Exsqueeze Me!

photo by Mark Schooling

Mark at Gondola Paradiso sent me this the other day.
I'd love to take credit for the title "Exsqueeze Me!",
but those were his words
(probably at the very moment this photo was taken).

Sometimes you've got the whole harbor to yourself,
and then there are those times when, well,
you feel like a sardine - about to get pushed into the can!

Gotta keep your cool.
Gotta handle the situation,
and later on...gotta have words with that captain!

Fire in the Sky

It's not a good thing - that hills and houses are burning here in California.
We are all a bit on edge, even if it's not hitting our neighborhoods.
The smoke darkens the sky, making almost apocalyptic displays at times.
And of course, the sunsets are a lot more vivid as well.
Here are a few snaps from the back of my boat this evening.

 Evan crosses in front on the canopy-topped Lucia.

Jonah heads out towards the canals.

From Floatplane to Gondola

photos by Trish Synco, video and editing by Chance Busey

In what may just be a first,
recently someone stepped off a floatplane and into a Venetian gondola.
It happened yesterday, August 5th, 2018, in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Seattle residents Oliver and Olivia flew 
in on a Kenmore Air single-prop floatplane from South Lake Union.

Oliver had arranged for John Synco and his gondola 
to meet them on the water once they arrived in Gig Harbor.  

They stepped from the float, to the boat, 
and their gondolier rowed them to the iconic lighthouse 
at the entrance to the harbor. 

As it turns out, Olivia's father - Steve Sparks - was the architect 
who designed that lighthouse, so while floatplane to gondola might have seemed out of the ordinary, visiting the lighthouse made sense.

And then Oliver revealed his true reason for such a trip:
a marriage proposal, right there at the base of the lighthouse.
Watch the video - it's a wonderful moment, captured so well with a drone.

After she said "yes", they climbed back into Gig Harbor's favorite gondola 
and enjoyed a celebratory cruise with champagne.
Then they were delivered to Tides Tavern.

Where they went from there is anyone's guess,
but I hope it's a continued "happily-ever-after".

Congrats to Oliver and Olivia, 
and to Gig Harbor Gondola and Kenmore Air 
for what may be the first-ever transfer of it's kind.


The gondola approaches the floatplane.

Point of actual contact.

Happy couple on board. At this point she has no idea what's in store.

And here's the video:

Tonight's Views

 Kyle heads off to chase the setting sun.

Just another boring/beautiful night in Newport,
with boats coming and going,

birthdays, anniversaries,
and of course - proposals.

A view from the back of the boat.

 

Steve comes in...

 

 with a newly-engaged couple...

 ...and their group of thirty-plus friends and relatives 

to celebrate that engagement!

A Visit to Coronado

Eddie and Jessica took some time away from their normal digs, 
and headed south to San Diego.
While there, they dropped in on Sean and his servizio in Coronado.
Eddie sent me these great photos, 
but I'm pretty sure Jessica should get the photo credit here.

 I'm seriously considering stealing this sign.

 Rowing off-duty means you can wear whatever you want.
But you've still gotta smile and wave.

 Awesome 3-D portela.

 Profile of the gondola.

 She's got the whole boat to herself.

There is just nothing like the curvaceous shape of a Venice-built gondola.

 The portela of an American-built gondola.

A red and white striped remo dips into the smooth waters of Coronado.

Flotilla!

Last night a bunch of gondoliers and I had the good fortune 
of rowing a seven boat flotilla here in Newport Beach.

We had six passengers on each boat,
rowed as a group,
took turns singing songs,
and came away from it, looking forward to the next time 
we get to row such an event.

Three gondolas waiting for all boats to convene 

before pushing forward into the canals

The westward movement begins

Happy passengers

Jonah rowing Phoenix

The procession continues

Braydon and a full boat

Running lights on as natural light fades.

Kerschbaum on Contessa

photo by Isabella Mohr

 
Valentine's Day, 2018.
John Kerschbaum from Minnesota rows a happy couple 
on the pupparin known as "Contessa", 
as the lady reads the message-in-a-bottle 
that she just retrieved from the water.

Comings and Goings on a Sunday Evening in July

Standing on a friend's boat this evening in Newport, I watched some of our gondolas come and go, and was able to snap a few photos.

Serenity

photo by Cassandra Mohr