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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (March 13, 2015)
FRIDAYEXTRA ! The Daily Astorian Friday, March 13, 2015 Weekend Edition MORE THAN HORSING AROUND Competitors exercise their horses between barrel-racing events inside the Red Barn Arena. Noncompetitive “time-only” events draw local equestrians of all ages and ability levels. More competitive events often attract riders from around the region who “haul in” for the day. Red Barn Arena — home of equestrian dreams Story and photos BY NATALIE ST. JOHN EO Media Group L ONG BEACH, Wash. — At dusk, two teenage girls leaned out over the top of a corral fence, craning their necks toward a GLVWDQW¿HOG One of them let out a long whistle, and a chestnut-colored horse with a white starburst on her forehead pressed against her corral, straining to see the girl. “I love that it still works!” Eva’s own- er, Heather Williamson told her friend Amber Sholin. The girls, both 16, were earning hay credit by mucking out stalls at the Red Barn Arena, a Sandridge Road stable that is owned and operated by Amy and Bryan McHale. Equipped with an indoor arena and stalls, “The Barn” makes it possible to keep and ride horses in an inhospita- ble climate. It also provides a welcoming gathering place for locals who share a common bond. As the girls worked, they chatted about the topics that arise naturally whenever two horse lovers meet; horse personalities, horse dreams. Heather and her boyfriend daydream about buying a big spread, raising, break- ing, boarding horses for a living. Right now, she is working with her young mus- tang, ZKRVKHVD\V³LVDVSLW¿UH²DQG that’s an understatement.” Amber doesn’t have a horse of her own, but she helps Heather out with hers. As she shoveled, she amiably compared her experiences with Heather’s. “You spend a lot of time with the cute ÀXII\HQGWKDW\RXJHWWREUXVK,VSHQG a lot of time with the end that smells like ammonia and gets stuck to your shoe!” As Marin McDonnel rode her horse Houston around the Red Barn Arena, her dog Blue decided to join her. Hous- Amber joked. See THE BARN, Page 4C ton tolerated the extra passenger, but Blue was ready to return to earth after a few paces. Tourists drawn to ‘Deadliest Catch’ crab boat ILWACO, Wash. — The Aleutian Ballad was a crab boat for 23 years before it was converted into an in- dustrial tourism ship. The crabber was shown on the Discovery Channel hit series “The Deadliest Catch” when it was hit by a 60-foot rogue wave that rolled the ship on its side. But that night in 2005 ZDVQ¶W WKH ¿UVW WLPH D URJXH wave knocked the ship over, co-owner David Lethin said. In 1991, on a day known as Black Sunday when there were 17 mayday calls report- ed, a storm packing 170 mph winds took 160 crab boats by surprise. The seas were run- ning 60 feet average, he said. The Aleutian Ballad, then known as the Shannon Marie, took a 90-foot wave and was knocked on its side. The water in the crab tanks poured out, he said, and 60- foot waves crashed over the side of the boat. “Vance Jones from Asto- ria, told his crew, ‘This boat is going down; you need to get in your survival suits right BY THE NUMBERS Homeport: Ketchikan Year built:1986 Owners: David and Danene Lethin Captains: David Lethin, Derrick Ray, Terry Barkley Length: 107 feet Beam: 26 feet Draft: 8 feet Displacement: 94 tons net, 300 gross tons Cruising speed: 8 knots Main engines: CAT 3408 (twin) Passengers: 150 Crew: 6 Cargo capacity: 170,000 pounds crab Crab pot capacity before conversion: 150 Fuel capacity: 9,900 gallons diesel now.’” They abandoned ship and were rescued. When the storm subsided, the U.S. Coast Guard called with the incredible news that WKHERDWKDGEHHQIRXQGÀRDW- ing on its side. “This boat is the only boat I know of that’s been abandoned in the Bering Sea for dead ... and resurrected,” he said. Lethin and his partners bought the boat for $1.2 mil- lion in 1994 and used it as a crabber until the 2005 rogue 7th Seas on ASO C W inter C hildren’s T heat er 2015 wave damaged it. Converting it to tourism cost $2.8 million. The ship now gives tourists the Alaska crabbing experience May 1 through Sept. 29 out of Ketchikan, Alaska. The tour busi- QHVV LV ZRUNLQJ RXW ¿QH /HWKLQ said. “We slam as much of Alaska into three hours as we can.” It can carry 150 passengers, including those in wheelchairs, in the calmer waters of the In- side Passage where the crew pulls up crab pots, octopus barrels and long lines. P re sen ts Some of the catch is placed in a live tank for the visitors to examine. All the catch is re- leased back into the water. For more information about the Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour, call 888-239-3816 or visit http://alaskacrabtour.com The Lethins winter the Aleutian Ballad at Tongue Point. They live in the area and like to keep the boat close by for any work that needs to be done before the season starts and for reprovisioning. e g e t t o w e r a r ... i t ’s o f vi e w . t n i o p s W o l f’ ions , h e a r th e od intent is ow n go .. nd h tu re. ed to defe g H ood ’s tru e n a D eterm in in id ls R ed R w orld. h e revea e ou ts ide h t o t n w rarely s ho how that tale w ill s ly d d u c g s plittin ry s tory. This s ide es to eve id s o w t th ere a re Performances – Friday 7pm March 13th Saturday & Sunday 2pm March 14th &15th ASOC Playhouse 129 West Bond Street, Astoria. Directed by Heather Ramsdell Music Direction by ChrisLynn Taylor Donated by Sponsored by Columbia Memorial Pediatrics Submitted photo Guests aboard the F/V Aleutian Ballad get a close-up look at the catch. The boat hauls up crab for tourists out of Ketchikan, Alaska. The wildlife is released back into the water before the boat returns to port. Book by Judy Wolfman Adults $10 Kids $6 on sale ONE HOUR before all shows! Reservations Recommended www.astorstreetoprycompany.com For more info 503-325-6104
