Orca Mist

Was it the excitement or was it in fact the noisy seagulls that woke me at 6.00am? Whatever, it was a special day today so once I'd amassed the small pile of gifts and cards it was time to nudge HRH into wakefulness with a gentle rendition of 'When I'm 64' by the Beatles thanks to YouTube. It made him smile, anyway. 

Presents opened and cards displayed we got going so as to be prompt for our whale watching trip. Soon we were aboard the Orca Mist and heading out into the Pacific Ocean.

It wasn't long before the first sighting of a humpbacked whale spout drew excited chatter and much clicking of camera shutters, my own included. The best result came perhaps 20 minutes later when a companion pair were sighted really close to our boat, enabling a short video clip of not one but two successive flukes. Sadly no breaching and even more disappointingly no killer whales today. HRH said the boat should be renamed: the Orca Missed! 

Nevertheless as compensation we were taken to a cluster of small islands for an up close and pretty (rather revoltingly) personal encounter with a colony of Californian seals. These fat, slightly bronze coloured and lazy kin of the harbour seals had serious social issues however: a stench so strong we could only stay down-wind for a short while. Turns out it isn't their poop but their BO that pongs so badly. It has been quite warm of late and we understand their sweat takes on the whiff of the fish they eat. Bleuch!

Back to Victoria after a fun morning at sea for a quick bite to eat and just time for the birthday boy to catch Mim for a FaceTime chat (no luck with the others) before we hit the Harbour Trail for an afternoon walk.....

At least this Orca was behaving itself.

The Friendship Bell

At Fisherman's Wharf

.... and an essential stop at a watering hole for an early-evening drink.

One happy 'recycled teenager'

Dinner tonight was at a vegetarian speciality restaurant, since it's his birthday. Rather appropriately it was named 'Be Loved'. Quite what I should make of the response to my ordering a delicious sounding cocktail comprising local gin, vermouth, Aloe Vera and honey I wasn't so sure. "I'll have a Beautifier please", says I. His reply?

"Good idea" !!!! 

(Just as well I still need him and have promised to still feed him). Bless.

Clearly, the obvious choice!

Cheers xx