Minerva: A Three Hour Tour

Knowing that Don is a boat enthusiast, I had searched, successfully as it turns out, for an affordable private boat charter.  I found Captain Noah Woodman and his boat, the Minerva pretty quickly, and booked it for a 9 am three hour tour.  I figured the water would be calmer then, and I was right.

Captain Noah did a nice job communicating prior to the trip.  It was an easy mile walk down to Port Olympic from our apartment.  Carol had put together some snacks, including nuts, peaches, grapes, cheese, and bread.  While a beer on the water was an appealing idea, we skipped it, as we were going out in the morning.

After a thorough safety briefing, we cast off.  Well, Captain Noah cast off.  We sat around and enjoyed being on a boat.

From the website:

Minerva is a British flagged, French built Arcoa 1017 measuring 9.85 metres (Blogger note: a bit over 32 feet) with comfortable and spacious seating to accommodate up to eight guests centered around a table for refreshments and nibbles. The back of the yacht is sports a skirt deck and drop down ladder for swimming.  The yacht is fitted with very reliable twin Volvo Penta 200 hp engines that have recently been comprehensively serviced. It also has GPS, auto pilot, depth finder and both fixed and portable VHF radio. 

We cruised north along the coastline. Don sat up with Captain Noah, and then I went up and talked to him a bit.  We passed by some interesting buildings, including an old power plant with unique chimneys.  Don was quite taken by it, as he is a former engineer.

We also enjoyed closer up views of the mountains that hug the coast.  Barcelona is surrounded by mountains on three sides -- and of course has its own mini-mountain in Montjuic.

Noah anchored the boat as I got my swim trunks on.  I then jumped into the Med at a depth of around 20 feet.  The water was bracing at first, but I got used to it quickly.  It turned out to be quite refreshing.  The picturesque shoreline for the town of Badalona (where's Goodalona?) provided a pretty back drop to my swim.  After a bit of desultory swimming, I clambered back onto the boat, and we enjoyed a snack as we bobbed in the water.

Groups of exuberant Spanish kids, probably about 10-12 years old, came by on kayaks and a huge SUP -- there were ten kids on each SUP.  They would paddle past the boat, shouting friendly hellos and waving.  They were excited to test out their English by talking to Americans (that won't last).  They also had fun falling/jumping off the SUP.  Their adult teacher paddled by, enjoying this class.

As Noah got ready to head back, I went out to the front of the boat to lay on the cushions.  That was quite comfortable as we cruised back.  After a bit I went back, and then hung with Don and Noah as we headed into port.

All in all, it was a great morning, and a nice added vantage point of Barcelona.  It would have been a shame to be here a month and not get out on a boat on the storied Med.

After that we had a nice lunch in a waterfront restaurant.

Leaving port.  The Minerva is one of

the few powerboats in Port Olympic.

The iconic W Hotel.

Don on the left, Noah on the wheel.

Decommissioned power plant.

Very interesting stacks.

The town of Badalona.

The warm Med.

Spanish kids enjoying their time on the water.

The Minerva -- off the website.

I did NOT take this photo!