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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Family Shantyboat Photos
One of the many folks we met in Florence Alabama shared these photos of their family shantyboat with us.
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The Boxcar Cafe in Sheffield. Lots of old history here
The Boxcar Cafe in Sheffield. Lots of old history here
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Welcomed by a whole brood of curious kids in Florence
Welcomed by a whole brood of curious kids in Florence
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Tennessee River trash pouring out of the mouth of Sweetwater Creek
Tennessee River covered in trash ironically pouring out of the mouth of Sweetwater Creek. Perhaps @ijamsnaturecenter should introduce @florencealabama to their trash booms
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The most curious lock crew we’ve ever encountered at Wilson Lock
The most curious lock crew we’ve ever encountered at Wilson Lock
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Tiny tiny shantyboat 93 feet down at the bottom of Wilson Lock and Dam
Tiny tiny shantyboat 93 feet down at the bottom of Wilson Lock and Dam. Thanks to Gino, one of the lock staff, for the photo
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Lockmaster at Wheeler Dam checking out project postcard
Lockmaster at Wheeler Dam checking out project postcard
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Cara introduced me to the concept of Meat and Two
Cara introduced me to the concept of Meat and 2. Meat and 2 sides
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When we boated up a creek to this little town, you’ll never believe what happened.
We boated up a creek as close to a nearby little town as we could get, still a 20 minute walk away to get much-needed propane and fuel. I bet Jeremiah that we could get there in less than 20 minutes hitchhiking, even with the wait. The moment we stepped into the road, before we’d…
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Crossing the expanse of Tennessee River lakes often feels endless
Crossing the expanse of Tennessee River lakes often feels endless
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Waiting for the crowds to subside, cocktail hour and dominos with Jeremiah
Waiting for the crowds to subside, cocktail hour and dominos with @dudicusmaximus
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In the far away land of Alabama there are electrical outlets in public places
In the far away land of Alabama there are electrical outlets in public places such as parks, buildings and patios. Apparently they are not terrified that homeless people will charge their cell phones. People here don’t believe us when we say that this doesn’t happen where we come from
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We thought we might fit under the train bridge at Decatur AL
Train bridge Decatur AL. We thought at first we might fit under. Not so much
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Passing the time with the song game on the way to Decatur
Passing the time with the song game on the way to Mussel Shoals
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Do you know people in Decatur AL we should talk to?
Do you know people in Decatur AL we should talk to?
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Cocktail hour! Next on the Shantyboat Guys!
Cocktail hour! Next on the Shantyboat Guys with @dudicusmaximus
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Thanks to Ditto Landing for hosting us in Huntsville
Thanks to Ditto Landing for hosting us in Huntsville, especially director Brandi Quick
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@dudicusmaximus finally noticed the shantyboat head dedication. Three years with the project
@dudicusmaximus finally noticed the shantyboat head dedication. Three years with the project
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Apparently we were in USA Today (Thanks Joan Raspo)
Apparently we were in USA Today (Thanks Joan Raspo)
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Here’s @gooddoghazel perched on the side of a cliff at Painted Bluff
Here’s @gooddoghazel perched on the side of a cliff at Painted Bluff
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Chef Forest Wilson and daughter Yasmin who run a vegan & veggie food truck at Lowe Mill in Huntsville
Chef Forest Wilson and daughter Yasmin who run a vegan & veggie food truck at Lowe Mill in Huntsville
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World War 2 ammunition bunkers and 50s Cold War fallout shelters on Redstone Arsenal
World War 2 ammunition bunkers and 50s Cold War fallout shelters on Redstone Arsenal
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@gooddoghazel is NASAs new spokesmodel. With Saturn V rocket
@gooddoghazel is NASAs new spokesmodel. With Saturn V rocket
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Beautiful Indian Creek in Triana Alabama heavily polluted with DDT from the Redstone Arsenal
Beautiful Indian Creek in Triana Alabama heavily polluted with DDT from the Redstone Arsenal
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Nathaniel Chisolm of E&N Good Home Cooking in Triana. His wife Emma is the E in E&N
Nathaniel Chisolm of E&N Good Home Cooking in Triana. His wife Emma is the E in E&N
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In Huntsville? Stop by the Secret History Open House on the shantyboat at Ditto Landing. See the boat, tell us your story, play the banjo. We’ll be here until 7pm
In Huntsville? Stop by the Secret History Open House on the shantyboat at Ditto Landing. See the boat, tell us your story, play the banjo. We’ll be here until 7pm
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Most epically scenic interview ever with archeologist Ben Hoksbergen perched on the side of Painted Bluff
Most epically scenic interview ever with archeologist Ben Hoksbergen perched on the side of Painted Bluff
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@gooddoghazel near Hobbs Island on Ben Hoksbergen’s boat on our archaeology tour
@gooddoghazel near Hobbs Island on Ben Hoksbergen’s boat on our archaeology tour
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Visitor Nate playing banjo during the shantyboat open house
Visitor Nate playing banjo during the shantyboat open house
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Join us for a Shantyboat Open House! Tue & Wed 3-7pm Ditto Landing Huntsville
Join us for a Shantyboat Open House! Tue & Wed 3-7pm Ditto Landing Huntsville
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5th Ave School, first integrated public school in Alabama in 1963. Now honored with a brand new medical tower
5th Ave School, first integrated public school in Alabama in 1963. Now honored with a brand new medical tower
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Site of the Huntsville slave cemetery now honored with medical offices. Last used in 1870. Euphemistically known as “Georgia” in the Black community
Site of the Huntsville slave cemetery now honored with medical offices. Last used in 1870. Euphemistically known as “Georgia” in the Black community
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Have a beater car we can borrow for a few days in Huntsville? Downtown is literally 10’miles from the river
Have a beater car we can borrow for a few days in Huntsville? Downtown is literally 10’miles from the river
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Cara pilots on a hazy afternoon through high bluffs
Cara pilots on a hazy afternoon through high bluffs
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Secret History is front page in the Guntersville Gleam
Secret History is front page in the Guntersville Gleam
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Doris Turner talked to us about her daddy who was a captain on the Guntersville and Huntsville steamboats hauling railroad cars 22 miles to Hobbs Island
Dorris Turner talked to us about her daddy who was a captain on the Guntersville and Huntsville steamboats hauling railroad cars 22 miles to Hobbs Island
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Pete Sparks and Larry Smith, both Guntersville historians, told us about the TVA impounding of Lake Guntersvilke, the Civil War and the Cherokee removals
Pete Sparks and Larry Smith, both Guntersville historians, told us about the TVA impounding of Lake Guntersvilke, the Civil War and the Cherokee removals
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Cara with Dorris Turner, 75, whose father was a steamboat captain in Guntersville
Cara with Dorris Turner, 75, whose father was a steamboat captain in Guntersville
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The case of the “stolen” johnboat solved. Four agency APB. Fastest response ever. Found drifting and brought to hotel dock by a boat repair fella
The case of the “stolen” johnboat solved. Four agency APB. Fastest response ever. Found drifting and brought to hotel dock by a boat repair fella
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Empty shore where the johnboat was tied up while I went to the hardware store. Stolen?
Empty shore where the johnboat was tied up while I went to the hardware store. Stolen?
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Guntersville police chief Jim Peterson, fourth generation in this little welcoming town of 8000 (and an Alabama fan).
Guntersville police chief Jim Peterson, fourth generation in this little welcoming town of 8000 (and an Alabama fan). I am told that here I should say “Roll tide.”
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Since we are such terrible fishermen, the only fish we’ve been able to catch have been the dead fish stinking up the harbor
Since we are such terrible fishermen, the only fish we’ve been able to catch have been the dead fish stinking up the harbor
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To visualize this properly, imagine sheet lightening rippling along the bottom of this threatening cloud we need to boat home in
To visualize this properly, imagine sheet lightening rippling along the bottom of this threatening cloud we need to boat home in
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Moments before lightening in the distance cleared the pools
Moments before lightening in the distance cleared the pools
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Early evening johnboat adventure with Cara and @gooddoghazel for public pool, liquor and ice
Early evening johnboat adventure with Cara and @gooddoghazel for public pool, liquor and ice
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The muppet Hoggle from the movie Labyrinth discovered rotting in unclaimed luggage and restored
The muppet Hoggle from the movie Labyrinth discovered rotting in unclaimed luggage and restored
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Old AA buddies of Squirlesy’s modeling in Guntersville Alabama
Old AA buddies of Squirlsy’s modeling in Guntersville Alabama
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Who knew there was craft beer in small town Northern Alabama? Main Channel brewing in Guntersville
Who knew there was craft beer in small town Northern Alabama? Main Channel brewing in Guntersville
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Within hours of arriving in Guntersville Alabama the cops arrived…
Within hours of arriving in Guntersville Alabama the cops arrived… to welcome us to town, ask questions about the shantyboat and the project, to tell us stories, bring the local newspaper, tell us where to eat, and offer us information, contacts, and rides. Police Chief Jim Peterson, Alabama Trooper Lt Terry Ware, Gleam reporter Joe…
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Ghost children in antique store in Gintersville Alabama
Ghost children in antique store in Gintersville Alabama
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After numerous hours on the boat Hazel is glad to ge back to dry land in Guntersville Alabama
After numerous hours on the boat Hazel is glad to ge back to dry land in Guntersville Alabama
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The sun is a blazing fireball 90 degrees F At 10 in the morning
The sun is a blazing fireball 90 degrees F At 10 in the morning
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Coozies. You’re from California. You wouldn’t understand.
Coozies. You’re from California. You wouldn’t understand. @communistlesbiandiscoparty @slbenz
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Shantyboat on Brown’s Lake
Anchored for the night on Brown’s Lake near Walker’s Landing under a nearly full moon.
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Beth and Robert took on a walk along Brown’s Lake near Walker Landing
Beth and Robert took on a walk along Brown’s Lake near Walker Landing
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Beth and Robert took on a walk along Brown’s Lake near Walker Landing
Beth and Robert took on a walk along Brown’s Lake near Walker Landing
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Crazy rainstorm forces us off the river
Crazy rainstorm forces us off the river into a sheltered cove to smoke pipes and drink whiskey
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My local service guys left out a seal and fried the gears.
The new motor we got from Jim Wade was not running smoothly and he drove out an hour twice to make things right. In the end he fixed our old one. Turned out the Santa Cruz repair shop where I paid $600 had forgotten to replace a seal they took out and it had leaked…
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Just your usual sunny day fishing rainstorm experience
Just your usual sunny day fishing rainstorm experience
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James Wade, self-described Tennessee hillbilly and amazingly friendly man, sold us Mr Johnson II, our new old outboard
James Wade, self-described Tennessee hillbilly and amazingly friendly man, sold us Mr Johnson II, our new old outboard
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Glamorous Boating Task Number 512: sorting the moldy dogfood from the good
Glamorous Boating Task Number 512: sorting the moldy dogfood from the good
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Collard greens and jawbone bacon for breakfast. Next up buttery grits and hush puppies
Collard greens and jawbone bacon for breakfast. Next up buttery grits and hush puppies
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Determined to learn some southern cooking. Okra, greens, jawbone bacon, grits, white fish fry
Determined to learn some southern cooking. Okra, greens, jawbone bacon, grits, white fish fry
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Buehler’s Market, in Chattanooga since 1912, caters largely to the Black community in the food desert downtown
Buehler’s Market, in Chattanooga since 1912, caters largely to the Black community in the food desert downtown
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Chattanooga Police observe a Black Lives Matter march
Chattanooga Police observe a Black Lives Matter march
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Maclellan Island, formerly known as Chattanooga Island, formerly known as Crutchfield Island, formerly known as Ross’ Landing Island, and currently called Audubon Island in the middle of the river in downtown Chattanooga. What is the history here?
Maclellan Island, formerly known as Chattanooga Island, formerly known as Crutchfield Island, formerly known as Ross’ Landing Island, and currently called Audubon Island in the middle of the river in downtown Chattanooga. What is the history here?
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Paul playing a Stroh violin in Northshore district Chattanooga
Paul playing a Stroh violin in Northshore district Chattanooga
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With out a doubt the most brilliant urban public art/water feature I’ve ever seen. 5 flights of waterfall stairs
With out a doubt the most brilliant urban public art/water feature I’ve ever seen. 5 flights of waterfall stairs
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Fully protected bike lanes in Chattanooga. Unlike my “progressive” hometown @cityofsantacruz
Fully protected bike lanes in Chattanooga. Unlike my “progressive” hometown @cityofsantacruz
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Welcome to Chattanooga. Here, have a cataclysm
The start of the worst storm we’ve survived on the shantyboat. 60 mph gusts, 4 feet swells, driving rain, water pouring through our closed windows. Had to go out my in it several times to save stuff. Intertube blew away. Bamboo porch collapsed. Johnboat filled with water and wallowed in huge waves. We made evacuation…
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