Escape to Victoria

This weekend Dave and I escaped to Victoria, BC.  I bought us a weekend away via the Victoria Clipper for Dave's 30th Birthday.  He was totally surprised.  I felt like a romantic weekend, no matter how badly needed, was not manly enough for a major birthday like 30.  I decided that nothing sounded more manly than ziplining!

My sister, Sally, was kind enough to watch my children while we were gone.  It was the first time I have left Eileen overnight and the longest I have ever been away from Linus.  Dave and I left early Saturday morning to hitch a ride aboard the Clipper.  Guess who has two thumbs and likes to get seasick?  This girl!  Yup.   I totally puked.  I didn't used to get seasick, but over the last few years it seems to happen every time I get on a boat (kayaks, canoes, and large ferries excluded).  Am I fun or what?

We spent the first day enjoying exhibits at the Royal BC Museum as well indulging in some shopping and fine dining.  We even stumbled upon a fringe theater festival and took in a show.  We had to wait until Sunday to go ziplining.  We went to Adrena Line in Sooke, BC.

It's a pretty big deal that I went ziplining.  I refuse to go on rollercoasters and have a healthy fear of heights.  Just the very bumpy ride on the trail to the zipline course in an old army vehicle had me feeling nervous.  After some basic instruction and a ride on the "bunny slope,"  we went to our first line.  It's name is Commitment because once you go on it, it's too late to turn back.

I was in no hurry to try so I let Dave go before me.

He did not have the same apprehensions I did.

A very long suspension bridge.  The helmet won't save me if I fall.  The helmet is really just to protect my head from getting whacked by the ziplines.

Rockin' my helmet.

It got slightly less scary as we went along.  The longest zipline was 1000 ft and 150 ft off the ground.  One of the ziplines you couldn't even see the end point so you just hoped for the best when stepping off the platform.

The couple that ziplines together, stays together :)

Officially a ziplining pro!

I survived my first ziplining experience.  I never did try any of the fancier tricks they showed us like hanging upside down.  I was pretty proud of myself that I was willing to do it one handed by the last zipline (there were 8 in total). 

I hope we are able to go ziplining again sometime.  It was so nice to feel like our old pre-child selves for a little while.  It was also great to just get away for a little bit.  Victoria would have been a completely different experience with children in tow.   I missed my babies terribly and was reminded how much I loathe pumping.  I am totally indebted to my sister for watching the kids.  Hopefully, we can return the favor some day.  I look forward to our next adventure with just the two of us, but for now I think I am going to snuggle my babies just a little bit more.