I'm back with another post in my series I'm calling "Trying New Things".  You can check out what's up in the series here on the blog, but I have more coming!  This time I decided to try axe-throwing for my birthday!  I'm sharing my experience hurling an axe and what else I did to celebrate.

We started the day by heading to brunch with my mother-in-law at Syrup Trap in Downtown Vancouver.  It was a new-to-us place that has sweet and savory waffles and coffee.  Then I browsed a witch shop and we hit up an antique store to pass some time before our axe-throwing appointment.

For the axe portion of the day, we went to Firehouse Axes.  I was a little trepidatious at first because my anxiety had been trying to convince me I was going to die by my birthday.  My dad died at 42, and I turned 43.  I think because my mom used to always hatefully say I was just like my dad, I thought I would have to die around the same age.  Needless to say, the lead-up was excruciating and I was trying extremely hard to not think about it all so I could have some fun.

Throwing axes seemed like a pretty surefire way to accidentally die, especially if I was surrounded by people who had been drinking.  But as it turns out, they only allow two alcoholic beverages per person, which made me feel much safer.  They also require you to wear close-toed shoes, just to be safe.

Sean and I decided to do the projection target versus a standard wooden target with a bullseye painted on it.  The projection target is $35 per person versus the $30 per person standard target.  We had no idea what the difference in play would be exactly.  We had no idea what to expect.  I think choosing the projection option was the best choice because the system has different games that can be projected onto the wood to change up your targets and throwing locations.  Initially, we did the changing bullseye where the highest point circle would change after each throw.  We also played a game where we had to hit zombie heads with the axe to get points.  You keep score via the computer system that has your scores projected at the top of the screen, like a bowling game.

We had the lane for an hour and could throw as much or as little as we wanted during that time.  This amount of time seemed like just enough.  I didn't feel like I was rushed.  We slowed down taking turns (where we would each throw three times) about halfway through and still felt like we had a comfortable amount of time.  My mother-in-law came along but didn't want to throw.  She cheered us on from the table outside of the axe cages.  An employee walked us through rules and throwing tips, letting us practice a few throws for extra tips before they left us to it!

It was so much fun and definitely something I would do again with just Sean or with a group of friends!  Definitely dress comfortably because you do have to retrieve your ax after each throw.  The axes are designed to drop down and not bounce back.  Mine bounced minimally and I never felt in danger of it coming back to hit me.  There were also two different axes with slightly different grips and weights.  You are able to use either of them, both of them - whatever feels good to you.  

After getting sweaty throwing axes, we said goodbye to my mother-in-law and went home to freshen up before dinner.  Sean took me out to one of our favorite restaurants, Camas Feast 316.  We usually come here for special occasions, like birthdays and anniversaries.  Never a bad meal has been eaten at Feast.  Everything has been delicious and this was no exception!