coast eating experience. We sampled items from their new menu and all were delicious. We encourage other VGSN members to check out this hotel and certainly recommend it to visitors who are looking for an authentic West Coast cuisine experience. Thanks to Chateau Victoria from VGSN. For more pictures visit our facebook page.

Dreaded Pink Snow Hits Victoria

Pink Snow Hits Victoria....you must be 18 and over to view this video.  For maximum scary effect, go to full screen if you can handle it!
http://youtu.be/YM5kBLdI7OM

Middle Earth Victoria Style

Yesterday our curiosity got the better of us, so we set out to find Greater Victoria's version of the Hobbit living in Middle Earth, which just happens to be off Metchosin Road in Colwood. Middle Earth Victoria style is the
dream of Joe Thompson. His imagination and hard work have produced something very unusual and certainly worth seeing. Joe does tours of his Hobbit home on Sundays from 3-5 pm and serendipity had us there at 2:50 pm on Sunday. We were content to take a picture or two of the home from the road until Barbara, Joe's wife came out and told us about the tour. Joe showed up shortly and our journey through time began. The home is visual overload both inside and out. His eclectic collections of rocks and wood are interesting in and of themselves. There are faces watching you wherever you go, some carved in wood, others created of rock. Some are subtle and many are not. It is easy to believe you are in Middle Earth. The Hobbit home is a labor of love in progress and Joe is very protective of it, being careful about who he takes on tour, so trust that your vibes are good. Although Joe and his creation have been featured on TV and in the newspaper, his address is not public, but a little creative sleuthing will help you find it. Please, if you go, respect their property and do not show yourself around.  For more photos, please go to our Facebook Page.

Inside JAM Restaurant Victoria BC - Great Breakfast Location

We just convened our Breakfast club in one of Victoria's busiest and popular places to grab a great breakfast. The restaurant is small so when you show up with 7 people it gets tricky. After a short wait, we managed to get our group seated at the bar which was perfect. The food was plentiful and very delicious. The ambiance and decor unique and the staff accommodating and very friendly. The JAM is homemade by the mother of the owner and man, it is really good. For a unique experience give JAM a try. You won't be disappointed. They also serve lunch.

For more pictures visit our Facebook Site.

A Day On Victoria's Waterfront

 Today I had a couple of hours to kill between appointments so I went down to the waterfront on Dallas Road where there is always something to watch. The cool little birds with great haircuts were first. Then one of the many planes flying from the Inner Harbour to Vancouver and Seattle passed by. The a small group of Mergansers huddled together. The breakwater is also the location of the Pilot Boats.

 Every large ship that comes into Juan de Fuca Strait that is headed for Vancouver must pick up a Canadian pilot to guide the ship to and from Vancouver. Every time I go to the breakwater there seems to be something new. The art has progressed along the sides and the handrails look great. I then followed the scenic tour into Oak Bay and passed the Victoria Golf Course. Along the way I discovered a daffodil display. The recent cold spell has made their spring appearance a bit behind the normal schedule. All this only killed one hour, but a very enjoyable hour indeed. For more pictures go to our Facebook page.