Dispatches
Fragments of the journey—quick glimpses, fleeting moments, and raw impressions captured before they drift away. Snapshots from the river, in words, images, and sound.
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Our Official Engine Provider Mercury Marine’s next new ad photo
Our Official Engine Provider Mercury Marine’s next new ad photo
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Sara Jane Hall, BBC producer joined us on the first few days of the expedition @bbc
Sara Jane Hall, BBC producer joined us on the first few days of the expedition @bbc
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Dave: “You got water in your fuel, Chief.”
Dave: “You got water in your fuel, Chief.” Not a little bit either. Note the line between clear and cloudy liquid. But how did so much water get in our fresh gas in a fresh tank? Sabotage?
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Amy, who finds herself homeless after being laid off as a dental tech, was excited about the tiny house possibilities of the shantyboat
Amy, who finds herself homeless after being laid off as a dental tech, was excited about the tiny house possibilities of the shantyboat
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Sara Jane Hall interviews Sheriff Chad about Red Bluff history
Sara Jane Hall interviews Sheriff Chad about Red Bluff history
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The saddest boat trailering experience ever. Sad face
The saddest boat trailering experience ever. Sad face
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We are camped under beautiful cooling oaks and sycamores in 135 degree heat 50 feet from the Sac River
We are camped under beautiful cooling oaks and sycamores in 135 degree heat 50 feet from the Sac River
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Secret History exhibit at the Sacramento History Museum through July
Secret History exhibit at the Sacramento History Museum through July
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Sac River maps arrived at the last minute! So fun to see every little slough, channel, and marina
Sac River maps arrived at the last minute! So fun to see every little slough, channel, and marina
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Important last minute printing tasks. Leave your river story at the Secret History exhibit at the Sacramento History Museum in July
Important last minute printing tasks. Leave your river story at the Secret History exhibit at the Sacramento History Museum in July
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Jeremiah puts the finishing touches on the new instrument panel
Jeremiah puts the finishing touches on the new instrument panel
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Miah wires up our homemade wiring post for gauge panel
Miah wires up our homemade wiring post for gauge panel
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Making big holes in the motor well to bolt on the new motor. @mercurymarine
Making big holes in the motor well to bolt on the new motor. @mercurymarine
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After years of effort to make sure our motor well was sealed I am cutting a huge hole in it
After years of effort to make sure our motor well was sealed I am cutting a huge hole in it
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Steering: check. Throttle: check. Shift: check. Battery: check. Controls: check. Freddy2 ready for action. @mercurymarine
Steering: check. Throttle: check. Shift: check. Battery: check. Controls: check. Freddy2 ready for action. @mercurymarine
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Oh nothing much. Just routing cables within Freddy2’s guts
Oh nothing much. Just routing cables within Freddy2’s guts
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Making holes in a perfectly good boat with a clever jig
Making holes in a perfectly good boat with a clever jig
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James and Wes rewiring (turns out unnecessarily) the new MerController
James and Wes rewiring (turns out unnecessarily) the new MerController
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MerControl2 wired up for new power. Good day of work w Benzy, James & Miah
MerControl2 wired up for new power. Good day of work w Benzy, James & Miah
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Setting in supplies thanks to a pretty sweet sponsorship
Setting in supplies thanks to a pretty sweet sponsorship
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Studying up on the new Mercury parts from our Official Engine Provider
Studying up on the new Mercury parts from our Official Engine Provider
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Dirty, covered in paint and epoxy after a full day of working on the shantyboat
Dirty, covered in paint and epoxy after a full day of working on the shantyboat
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Benzy works on her thesis among the chaos of shantyboat work
Benzy works on her thesis among the chaos of shantyboat work
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We had a problem with the hold doors on the shantyboat always creeping open. Magnets
We had a problem with the hold doors on the shantyboat always creeping open. Magnets
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Decommissioning the old MerControl on the shantyboat
Decommissioning the old MerControl on the shantyboat
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The untidy state of the shantyboat between journeys
The untidy state of the shantyboat between journeys
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Not seen the new Secret History trailer yet? Check it out!
Not seen the new Secret History trailer yet? Check it out! http://peoplesriverhistory.us/blog/trailer2017/
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Only 5 days left: $3230 still to go! Great rewards.
Only 5 days left: $3230 still to go! Great rewards. Project full of https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1245766964/a-secret-history-sacramento-river-expedition
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Weird things afoot – cutting into the shelves for a crossbeam to support the extended loft
Weird things afoot – cutting into the shelves for a crossbeam to support the extended loft
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Yesterday moved half a ton of brush to make room for the shantyboat
Yesterday moved half a ton of brush to make room for the shantyboat
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River Voices – 2017 Trailer
After 3 years of fieldwork, 1000 river miles, 15,000 road miles, 85 interviews, and now 1 month of combing the archive, and innumerable editing hours, we are extremely excited to present the new trailer.
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Wes futzes with the shantyboat electrical system
Wes futzes with the shantyboat electrical system (photo by @dudicusmaximus)
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Another day spent under the decks of the shantyboat-full system shutoff relay
Another day spent under the decks of the shantyboat-full system shutoff relay
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Miah replaces aging bike tube shelfkeepers. Now stuff won’t rain down on us constantly @dudicusmaximus
Miah replaces aging bike tube shelfkeepers. Now stuff won’t rain down on us constantly @dudicusmaximus
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Only 2 weeks left of the Secret History @Kickstarter & still long way from goal. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1245766964/a-secret-history-sacramento-river-expedition
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The continuing Surprising Things The Mouse Ate series
The continuing Surprising Things The Mouse Ate series
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Yeah, I guess our mouse visitor really wanted olive oil to go with their other snacks
Yeah, I guess our mouse visitor really wanted olive oil to go with their other snacks
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Won’t be sorry at all to see our leaky unreliable hand pump faucet go
Won’t be sorry at all to see our leaky unreliable hand pump faucet go
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Trying to break the shantyboat into California
After 3 years of fieldwork, 1000 river miles, 15,000 road miles, 85 interviews, and now 1 month of combing the archive, and innumerable editing hours, we are extremely excited to present the new trailer.
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@gooddoghazel watches the Secret History media cabinet
@gooddoghazel watches the Secret History media cabinet
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Miah marveling at the amazing generous gifts flooding in
Miah in total amazement at the amazing generous gifts flooding in from fans of the Secret History project. Thanks Frank for the new water system
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Secret History shantyboat clean-up day and mouse habitat exploration
Secret History shantyboat clean-up day and mouse habitat exploration
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A sad mouse casualty aboard the shantyboat. He may or may not have died of natural causes
A sad mouse casualty aboard the shantyboat. He may or may not have died of natural causes
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What surprises await us in the Secret History installation media cabinet?
What surprises await us in the Secret History installation media cabinet?
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Secret History shantyboat nestled in the redwoods in California
Secret History shantyboat nestled in the redwoods in California
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Shantyboat home in Felton California
Shantyboat home in Felton California. Benzy has to lift the telephone wires on the little road up to where the shantyboat nestles in the redwoods
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Shantyboat in the Paducah Labor Day Parade
Shantyboat in the Paducah Labor Day Parade. Nathan Lynn playing banjo while Wes tries to make banjo sounds that are not too disharmonious. Photo by Mitch Kimball
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Looking through the Mary Wheeler collection at the Paducah Library
Looking through the Mary Wheeler collection at the McCracken County Library
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Secret History talk at River Discovery Center, Paducah
Secret History talk at River Discovery Center, Paducah
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Rev Kempton Baldridge one of a few chaplains for more than 4000 towboats
Rev Kempton Baldridge one of a few chaplains for more than 4000 towboats and riverboats on American Rivers
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Shantyboat On display
Shantyboat On display today and tomorrow. Open House 10-2pm Saturday at the River Discovery Museum on Water St in Paducah
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Bruce Walker king of the bar-b-Que in north Paducah
Bruce Walker king of the bar-b-Que in north Paducah at A&J’s BBQ. We had a great conversation about the neighborhood and then he made the most delectable ribs I’ve had all year
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David Nickell talks about his family history in the Land Between the Rivers
David Nickell talks about his family history in the Land Between the Rivers, an intense story of government betrayal and intrigue
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Merryman Kemp founder of Merryman House
Maryman Kemp founder of Maryman House, a shelter for survivors of domestic violence. Interview in Anita’s garden
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Louie Kirchhoff baker in Paducah for 75 years
Louie Kirchhoff who has lived in Paducah for 75 years, much of the time running his families bakery on 2nd Street since 1873
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Nathan Blake Lynn, musician, historian, and amateur folk musicologist
Nathan Blake Lynn, musician, historian, and amateur folk musicologist. Interview at Paducah riverfront at dawn
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African glass beads at the Paducah Farmers Market
African glass beads at Melanie and Erileigh’s stall at the Paducah Farmers Market. So much good stuff, fresh veggies and fruit. Shantyboat parked at edge of market
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Anita Stamper, our generous host at the beautiful Mav House
Anita Stamper, our generous host at the beautiful Mav House
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Capt Ron Gray Jr of the American Queen meets the captain of the Shantyboat Dotty
Capt Ron Gray Jr of the American Queen meets the captain of the Shantyboat Dotty
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Secret History shantyboat visits the American Queen at Port of Paducah
Secret History shantyboat visits the American Queen at Port of Paducah
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Secret History installation at the River Discovery Center in Paducah
Secret History installation at the River Discovery Center in Paducah
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Shantyboat from Founder’s Room at the River Discovery Center
Shantyboat seen through the windows of the Founder’s Room at the River Discovery Center in Paducah where the Secret History installation will be for the next two weeks
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My favorite Secret History paparazzi photo
My favorite Secret History paparazzi photo. Back from the Benzy as ships mate days
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Adrian playing dress up
Adrian playing dress up. He already had the radio on so we could listen to radio chatter as they blew up a major highway span we were crossing under. Thanks to friends in Guntersville for the sweet patches
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Captain and two ships mates, Age and Penske, arrive after trials and tribulations at Kenlake Marina
Captain and two ships mates, Age and Penske, arrive after trials and tribulations at Kenlake Marina
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After Freddie’s transmission went out, we had to put Mr Johnson back in service to push the shantyboat. Mid-lake motor switch
After Freddie’s transmission went out, we had to put Mr Johnson back in service to push the shantyboat. Mid-lake motor switch
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Oh no! Freddie’s transmission died in the middle of Lake Kentucky
Oh no! We lost the rest of Freddie’s transmission in the middle of Lake Kentucky
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Old Danville Grain Elevator submerged by the inundated Tennessee River
Old Danville Grain Elevator submerged by the inundated Tennessee River in the flooded town of Danville
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Our first volunteer fish dinner
Our first volunteer fish dinner! When we to hop in the johnboat to pick up new ships mate Penske, we found he had jumped in during our rough traversal of Kentucky Lake
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Two Weeks in Paducah, Kentucky
Join us in Paducah Kentucky for a two week long series of Secret History events. Modes has exhibited the project in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Huntsville, and Florence, and will end his historic journey at the Port of Paducah. The project will be exhibiting for two weeks starting August 23rd in partnership with the Paducah Arts Alliance.
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Not everyone knows it’s good luck to pass under a train bridge
Not everyone knows it’s good luck to pass under a train bridge and extra if it has a train and even more if it’s moving. So it was a lucky day
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Pete and Wes look at Freddie to see why we no longer have a reverse gear
Pete and Wes look at Freddie to see why we no longer have a reverse gear
