Wes Modes
Greetings from Hudson New York
Greetings from Hudson New York
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In Hudson NY there are over 120 Bangladeshi families, some of whom maintain a community garden along the river down by the Shacks. Seeing the women’s bright clothes among the rich greens of the garden was beautiful
In Hudson NY there are over 120 Bangladeshi families, some…
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The mysteries of low tide. This is the first we’ve been in a tidal river
The mysteries of low tide. This is the first we’ve…
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Exploring Hudson’s Fugery Boat Club, i.e., the North Dock Tin Boat Association or just the Shacks. A hundred year old collection of shanties whose occupants were evicted in 2013
Exploring Hudson’s Fugery Boat Club, i.e., the North Dock Tin…
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Spencer met us at the dock when we arrived in Hudson and was charming and helpful while we were there. He also told delightfully funny drunk stories
Spencer met us at the dock when we arrived in…
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This is my selfie of the captain of the Dotty, a kinda Cap’n Bly character
This is my selfie of the captain of the Dotty,…
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Coeymans Landing Marina
While eating dinner with my son, I received the most…
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At ör in downtown Hudson. Beer and pool at noon on a hot day
At ör in downtown Hudson. Beer and pool at noon…
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So far, we are impressed by Hudson‘s necklace a beautiful parks above the bluff. Hudsons middle-of-the-river lighthouse in the background
So far, we are impressed by Hudson‘s necklace a beautiful…
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The Saratogian: Steamboat Meet brings ships, tales to Waterford
The Saratogian By Joseph Phelan WATERFORD, N.Y. >> Over the…
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Gathering the Untold Stories of Vanishing Hudson River People
A rustic recreated mid-century shanty boat, a daring river voyage…
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Seeking to understand new places as we move through them
Seeking to understand new places as we move through them
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Dear Yachters, you are responsible for your wake when you damage other people’s boats, and you are why we hate yachters. How many ways can you interpret “No Wake Zone?
Dear Yachters, you are responsible for your wake when you…
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The sleepy little hamlet of Castleton-on-Hudson
The sleepy little hamlet of Castleton-on-Hudson
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Miranda’s Deli in Albany, which was recommended to us by a passerby, has a long line at lunchtime
Miranda’s Deli in Albany, which was recommended to us by…
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Loitering under the Livingston Ave Swing Bridge built in 1866 and replaced in 1901. We talked to Steve who operated the bridge
Loitering under the Livingston Ave Swing Bridge built in 1866…
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After we started drinking at 10am in his birthday, Miah agreed to his next tat
After we started drinking at 10am in his birthday, Miah…
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Interview with Chris Callaghan who organizes the Steamboat Meet and the Tugboat Roundup at the Waterford Harbor
Interview with Chris Callaghan who organizes the Steamboat Meet and…
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Interview with Virginia Clarkson who told us all about growing up in the Bronx and made her way to Waterford
Interview with Virginia Clarkson who told us all about growing…
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Greeting party at the Rusty Anchor floating barge bar in Troy NY
Greeting party at the Rusty Anchor floating barge bar in…
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Ships hounds Hazel
Ships hounds Hazel
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Skipper Benzy
Skipper Benzy
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Whas up, Troy. We in you
Whas up, Troy. We in you
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Interview with Sean, Jess, Ayla, and Mia who talked about living in small town Upstate New York
Interview with Sean, Jess, Ayla, and Mia who talked about…
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Welcome our new shipmate Jeremiah who has been on all five Secret History expeditions since 2014
Welcome our new shipmate Jeremiah who has been on all…
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V, Shonica, and Carlos brought us breakfast. In exchange, we got them addicted to good espresso
V, Shonica, and Carlos brought us breakfast. In exchange, we…
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“We came upon a rickety house raft… putting upstream powered by an old outboard and piloted by a wrinkled, sun-tanned old man
“We came upon a rickety house raft... putting upstream powered…
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All of Bill’s friend join him on the tug to view the fireworks
All of Bill’s friend join him on the tug to…
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Exhibition in Waterford: more people than you can shake a stick at. Including my old Jr High school friend, Corey
Exhibition in Waterford: more people than you can shake a…
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Exhibition in Waterford: 99 people in the log, but probably three times as many through the boat today
Exhibition in Waterford: 99 people in the log, but probably…
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An hour hanging out on the back deck of the shantyboat with folklorist George Ward Who told us stories and sang us canal songs
An hour hanging out on the back deck of the…
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WAMC Albany: Searching For Hudson River Stories On A Shanty Boat [AUDIO]
WAMC Public Radio By Lucas Willard Listen Now to…
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The Erie Canal starts (or ends, depending on your point of view) in Waterford New York. So big, imposing, and well-dressed, it looks like a set piece
The Erie Canal starts (or ends, depending on your point…
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Benzy as First Mate has been keeping the ship’s log. I love this. It is charming and she writes in the third person
Benzy as First Mate has been keeping the ship’s log.…
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Steamboat Meet at Waterford NY. Tiny tiny little steam powered beasties
Steamboat Meet at Waterford NY. Tiny tiny little steam powered…
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In north Troy, old money houses like these, clearly having seen better times, were next door to double wides
In north Troy, old money houses like these, clearly having…
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Headed across the river from Waterford to Troy
Headed across the river from Waterford to Troy
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Best Friend I’ve Never Met
For many years I’ve had a total friend crush on…
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After 18 years, I finally get to meet John Young and his awesome family
After 18 years, I finally get to meet John Young…
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The shantyboat art gallery and Jeremiah Daniels Executive Washroom. Art by Sascha, Gina, Butch, Maxine, Lanette, and Jessika
The shantyboat art gallery and Jeremiah Daniels Executive Washroom. Art…
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Best date night ever. Fireworks exploding all around us, playing cards, listening to marching band music to mask the fireworks for @gooddoghazel
Best date night ever. Fireworks exploding all around us, playing…
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Dramatic photo op in Waterford NY
Dramatic photo op in Waterford NY
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Shipmate John Young successfully completes his first certified under-over. Now he can be a roadie
Shipmate John Young successfully completes his first certified under-over. Now…
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Shantyboat still life by shipmate Kate Young
Shantyboat still life by shipmate Kate Young
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Proud captain of the Shantyboat Dotty @originalsportkilt
Proud captain of the Shantyboat Dotty @originalsportkilt
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Nearly played bingo. Apparently you have to show up on time because all the cards are sold within a few minutes
Nearly played bingo. Apparently you have to show up on…
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A Word About Process
A word about process. And an exploration of the dérive,…
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What happened down here? Half a block from the waterfront, what I had to have been the center of commerce or industry, now empty lots and ugly blocks of what look like low income housing
What happened down here? Have a block from the waterfront,…
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Thompson‘s camp. People apparently still sit on porches here, though I don’t see many of them on this very hot afternoon
Thompson‘s camp. People apparently still sit on porches here, though…
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While there is lots of old abandoned stuff around, some of the new abandoned stuff is intriguing
While there is lots of old abandoned stuff around, some…
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A river runs through it. Anthony Kill winds through Mechanicville
A river runs through it. Anthony Kill winds through Mechanicville
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We sadly say fare-thee-well to our shipmates Ariel and Sascha
We sadly say fare-thee-well to our shipmates Ariel and Sascha
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Post-Star: Shantyboat docks in Fort Edward to collect Hudson River stories
Post-Star by Gwendolyn Craig FORT EDWARD — It’s not every day…
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Little beach campfire along the shore of the Hudson River
Little beach campfire along the shore of the Hudson River
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Shantyboat beached on the Hudson River
Shantyboat beached on the Hudson River
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Thinking more about environmental toxins
“For over 45 years, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater has been…
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Glens Falls famous
Glens Falls famous
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Back alleys of Schuylerville NY. We stopped for 1) ice cream, 2) a sandwich, 3) a few groceries, 4) a quick shower, 5) a load of wash
Back alleys of Schuylerville NY. We stopped for 1) ice…
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What exactly are we passing through?
What exactly are we passing through?
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Please welcome our new shipmates Sascha and Ariel who joined us just before we left Ft Edward
Please welcome our new shipmates Sascha and Ariel who joined…
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We found an old bridge across a little creek in an inlet on the Hudson. Benzy asks: “But is it authentic?
We found an old bridge across a little creek in…
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@gooddoghazel being cute in a patch of sun
@gooddoghazel being cute in a patch of sun
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This is where 1.3 million pounds of PCBs were discharged into the Hudson River
Benzy says: “This is where approximately 1.3 million pounds of…
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Secret History shantyboat in Fort Edward’s Yacht Basin
Secret History shantyboat in Fort Edward’s Yacht Basin
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If we mention that old river towns are dying, we really mean they are being killed [VIDEO]
In the towns we’ve visited across America, the historic heart…
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An over-coffee todo plan
An over-coffee todo plan
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Hard rain on the Hudson River. Time to make tea
Hard rain on the Hudson River. Time to make tea
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Arrived in Fort Edward Yacht Basin where the seawall dwarfs us a bit
Arrived in Fort Edward Yacht Basin where the seawall dwarfs…
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Results of a 1am emergency loft skeeter netting encapsulation project. Despite the rain, apparently we had posted up in Mosquito Central near Lock 8
Results of a 1am emergency loft skeeter netting encapsulation project.…
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Posted up right under the surprisingly fancy signal at Lock 8 for the night
Posted up right under the surprisingly fancy signal at Lock…
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Interview with Brian Abrams, Chief Lock Operator at Lock 9 on the Champlain Canal, who talked about his 21 years on the NY Canal System
Interview with Brian Abrams, Chief Lock Operator at Lock 9…
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We are on the water!
Just a quick note to let you know that yes,…
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Shantyboat moored at Lock 9 on the Champlain Canel
Shantyboat moored at Lock 9 on the Champlain Canel
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Traffic stopped on bridge over the canal to watch us go by
Traffic stopped on bridge over the canal to watch us…
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We are under way. Down the Champlain Canal after ascending in Lock 12
We are under way. Down the Champlain Canal after ascending…
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New deck cleat plates and the tools required to install them
New deck cleat plates and the tools required to install…
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Because we have so many cool old stone buildings we can use them for coal storage
Because we have so many cool old stone buildings we…
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Looking up the coal elevator near the marina
Looking up the coal elevator near the marina
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Hazel hero shot. Contemplating her soon-to-be nautical life
Hazel hero shot. Contemplating her soon-to-be nautical life
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First cup of coffee sitting on the deck in sunshine at Whitehall Marina above the Champlain Canal
First cup of coffee sitting on the deck in sunshine…
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We arrived in Whitehall NY at Lock 11 after 3038 miles and only a few near catastrophes
We arrived in Whitehall NY at Lock 11 after 3038…
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New Yawk finally
New Yawk finally
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Stumbled across this bit of ‘Merica
Stumbled across this bit of ‘Merica
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Fuck Indiana roads
Fuck Indiana roads. Are they trying to rival California’s notoriously…
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Flooding in West Central Illinois on the Illinois River
Flooding in West Central Illinois on the Illinois River
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Hauling butt through Iowa. More than halfway
Hauling butt through Iowa. More than halfway
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Ceremonial witchcraft to salute the deer people who have died here
Ceremonial witchcraft to salute the deer people who have died…
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Keeping the driver awake with lurid and prurient tales
Keeping the driver awake with lurid and prurient tales: “She…
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Shantyboat life at the Continental Divide. Stop and make coffee for the new driver. A beer for the one going off shift
Shantyboat life at the Continental Divide. Stop and make coffee…
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The landscape of Wyoming is so powerful and evocative
The landscape of Wyoming is so powerful and evocative, it…
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Top of Skeeter Mountain, Utah
Top of Skeeter Mountain, Utah
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The world. It is so beautiful. We must howl
The world. It is so beautiful. We must howl
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Shantyboat at the Thunder Mountain Indian Monument along I80 in Nevada. A monument to native suffering at the hands of white folk
Shantyboat at the Thunder Mountain Indian Monument along I80 in…
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Shantyboat in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
Shantyboat in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
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We Outta Here
A flurry of activity and a world of underestimation
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We outta here. Underslept Benzy gives a wan wave
We outta here. Underslept Benzy gives a wan wave
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Images printed on silk for Secret History NYC show
Images printed on silk for Secret History NYC show
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Secret History photos printed on silk organza for NYC show at @whiteboxny
Secret History photos printed on silk organza for NYC show…
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Treating the edges of several hundred feet of Secret History photos for our NYC exhibition at @whiteboxny
Treating the edges of several hundred feet of Secret History…
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Now from Redwood House Labs comes the Trailer Tester™! For the first time, you can test your trailer lights and brakes solo even without your vehicle
Now from Redwood House Labs comes the Trailer Tester™! For…
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