Getting to VFR on top from VFR?

The other thread reminded me of an interesting situation I got into
on the way out of Victoria, BC. I had filed for a lower than optimal
altitude due to forecast icing at 9000. Once airborn I could see that
the cloud layer in question had tops around 9000, and I could climb on
top before I entered them.

In that situation, what request would you make? Could I have just asked
for VFR on top, reported VFR, and then continued climbing as necessary
to stay on top?

--
Ben Jackson

http://www.ben.com/