Junk is worth saving

By Elleda Wilson

Posted: December 9, 2011

“A very interesting boat was rescued by the Coast Guard Monday off the mouth of the Columbia River: a vintage wooden CHINESE JUNK, built in China in 1925,” JOANNE RIDEOUT of THE SHIP REPORT (shipreport.net) told the Ear. Her name is the FLYING DRAGON, and she’s pictured, above.

Have a little money stashed away? The boat’s price has been reduced to $148,000, and it’s a beauty. You can see more photos, and read about the specifications of the vessel, at http://tinyurl.com/astjunk

The website says she’s got more than 1,000 square feet of canvas, and can do 10 knots under sail. Here’s a bit of the sales pitch: “Built on the shores of Hong Kong … she spent the majority of her life as a fishing boat … She was bought by an airline pilot and converted into a cruiser in the 1960s. Bought by Northwest Orient Airlines, the Flying Dragon was brought overseas to Spokane, Wash., in 1974, to be the airline’s floating pavilion in the World Fair. After the fair, she saw many owners and eventually ended up in Astoria, being used as a brothel.” Honest, that’s what it claims.

After finding the junk in Kalama, Wash., in 2000, in 2001, the Flying Dragon was finally restored by, and is used as a floating studio by, sculptor and world sailor JERRY JOSLIN and his son, SERGEI, who is also a sculptor. Their website, joslinstudios.com, has lots of photos of the vessel before and during the restoration.

“Right now she’s at the Port of Ilwaco, where the Coast Guard towed her after she began taking on water off Clatsop Spit Monday afternoon,” Joanne reported. “It’s a really neat boat.” With quite a history.

Reprinted with the permission of The Daily Astorian of Astoria, Oregon. 

Knappa Coast Guardsman plays with fame

By Elleda Wilson

Posted: July 2, 2010

Stationed in Boston, U.S. Coast Guardsman DAVID PEARSON of Knappa is on the Red, White and Blue Tour with the U.S. all-star military team, HEROES OF THE DIAMOND (www.heroesofthediamond.com). He is the son of KEN and SANDRA PEARSON of Knappa.

On Father’s Day weekend, David was invited to play in the second annual Hall of Fame Classic at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, N.Y., with Hall of Fame players GARY CARTER, BOB FELLER, ROLLIE FINGERS, GOOSE GOSSAGE, HARMON KILLEBEW, OZZIE SMITH and several other Major League Baseball players.

Pictured above from left, Hall of Famer PHIL NIEKRO, who was inducted in 1997, and David Pearson.

“David replaced Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith in the top of the second at shortstop,” Ken said, “and went 1-for-2 with a base hit over the second baseman’s head.”

On tour through the end of August, David will make stops in several states, playing games with Triple-A teams and making appearances, including at the MLB All-Star Game in Anaheim, Calif., and the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Allstate 400 in Indianapolis.

Reprinted with the permission of The Daily Astorian of Astoria, Oregon.