Sean O’Malley talks easily as he makes his way down the Napa River, passing upscale shops and restaurants as we float by Napa’s downtown in his 1,300-pound, 36.5-foot-long gondola.
It’s not exactly Venice. But it’s marvelous — and an ideal setting for O’Malley, who owns Napa Valley Gondola, and offers hour-long tours in his distinctive craft. Naturally, we had questions.
Q How did you get into this business?
A I was kind of semi-retired, but still wanting to work. But I didn’t want to sit behind a desk or do what I used to do — I used to be in Silicon Valley doing technology and venture capitalist stuff. I was thinking I wanted to go do tours for wineries. I wanted to use my personality for good, not evil.
So I looked up jobs for tour guides in Napa, and this thing popped up. I said, “Wow, gondola tour guide? That’s perfect.”
I called (the former owner) up and said, “Hey, I love the idea. I live in Napa. I’ve got a dock behind my house. I used to row crew. I used to skateboard. I ski. So, I’m really well balanced.” He said, “You’ve got a dock behind your house and you live in Napa? You are hired.”
Q Do you sing for your customers?
A I have learned a couple of songs. Mostly, I rely on music from my playlist on my phone and Bluetooth speakers. Gondoliers don’t traditionally sing in Venice.
Q Really? I wonder where that notion came from — an old Hollywood movie or something?
A It was a Gilbert and Sullivan opera called “The Gondoliers.” Of course, the gondolier in an opera sang all the time.
Q Is there a law somewhere that says gondoliers must wear striped shirts?
A When I first started this job, I asked the same question. (The origin) has nothing to do with gondoliers or Venice. It has to do with European mariners — the guys who work around boats wore striped shirts. When you fell in, it was easy to spot and be rescued. As things have modernized, most mariners don’t wear striped shirts (now) — except gondoliers, who kind of hold onto that old traditional garb.
Q I know you allow wine on board the gondola. What’s the policy on bringing food?
A We allow food. It can’t be Kentucky Fried Chicken or something with barbecue sauce on it. But if you want to bring cheese and crackers or some sort of meat plate, something along those lines, you can do it.
There are so many tasting rooms within walking distance of the boat, you can go grab a wine from one of the tasting rooms and bring it down to the boat.
Q How tired are your arms at the end of the day?
A One of the great things about this job is the workout. It’s one of the greatest workouts I’ve ever done. I used to play baseball, basketball, football – really worked out when I was younger. This physical activity is great for your core, legs, chest and lower back. You can really get in great shape during the course of a season. One of my gondoliers is in his late 60s, but he’s built like he’s in his late 20s.
5 cool Napa River activities
“This river is a hidden secret. A lot of people — even people who have lived here their whole lives — don’t realize what you can do on this river,” O’Malley says.
Gondola rides: O’Malley’s Napa Valley Gondola offers hour-long rides for up to six passengers for $145. Trips depart Thursday-Tuesday from Napa’s Main Street Boat Dock. Make reservations and find more information at https://napavalleygondola.com.
Waterskiing and wakeboarding: “It’s as good or better than the Delta,” he says.
Fishing: “You have salmon, striped bass, sturgeon, steelhead.”
Canoeing: The perfect way to experience the river, he says.
Swimming: Yes, you can swim in the river. “When it’s warm,” he says, “it’s nice.”
June 21, 2021 at 09:00PM
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