Texas Blue Light Special

photos by Kevan Burt

I took four passengers out for a cruise last night here in Irving, Texas.

Kevan - the location manager took some photos as the light was beginning to dim.  It was just dark enough for us to show off the cool blue lighting along the rail of the gondola.
The wind came out to play for a while but it was more than manageable.
We all had a great time.

Taking Off in Texas

My wife and I are visiting our operation in Texas this week.

There are lots of meetings, some boat repairs, 

and a little rowing on the agenda.

This evening, however, I had the pleasure of simply watching a gondolier and his happy passengers head out on the water for a relaxing cruise.

I credit management and staff out here 

for making the boat look so good - with cool indigo lights along the rail.

And gondolier Woody for making it all look easy.

Ciao from Irving, Texas!

- Greg

Just the Photo - Cruising in Texas

photo by Chris Wilson

The Blue-Light Special

photos by Chris Wilson

One of our gondolas in Texas just came out of the workshop after a full restoration, and the blue LED rail lighting is a hit with both clients and gondoliers.

Here are some shots taken by our expert staff photographer out there, 
with Woody rowing the cruise.

Heading down one of the canals.

 Smiling for the camera.

 The boat takes a turn towards Glatter Falls - one of 

several waterfalls on Lake Carolyn.

 There are several other waterways above the lake 

and they feed these great water features...

 ...which are the perfect place to drop a message-in-a-bottle.

A remarkable illusion occurred when the boat turned right in front of the waterfall, as the blue light creates the appearance of the waterfall continuing.

Light reflecting on water is one of my favorite things.

Curious Texas takes a cruise

I always say:
"Gondola operations in the US are the best-kept secrets in our cities, because we operate silent black boats after dark".

Someone in Dallas asked if there were really gondola rides in Irving, Texas?
Brendan Meyer of Dallas News decided to investigate.

Here's the report:
Are there really gondola rides in Irving? 
Curious Texas takes a cruise

Mr. and Mrs. Claus in Texas

Santa Claus and Mrs. Clause made an appearance 
at the Gondola Adventures servizio in Irving, Texas this week.  

There wasn't a lot of snow to be found, 
so they swapped out their sled for a Santa-sized gondola. 

I once heard a local say that they have four seasons in Texas: 
Almost Summer, Summer, Still Summer, and Christmas.

This was A fun family event, put on by the Irving Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Children got to climb aboard the boat and have the pictures taken with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

A Loaded Six-String On My Back

Photo courtesy Allison Images

 

Not all gondoliers sing,
and even fewer carry an instrument with them on their boat.
Here we see Jimmie in Irving, Texas - ushering his passengers into a perfect state of relaxation, pausing from time to time to serenade them with his soulful voice...and his six string.

Wrapping Up a Gift for Texas

For the last four months I've worked on a collection of remi intended for my operation in Irving, Texas. 
Stripes, varnish, and a whole lot of cure-time went into these four pieces.

Three of them came out of Saverio Pastor's shop in Venice - two have been seasoned here in California, the other was unwrapped for the first time at Nationals last November.

The fourth one (on the left) is a bit of an odd oar.
It's more of a steering oar - for a non-Venetian boat.

Tonight I inspected them to be sure they were ready to ship.
I laid them out on the kitchen floor, wrapped them in bubble wrap,
and tomorrow they will go into a boat that's being trailered to Texas.

Flugtag in Texas

A few days ago I returned home from a twelve day visit to my Texas operation
in Irving (Dallas/Ft. Worth area).

As is typical when I travel, it's a little more challenging to get fresh posts up on the Gondola Blog. This is especially true in Irving, as I have a huge amount of work to do whenever I'm out there.

This trip to Texas revolved around a rather entertaining event which took place on Saturday, September 21st on our lake there in Irving.

Red Bull's "Flugtag" is, as one person described to me
"one of the more ridiculous events I've seen",
and yet he followed with "and I look forward to seeing it again".
 

The night before the event, in the midst of all sorts of mad planning,

I got my hands on some cheap stick-on lettering and marked

one of the oars with "FLUGTAG".

Here, gondolier Fred Craven shows what happens to cheap

stick-on lettering when you row on it.

Fred looks great, the lettering, not so much.

So what exactly is Flugtag?

My sources tell me that it means "flight day" in German.

The whole crazy pushing-things-into-the-air thing first occurred in England in the early 70's under the name "Birdman Rally".  If you're as old as I am, you might have seen it. 
When I heard that Red Bull had started doing their own version, I was thrilled.

Red Bull is serious about this event, and they go big. While we were watching Flugtag on Lake Carolyn in Texas, there were four more Flugtag events going on in Miami, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Long Beach, California.

It's hard to describe this event.

First, Imagine 30+ teams of people building things they THINK will fly - often out of plywood, cardboard, and paper mâché.

Next, assemble an enormous crowd to watch; on Saturday there were more than 92,000 people in Irving, all watching the action on (and flying off of) a large platform extending out over the water.

Behind gondolier Derrick you can see a small portion

of the hordes of people who showed up.

Each team takes their turn on this "flight deck" - first they do some kind of dance/drama/other kind of silly choreography, all accompanied by music of their choice, pumped out through a sound system worthy of a Bon Jovi concert.

After the crowd is sufficiently fired up, and the team has completed their fancy dancing, they all grab hold of their makeshift creation (the one they HOPE will fly), and push like mad towards the end and out over the water.

The "flight deck".

Oh, there is one person up there who doesn't have the burden of pushing - yes, that lucky soul gets to be the "pilot" of the thing that's about to get shoved off the end.

Out of the hundreds of thousands of people watching, both in person and on TV, that "pilot" is the one person hoping more than anyone else, that their vehicle will fly.

Ok, in some cases, the mother of that person might be hoping a little bit more.

The best place to watch the action is from the water.

My Texas gondoliers and I took groups of spectators out for viewing sessions, moving amongst pedalboats, kayaks, and stand-up-paddle boarders.

I was able to snap off a few decent photos and grab video footage of some of the "flights".

I must point out that the word "flights" is somewhat inaccurate when applied to most of the contestants on that hot, windy Texas day.

All in all, only a handful of the thirty-two vehicles pushed down the runway did anything that would be considered "flying" by the Air Force, FAA, Texas Air National Guard, or any of the other authorities on avian activity.

Diving dramatically towards destruction might be a better description in this case.

 

I must apologize for the diminutive size and quality of these video clips.
Some might be a bit jumpy as well, because I was rowing against the wind with one hand and trying to focus on the action with the other.

The builders of this next craft did a really great job with the theme - making it look like a space shuttle, I'm sure they won points for that, but as you'll see, they did not do well in the distance scoring.

 

Entrants were judged on several fronts, including how far their craft flew.

I heard one team member say "we're certain that our craft will go at least thirty feet...becuase that's the vertical distance from the deck to the water".

Many "flights" accomplished just that.

 

I'm sure that many of the teams up there would have enjoyed greater success if the wind conditions had been different.

The wind was strong, quite strong,
and blowing directly at the end of the flight deck.

It's a funny thing how wind direction can have such a great effect on flight.

And in this scenario you'd think the wind direction would make for perfect flying conditions.  After all, don't they turn an aircraft carrier towards the wind when it's time to fly the planes off of it?

I suppose it would have been better if the vehicles attempting takeoff had engines.

Sadly, they did not, so here's how it played out for most of our would-be heroes of DIY flight:

1. Host makes bold announcement, introducing the next team
2. Team and their craft are on the flight deck as loud music thumps (often loud enough to be heard in Oklahoma)
3. Fancy dancing and other choreographed and not-so-choreographed business takes place.
4. Crowd gets whooped up.
5. Music either ends or comes to the point where it's time to push.
6. pilot gets in or on the vehicle.
7. A great effort is made to get the vehicle going towards the end of the deck.
8. At first the whole things moves swiftly towards the edge, but...
9. As the craft approaches it's date with gravity, it slows down.
(I couldn't tell if this was due to extra headwind coming over the edge,
if the pushers ran out of steam as they progressed on,
or if there was a general sense of worry or doom)
Almost every single vehicle hit the end so slow that...
10. The first thing to pass over the edge is the nose, and because it's goig too slow, it drops.
11. The headwind begins to press down on every surface of the craft, and as the rest of it leaves the deck...
12. It is unceremoniously blasted, all hopes of actual flight are dashed, and then the whole thing gets bashed into the water just below the flight deck (30 feet below).  Most pilots managed to bail out before impact. Most.
13. All pushers jump off the edge and into the water as well, some did flips, none did belly flops.

Some entries never made it to the end of the ramp.
I think this guy was lucky to walk away from his "landing":
http://redbullflugtagusa.com/page/teams/view_team/582/redneck_rocketeers

A couple of the more fragile ones came apart during the "push" phase - some ended up dead on the deck, others got pushed off in pieces.

 

This one went down sideways.

 

Here's a much better look at it:
http://redbullflugtagusa.com/page/teams/view_team/520/down_to_earth_dworks

Not everything was built by someone who knew what they were doing

(yes, I just overstated the obvious). Here’s a case in point.

http://redbullflugtagusa.com/page/teams/view_team/180/rec_shop

Nobody died at this event, and I was told that there was only one injury requiring attention.

These same winds created some challenges for gondoliers too,
we had to work to keep from getting blown into the "landing zone"...

A few months ago, I was in a meeting with some of the Red Bull people and I asked them:

"What's the craziest thing you've seen at one of these?"

I thought the answer would involve nudity or death.

The answer was:

"You know what," he said in amazement, "some of these things actually fly".

And last Saturday we did see a few examples of what I'd consider actual flight.

Here's the flight of "Duct Tape Dynasty" - they took second place.

I'm convinced that in different wind conditions their craft would have soared magnificently.

 

The official video gives you a much better look:
http://redbullflugtagusa.com/page/teams/view_team/461/duct_tape_dynasty

The winning entry was a group called the "Texas Tomcats", who had a fighter jet theme.
They blasted the music from Top Gun, two nuts ran around carrying cardboard fighter jet costumes, there was a carrier-deck flag man, and their vehicle resembled an F-14.
I had the best view possible, and then I pushed the wrong button on my phone.
Luckily, someone posted this on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQGNJvt6EIk

and here's the official video:

http://redbullflugtagusa.com/page/teams/view_team/515/texas_tomcats

All in all, it was a great day, I will never forget it, and I'm sure that every person who "flew" off that platform will look back on the day in amazement:

amazed either because their vehicle did fly, didn't fly, or that they did that crazy thing in front of so many people. 

Welcome to Texas

photo by Matthew Schenk

As I write this, my friend Matthew Schenk is sleeping more soundly than he has
in months. He's just checked into a hotel room in Texas, and he'll probably sleep through most of the day. Matt is the manager of my Lake Las Vegas operation, but for the last two days he's been towing a gondola from southern Nevada to our operation in Irving, Texas.

Thanks Matt.
Sleep well and welcome to Texas.

Getting an Early Start

photos by Fred Craven

I'm not sure why, but the powers that be in Irving, Texas decided to
get an early start this evening on the whole business of shooting things
into the sky that go "boom".

Our whole fleet was out, each with passengers enjoying the display.
Some of the guys got a little closer than others.
The photos in this post are of Chris Harrison, who knows just how to find the best views of such things.
Tomorrow night it'll be my turn, but in Newport I'll have thousands of other boats to contend with.

Red Skies at Night, Sailor's Delight

To all the sailors, airmen, and servicemen on the ground:

a sincere "thank you" for your service to this country.

 

We honor you, and all of those who never came home.

 

Gondolier Derrick Johnson shows his passengers

just how beautiful a sunset can be in Irving, Texas.

An Interesting Day in Austin

photo by Steve Elkins

 

This morning, while most of us in the US were still sleeping, gondolier Steve Elkins stepped on a boat in Austin, Texas and began a very interesting day.

 

He hadn't slept since Friday, as he'd been working, packing, and traveling from California to Texas. 

The gondola was towed down separately from my operation near Dallas.

Steve flew in on a red-eye in stripes and a hat, with a forcola in his luggage.

 

The objective:

film a TV commercial for an Italian frozen food company.

I can't say the name, can't give away the premise yet,

but sooner or later we'll all be able to watch and enjoy it.

 

The location:

just below Mansfield Dam - which is at the spot furthest upstream from downtown Austin on what is known these days as Ladybird Lake.

 

The job:

row for the camera, with specific angles and movements as dictated by camera staff via walkie-talkie - a perfect job for Steve, as he's also an award-winning independent film maker.

 

First, the boat was launched and towed for an hour and a half to the filming location.

 

Steve grabbed this little snip of video as towing was just getting under way.

 

I find it amusing that towing involved a water skiing handle around the ferro.

 

After an hour and a half they were on the scene.

Steve quickly primped the boat for the shoot, and it was "go-time".

 

After about twenty takes, each varying a little from the last, the director had what he wanted.  The boat was returned to the ramp, hauled and secured.

The job was over before many of us had even gotten out of bed.

 

And Steve? Well when I was pouring my first cup of coffee, Steve texted me:

Everything went great.

On my way to BBQ at Rudy's!

after that I believe he went back to his hotel and went to bed finally.

I hope he slept well, I know I would after a day like that.

Just the Photo - Derrick at Sunset

photo by Brandon Hunt

Gondolier Derrick Johnson and his passengers enjoying a perfect moment
on Lake Carolyn in Irving, Texas.

The "Third Wheel" Gets Comfortable

photos by Derrick Johnson

 

While out in Texas recently, I took out my friends Kevan and Penny out

on a gondola, and they brought their young son who we will refer to here as

the "Third Wheel".

 

He really didn't seem to feel like a traditional third wheel most of the time

(ok, maybe a little bit when Mom and Dad were kissing under each bridge).

 

Arriving on the scene, the "Third Wheel" inspects the gondola.

 

Kevan and Penny settled right in and were relaxing and enjoying the experience as we pushed away from the dock. 

It was an absolutely perfect day, and much appreciated; we'd experienced all sorts of weather in the two weeks leading up to this day.

It had been cold and windy, we had rain and hail, there were plenty of days that were not the kind of days you'd like for a cruise with friends.

This day, however, was the kind that makes people want to live there.

 

Overhead view of our lagoon in Irving, Texas.

Notice the bright new fleet of pedal boats?

Special thanks to Joe Gibbons for helping make that happen.

 

We shoved off and began our voyage.

The "Third Wheel" settles into his seat.

 

Sunshine in Springtime.

 

 

Our small traveler seemed to be enjoying his perch at the front of the boat,

and what's not to like? He had the whole divan to himself.

He could watch the gondolier do that weird rowing thing off the one side of the boat.

 

Mom and Dad were certainly enjoying themselves.

 

As we approached the canals of Lake Carolyn, young master "Third" kicked his shoes off and took to camping out on the front seat.

 

"Camping" in action.

 

He discovered that the notch in the middle of the seat-back
was a perfect fit for his chin.

The canals of Lake Carolyn are so perfect for gondolas; they really lend themselves to creating those "perfect moments" we all try so hard to create in our line of work.

If these two photos look familiar, you may have seen another photo from this sequence in my post "Just the Photo - Surface Reflection".

Jutting off the main canal here and there, you'll find four small canals that end in dramatic waterfalls.  On this cruise we took a short detour up to Glatter Falls.

All the above photos were shot by my Texas manager Derrick Johnson
(who did an excellent job of stalking us). 
I snapped these next three images with my cell phone while rowing.

The kid has definitely gotten comfortable.

 

As I turned the boat off course and in the direction of Glatter Falls,

I made an announcement that we'd be visiting a waterfall. 

The "Third Wheel" got very excited.

 

The falls come into view.

 

I'm not sure if he was afraid that we might be going down a waterfall,

or if he just liked waterfalls.

Either way, the little guy in the front seat perked up.

 

Of course, I should mention that every time I approach one of these waterfalls, it's like I've had a double shot of espresso.

There's energy, a sort of electricity in the air.

 

I'm sure there are lots of people who can offer facts or opinions as to why,

all I know is that there's a heck of a lot of positive energy there.

 

Glatter Falls after the turn.

 

One other thing about these waterfalls - some of them have wall contours just wide enough to turn a gondola around.  Glatter is one of the tightest.

It makes for a fun challenge - even moreso when placing a message-in-a-bottle in the water for pickup.

 

All-in-all, everyone aboard had a great time.

My passengers totally enjoyed the experience.

I may very well have enjoyed the cruise more than my passengers...

it's been known to happen.

 

Just the Photo - Surface Reflection

photo by Derrick Johnson

A Lot of Weather and a Lot of Stripes

You could say a lot about the weather in Texas, and you could also say that they get a lot of weather here too. Yesterday I looked at my "to do" list and realized that there were a number of tasks I could complete if I just parked a few of my boats under the tin roof of the boat house.
As the hail storm approached, I had my Texas manager park those boats where they'd be dry, and today I went about checking off those tasks on my "to do" list.
Once all the critical items had been done, I got to play around with my pet project: painting stripes on the oars.

In the weather department, we had thunderous lightning and hard pouring rain.  The boathouse roof was rattling.  It got so loud that I couldn't hear the radio any more.

Then...hail.

It was amazing. There's nothing quite like hail on a tin roof.

Back to striping:
I brought a simple template with me when I came out, and have chosen a few different widths for my chevron stripes.


When I came out here in January, I discovered a whole bunch of oars that needed help; many of them were splitting in different places in the blade area, and all needed major varnishing.
These were glued and clamped, sanded, and given seven coats of varnish.
Next I brushed four coats of white on two of them and all received their bold chevron stripes.

My standard approach has been to measure and mark, apply masking tape in a meticulous manner, and then paint the stripes with concern only for even coverage.

Today, after having striped three remi in that way, I got bold and brushed on with no measuring or masking - just holding the template in place and freehand brushing.

I could say that I felt like I was ready for the challenge, but the truth was that I was in a hurry and felt like taking a chance.
I think it came out fairly well.

There's no doubt in my mind that somewhere out there, someone is reading this and saying: 
"Oh come on! I brush stripes freehand all the time!" 

They're probably saying it in Venetian dialect too, but for me it was a first, and if I can find the guy who brushes freehand - I'll gladly take a lesson from them.

Green Stripe

It's always nice to get a fresh coat of paint on a boat, and if I had unlimited time out here in Texas, I'd have done just that.  But in the real world, I've got limited time to service a whole fleet of different boats.  Today, with just a few days left and a hefty hail storm approaching, we hauled a boat known as the Principessa, gave her a good scrubbing from the waterline up, did a black wax treatment, and put on a new green boot stripe.
Perfect? No.
But she sure looks better than she did before, and her black wax should help matters until my next trip out (providing it doesn't hail during that time too).

 

Here she comes...

...and there she goes.

Aaaand as I write this here comes the storm.