Supermoon

Shot over the bow of my gondola tonight with all eyes on the horizon.
It was a beautiful night on the water in Newport.

Minnesota Ready

photo by Richard Sonnen

Minnesota's own Michael Serge and Noah Herzfeld

of Gondola Romantica, waiting for their cue to start

in a tandem event in Stillwater.

Artful Sky

 

This was the view off the tail of my gondola tonight.

 

The view from my office never gets old.

Going Bananas in Providence

 

It's haulout time in the northern latitudes.

Our friends in New York, New England and Minnesota have all been putting on extra layers and dragging their boats out on trailers for Winter.

 

Lately, in Providence, Rhode Island, somebody at La Gondola has been

showing up for the row-to-haul...wearing a banana costume!

 

I have to say, that this level of randomness warms my heart.

 

The gondoliers, staff, and friends there make a celebration of haulout day.
Owner Marcello told me it's one of the happiest days of the year for him,

because haulout signals the end of the season.

 

So after a long, exciting, and yet draining season,

this final day on the boats is a last hurrah, and a rare opportunity to get crazy because the only passengers are spouses and girlfriends.

 

The crew of people who showed up for haulout this week:

In somewhat organized order,

Ivano, Alberto, Succo in the nearer boat.

Rosario, Mariano, and Francesco on the outside gondola.
Also pictured are the fair Sarah, Jackie, and Shawna.

 

The yearly ritual of hauling out the gondolas in Providence

involves a rowing trek down the Woonasquatucket River

(where they take passenger cruises).

 

They go past the hurricane barriers, and take a left up the larger

Seekonk River - where there's more current, and sometimes strong winds.

 

Heading upriver, they work their way to the launch ramp across the water from India Point Park, and then marshal all of their skills to stick the landing - delivering each of their gondolas in the sweet spot of a trailer

(with crosswinds conspiring against them).

 

Enter Ivano - a guy with the type of random craziness that makes me hope he'll one day move to California and ask for a job.

 

I asked him about the banana costume and here's what he told me:

When I started this tradition my car was a mess

and I wanted to do something that we would never

be allowed to do during the season.

 

As we were about to leave the dock I just so happened

to see a banana costume that I had bought at a yard sale

a few months back so I figured what the heck.

 

I made sure I left the dock with the costume in my bag

so Marcello would not see it

(I did not think he was going to approve)

then while rowing I put it on and was sure to finish the season in a banana costume.

Thats how I did it this year as well,

"I found that putting on a banana costume is far more difficult while rowing a gondola than you would expect"

especially in open water with tides and wind.

Its been fun doing it and it always brings a smile

to everyone's face. I guess it is my tempt of fate

but the river has yet to claim me!​

 

Here's Mr. Banana Suit piloting his gondola expertly in the wind,

right into place on the trailer:

 

Next, we see the Solo Slalom gold medalist - Mariano,

bringing his boat in as the wind rips.

 

Here's part one:

 

 

And here's part two, with Rosario tending

to the perfect placement of the bow:

 

Northern port haulouts can be bittersweet

for the gondoliers who row the boats.

 

On the one hand it's the end of the season,

so there won't be any more cruises until spring.

 

On the other hand it's a finale of a great year

for many of them in Providence, Minnesota, and other locations.

 

Once the gondolas are on their trailers at the end of the season,

it's actually the beginning of another season - one that involves tools,

sanding, varnish and paint - so they look perfect for launch in the spring.

Stripping the gondola of all those things that

would surely fly off somewhere down the road.

 

In an effort to capture the true essence of Mr. Banana Suit,

Shawna Joly convinced him to pose for a few shots,

so we can all appreciate the style and substance.

 

Manly Banana.

 

Voga Banana.

 

 Heartfelt Banana.

 

Sexy Banana.

 

Thanks to Shawna Joly for the four photos above,

and to Marcello for the rest of the images in this post.

 

 

Takeoff!

Eddie Rivera and Parker Harrison,
ready to begin their run in the Tandem Sprint event
at the US Gondola Nationals in Stillwater, Minnesota.

First you get on the boat,
then you make sure everything is adjusted the way you want it.
You get the gondola into position, wait for the command,
and then it's "GO TIME!"

Time for takeoff!

 

You row as fast and as hard as you can,
working together to maintain control,
and hope you can go faster than everyone else.

Just the Photo - Reflection

Mike Ruffino pushing hard towards the finish line in the Tandem Distance event at the US Gondola Nationals in Stillwater, Minnesota.

Quality Time with an Old Friend

photo by Konner Boivin

I'll be the second person to admit that I have a power tool buying problem
(my wife is the first to point it out).

I love power tools, but there are only a few of them
that I consider truly indispensable.
The Porter Cable Random Orbital Sander is at the top of my list.

In the boat yards they often call it a "D.A." - for dual action, because it spins,
while also orbiting.

Other companies make similar units,
but the Porter Cable D.A. is my favorite.

I got to spend some quality time with my D.A. today; sanding and prepping a flipped-over boat.


And while it was a dusty, sweaty, noisy, messy affair,
there's nothing quite as rewarding as working with such an effective power tool, and seeing the visual transformation happen.

Tomorrow I get to break out the belt sander!

San Diego Serenity

 

I found myself with a few hours to spare in San Diego last night.

Knowing that my friend Eric Bender was rowing,

and would be moving soon to Northern California,

I decided to drop in on The Gondola Company

and visit with him between cruises.

 

 

I hung around the office for a few minutes

before venturing down to the docks.

Some of Giuliana Longo's masterpieces hanging on the wall.

 

Finding a good vantage point on the docks, I watched gondolas glide by as the final colors of the setting sun illuminated the horizon.

 

Not long after, Eric cruised by with a happy couple on board.

The gondolier helped his passengers out of the boat,
and they were on their way up the ramp to whatever their next engagement might be - relaxed and happy as only a couple can be after a sunset ride in a gondola.

Eric and I chatted a while about "just how great this job is" and the benefits of dealing exclusively with happy clients in a positive setting.

 

He told me about his future plans and then he was on his way once again,

this time with four passengers, for a twilight cruise as the stars came out.

 

The gondola world is populated almost entirely...

with remarkably great people.

 

I don't know if it's because they are drawn to the job,

or if the job transforms them into fun-loving and positive versions of their former selves.

 

I will miss Eric, but I know that we'll see him again.

After all, you can't stay away from this kind of thing for long.

 

 

Tim and John Take Off

On a calm, crisp Saturday morning in Minnesota,
two guys from different servizios teamed up on a whim,
and threw their best effort at the Tandem Sprint course.

 

With Tim "Bepi" Reinard of Sunset Gondola on the back of the boat,
and John Kerschbaum of Gondola Romantica in Minnesota in front,
they were the oldest duo to take to the water in tandem.
Many of their competitors were half their age, in fact.

And yet with the wisdom of experience,
superior technique,
and a little "old guys rule" resolve,
Tim and John rowed like the masters they are,
and grabbed the bronze medal
(finishing only a second and a half behind silver, in fact).

Three cheers for Tim and John!
Bronze medalists in the Tandem Sprint.

Experience counts.