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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2017
CONTACT US
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IN ONE EAR • ELLEDA WILSON
OUTRUNNER, OUTGUNNER
RITE OF PASSAGE
M
aritime history buffs might be interested to know that the
USS Constitution, aka Old Ironsides, the oldest com-
missioned warship in the U.S. (launched Oct. 21, 1797), was
recently refloated in Boston Harbor after a two-year restoration,
gCaptain.com reports (http://tinyurl.com/refloatConst). The Con-
stitution is pictured, courtesy of the U.S. Navy.
The copper sheathing below the waterline (protection from
ship worms) was replaced, as were one hundred hull planks.
The preservation and repair of the extensive sail rigging, upper
masts and yardarms is ongoing. The ship reopens to the public
in September.
The vessel was one of six original frigates of the new U.S.
Navy, all of which were designed by shipbuilder Joshua Hum-
phreys, and her hull is 22 inches thick at the waterline.
“When she was built, Constitution was among the best-de-
signed ships in the world,” Naval History and Heritage Com-
mand Director Sam Cox said, “she could outrun anything she
couldn’t outgun, and outgun anything she couldn’t outrun.”
NAP TIME
‘M
y husband ushered me quickly and quietly to the front
door, and these two little ones, twin fawns, were resting
peacefully in our front yard,” LaRee Johnson wrote. “The mom
had dropped them off while she either took a break, or scoped the
best roses on the block to munch on …” LaRee’s husband, Andy
Cier, took the photo of the pair that is shown.
“I sat out on the porch to watch them, off and on for about
three hours,” she continued. “They were well hidden from the
street, even though we are only a few blocks from downtown.
They didn’t seem bothered by people or cars going by. Mom said
to wait here, and they did.
“I turned to go in the house to refresh my tea, and was dis-
mayed to see they were gone. Quickly and quietly, mom must
have come back to retrieve them. I now understand this is typical,
and not to worry. So I just wanted to let your readers to know, if
they are lucky enough to have these darling creatures stop by for
a nap, please leave them alone — mom will be back. It is just one
more magical sight in Astoria!”
A HARD EGG TO CRACK
hile out fishing recently, Jesse Anderson pulled up a trawl
net from 450 feet deep and found inside, of all things, a 2.5
inch long Common Murre egg (pictured). “It had a beautiful
green-blue tint to it,” he said.
As a side note, no one really knows why murre eggs are so
strangely shaped, but the favored assumption is that if prodded,
the eggs roll in a circle — which is important, since murres lay
their eggs on ledges of steep rocky outcroppings, and they’d be
less likely to roll off (http://tinyurl.com/eggnet). But how the egg
wound up deep in the ocean is anyone’s guess, much less how it
has stayed intact.
Jesse delivered his little treasure from the deep to the Wildlife
Center of the North Coast (www.coastwildlife.org), which was
delighted to receive it. “It is pretty heavy, so we know something is
in it,” a WCNC representative said. “But we won’t be cracking it
to find out — it will be a new addition to our education program.”
W
P
atrick Hackett (pictured) of Charleston, South Car-
olina, arrived in Astoria early this week after a
cross-country bike trip that his mother, Christine Hack-
ett Eisenberg, called a “rite of passage to manhood.”
In 1982, Patrick’s father, Peter Hackett, made a sim-
ilar journey. “He regaled Patrick with stories of living by
his wits, brawn and the kindness of strangers,” Christine
explained. “So, from about the age of 9, Patrick has been
dreaming about taking this cross-country trip.”
When Patrick graduated from college in December
2015, he began working, saving money and training to get
ready. Early this May, he dipped the back tire of his bike in
the surf at Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, and set off on
his “4,000 mile odyssey” to Astoria.
Patrick’s Instagram feed (@pat.hackett) contains pho-
tos (including those shown), along with stories about his
adventures crossing the country, including this one, in Illi-
nois: “Finally, staring at over a mile of open, muddy water
between me and the highway, I had to choose: turn back 20
miles and try my luck on the interstate (or go forward). …
Needless to say, it was a loooong walk through waist-high
waves … but well worth it. If you can’t seem to find the
right road, make it the one you’re on.”
Like his father, Patrick is grateful to have met many
people who helped him along the way — which “did much
to calm my worries as he has been making the trek,” his
mother noted.
And then Patrick reached Oregon. “This state is cer-
tainly gorgeous,” he wrote, “and after the past 3,000 miles,
I didn’t think I could still be surprised by the extent of the
kindness of strangers, but Oregonians (Oreganites? Orega-
nos?) seriously have a collective heart of solid gold.”
“After such an incredible journey,” he concluded, “…
I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”
NEWSY NOTES
N
ews of note 117 years ago today from the Saturday, July
28, 1900, issue of The Morning Astorian included the tale
of a fisherman, known as Russian Pete, who discovered a keg of
beer — “at a moment when both the tide and spirits were low” —
that had been lost for more than a year on the bottom of the river .
“… Within a remarkably short time the keg was resting on a
plank in a fishing boat with a spigot firmly attached in the head.
Half a dozen swarthy fishermen participated in the obsequies,
and all were agreed that the beer was by far the best they had
ever drunk.”
Another item, noted “there is still some hope for Clatskanie,”
mentioned that the phone company had put in some extra lines
between the coast and Portland, and there was now a switchboard
and a booth in the rear of Kratz’s store in Clatskanie, “so when
you wish to talk to your ‘best,’ nobody will hear you.”
The county jail was a sore spot even in 1900. Two prison-
ers escaped by digging through the floor, which was suppos-
edly cement. “The fact is that the contractor who put in the floor-
ing either did the work under the instructions of an idiot, who
chanced to be in authority at the time the contract was let, or
he swindled the county most shamefully,” the newspaper huffed.
“The floor of the jail is a mere shell.”
The duo were quickly apprehended, however, and “confined
in dark cells” (hopefully with more secure floors) for a few days
as punishment.
SCARF TALES
UNFORGETTABLE HAVORN
‘O
‘W
e sailed our 43-foot Nereides teak ketch from
Marina del Rey, California, to Auckland, New
Zealand in 1995-1998, but it was the wooden Norwegian
boat Havorn (pictured) that grabbed Rick’s heart,” Toni
Knier wrote about her husband’s first encounter with the
boat in the early 1970s, when it was in good condition. He
“never forgot it,” she said. The couple are pictured, inset.
Built of wood in Norway in 1936 as a fishing boat, the
Havorn was later converted into a cruising sailboat, with
1,650 square feet of sail (http://tinyurl.com/havornsail).
“After moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2005, she was
languishing in dry dock for three years in Port Townsend,
Washington,” Toni explained.
“Rick purchased her and went to work with two ship-
wrights in Port Townsend making her seaworthy again,
and brought her through British Columbia and the San
Juan Islands to Astoria, where she has been ever since.”
“The sailing ketch, Havorn, presents a distinctive sil-
houette with her traditional double gaff rig,” Rick added.
“This seaworthy craft sailed the dangerous North Sea.
Until two years ago, you might have seen her tacking
through the anchored ships (in Astoria). Then, with the
sudden crack, the top third of her main mast broke off due
to unseen decay. Thankfully, no one was hurt.”
At 35 tons, and 48 feet on deck, the Norwegian dou-
ble-ender has two masts, and finding the right logs to
replace the broken one was a challenge. Two larch trees
were located and brought to Astoria from Idaho, after
being partially shaped in the forest by Rick, who reports
that the larger tree was 105 years old.
“This rig has loads of line and heavy wire cable,” he
noted. “Forming and finishing the spars is just part of the
job.”
“Hopefully,” Rick added, “you may see Havorn sailing
in the river next year.”
h I’m excited,” Brenda McKune of Warrenton told the
Ear. “I just received three scarves, and I collect them with
their stories. I’m writing a book that adds everyone who gives
me a scarf. It’s going to be great.” She’s calling it her “Scarves
of Life” project.
“Some of the stories are amazing — you would be surprised
to know what some simple material has been through,” she said.
“If they could only talk. If anyone would like to add one, two
or more, and wants to give me the story with or without adding
your name, I would truly appreciate it. Have no worry of what it
looks like, it’s an object that’s lived with you.” Interested? You
can reach Brenda at 503-861-8126.
“You know,” she added, “I’m truly hoping this may help
someone, as talking, and telling your story to someone — who
would listen and care — makes you feel good. Maybe I can touch
someone by caring. We all need that.”
GONE FISHIN’
W
ell, it’s that time of year again in Southwest Alaska’s Kat-
mai National Park and Preserve, when the salmon are
swimming upstream to spawn, and the bears are calling it lunch.
And you, along with millions of others, can watch the action on
webcams set up by Explore.org. A still shot from one is shown.
Since the park is in a very remote area, the basketball-sized
webcams are powered by solar generators, and installed in
self-cleaning housings, the Alaska Dispatch News reports (http://
tinyurl.com/AKbears). Forty volunteers operate the cameras
remotely, and there is an interpretive ranger who interacts with
the viewers via live chats and Facebook.
Pick your favorite bear and join the fun. It’s like watching an
aquarium — but better.
COMMUNITY NOTES
SATURDAY
Sit & Stitch — 11 a.m. to 1
p.m., Homespun Quilts & Yarn, 108
10th St. Bring knitting, crochet or
other needlework projects to this
community stitching time. All skill
levels welcome.
Angora Hiking Club — noon,
summer potluck and meeting. Bring
a dish and beverage of choice. For
information, call Phuong Van Horn
at 503-325-2115, or Bob Wester-
berg, vice president, at 503-325-
4315.
Columbia Northwestern Mod-
el Railroading Club — 1 p.m., in
Hammond. Group runs trains on
HO-scale layout. For information,
call Don Carter at 503-325-0757.
Spinning Circle — 1 to 3 p.m.,
Astoria Fiber Arts Academy, 1296
Duane St. Bring a spinning wheel.
For information, call 503-325-5598
or go to http://astoriafiberarts.com
SUNDAY
information, call 503-470-0594
Lower Columbia Diversity
Coalition — 2 p.m., Room 219,
Columbia Hall, Clatsop Communi-
ty College. LCDC is a collection of
groups and individuals engaging
proactively with diversity issues
in the region. Bring a friend and/
or family and join a discussion
or 503-545-5311, or go to the
“Lower Columbia Diversity
Coalition” Facebook page.
Group discusses issues facing re-
ligious faith in the modern secular
world. All are welcome. For informa-
tion, call 503-861-2421.
knitting, crocheting, embroidery
and quilting. All are welcome. For
information, call 503-325-1364 or
503-325-7960.
Line Dancing — 5:30 to 8 p.m.,
Seaside American Legion, 1315
Broadway. For information, call
503-738-5111. No cost; suggested
$5 tip to the instructor.
MONDAY
Chair Exercises for Seniors
— 9 to 9:45 a.m., Astoria Senior
Center, 1111 Exchange St. For in-
formation, call 503-325-3231.
Seekers Group — 6 to 7:30
p.m., Pioneer Presbyterian Church,
33324 Patriot Way, Warrenton.
Scandinavian Workshop —
10 a.m., First Lutheran Church, 725
33rd St. Needlework, hardanger,
Senior Lunch — 11:30 a.m.,
Bob Chisholm Senior Center, 1225
Avenue A, Seaside. Suggested do-
nation $3 for those older than 60;
$6.75 for those younger than 60.
For information, call Michelle Lew-
is at 503-861-4200.
of ideas and opportunities
for connecting, energizing
and creating equitable and
inclusive communities. Re-
freshments will be served. For
See NOTES, Page 2B