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Jake Hudson who told stories of river clean up on the Tennessee River

Jake Hudson who told stories of river clean up on…

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Betty Goins childhood houseboat in which she grew up

  Betty Goins childhood houseboat in which she grew up.…

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Interview with Betty Goins who grew up in a shantyboat

#secrethistory interview with Betty Goins who grew up in a…

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Chattanooga Times Free Press: Man and dog to explore Tennessee River on self-made shantyboat

Shantyboat stops along the Tennessee River As of print, the…

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Another Thursday evening in Knoxville TN

Another Thursday evening in Knoxville TN. #shantyboat via Instagram

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Vaughn and his brother Blue in their #shantyboat just down from the French Broad.

Vaughn and his brother Blue in their #shantyboat just down…

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Knoxville News Sentinel: California artist launches 652-mile Tennessee River trip from Volunteer Landing

Docked at Volunteer Landing at Knoxville's downtown waterfront this week…

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Train bridge over the Tennessee River

Train bridge over the Tennessee River. #shantyboat via Instagram

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Working on a shantyboat blog post

Working on a #shantyboat blog post. via Instagram

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Knoxville, Tennessee

We are in beautiful Knoxville, Tennessee where the weather is…

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Come get high with us party for Jesus

Come get high with us party for Jesus. #shantyboat via…

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Swimming in the Tennessee River at the end of a runway. Hazel watching from the bluff

Swimming in the Tennessee River at the end of a…

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Squirlsey and Benzy on the shantyboat

Squirlsey on the #shantyboat via Instagram

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Knoxville has floating booms at the mouths of creeks. As you can see they prevent an impressive amount of trash from entering the Tennessee River

Knoxville has floating booms at the mouths of creeks. As…

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Drunken #shantyboat postcard headed your way.

Drunken #shantyboat postcard headed your way. via Instagram

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How You Make This Project Happen

I’ve already mentioned to you that the Secret History project…

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Architectural Antics in Knoxville is a great place to pick up #shantyboat supplies.

Architectural Antics in Knoxville is a great place to pick…

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The #shantyboat is afloat in the Tennessee River!

The #shantyboat is afloat in the Tennessee River! via Instagram

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We made it to Knoxville with the #shantyboat without dying in a flaming tumbling wreck! Yes!

We made it to Knoxville with the #shantyboat without dying…

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Kickin it on the back porch of the #shantyboat on a hot Arkansas day. #StrangersThumb

Kickin it on the back porch of the #shantyboat on…

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First real brekkie aboard the #shantyboat parked in a legume field. #BoatingInFarmland #Tennessee

First real brekkie aboard the #shantyboat parked in a legume…

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So Far So Good

As I type we are speeding down an Oklahoma highway…

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We’ve gone from white knuckling it to casual one-handed driving. #shantyboat

We’ve gone from white knuckling it to casual one-handed driving.…

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Hazel in her travel lair in the truck. @gooddoghazel #shantyboat

Hazel in her travel lair in the truck. @gooddoghazel #shantyboat…

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Watson’s amazing BBQ and farm supply in Tucumcari NM. #shantyboat

Watson’s amazing BBQ and farm supply in Tucumcari NM. #shantyboat…

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Squirsy joined us on our madcap cross-country trip with the #shantyboat.

Squirsy joined us on our madcap cross-country trip with the…

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#shantyboat at Watson’s barbecue in Tucumcari New Mexico. Most hospitable people. Great barbecue.

#shantyboat at Watson’s barbecue in Tucumcari New Mexico. Most hospitable…

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Benzy and the #shantyboat in Williams. We stopped to walk a cemetery.

Benzy and the #shantyboat in Williams. We stopped to walk…

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Outside of Flagstaff Arizona. Th #shantyboat moves ever eastward.

Outside of Flagstaff Arizona. Th #shantyboat moves ever eastward. via…

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Here’s what we’re doing as we tow the #shantyboat across country.

Here’s what we’re doing as we tow the #shantyboat across…

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Benzy and @gooddoghazel on the #shantyboat after a night in Needles California along the tracks.

Benzy and @gooddoghazel on the #shantyboat after a night in…

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Leaving Felton with the #Shantyboat requires us to push up low-hanging wires.

Leaving Felton with the #Shantyboat requires us to push up…

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The Battle Against the Ever-Growing Ever-Multiplying ToDo List Monster

Oh god. Down to a matter of hours before we…

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#Shantyboat checklist all checked.

#Shantyboat checklist all checked. via Instagram

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#shantyboat lookin good ready to roll.

#shantyboat lookin good ready to roll. via Instagram

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The little faeries brought the #shantyboat some of our favorite whiskey, High Wes. #whiskey #bourbon

The little faeries brought the #shantyboat some of our favorite…

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Farewells before departure on the #shantyboat

Farewells before departure on the #shantyboat via Instagram

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Secret History stencil on the front of the #shantyboat. #stencil #art

Secret History stencil on the front of the #shantyboat. #stencil…

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Secret History stencil on the front of the #shantyboat. #stencil #art

Secret History stencil on the front of the #shantyboat. #stencil…

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Secret History stencil on the front of the #shantyboat. #stencil #art

Secret History stencil on the front of the #shantyboat. #stencil…

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New refurbished #shantyboat life ring. Thanks Benzy!

New refurbished #shantyboat life ring. Thanks Benzy! via Instagram

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#ShantyBoat last minute work above and below.

#ShantyBoat last minute work above and below. via Instagram

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#ShantyBoat ToDo list with 4 days to go.

#ShantyBoat ToDo list with 4 days to go. via Instagram

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What happens when the #ShantyBoat key breaks off in the ignition when it is still in the boatyard’s lift sling?

What happens when the #ShantyBoat key breaks off in the…

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We put new drain plugs in the #ShantyBoat motor well. Was this why it didn’t leak for the first time?

We put new drain plugs in the #ShantyBoat motor well.…

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Preparing the Shantyboat

We've been working like mad to get the boat ready…

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Excitement! First time the ShantyBoat was afloat and the motor well didn’t take on water!

Excitement! First time the #ShantyBoat was afloat and the motor…

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ShantyBoat with fresh coat of paint headed for the Tennessee River in one week.

#ShantyBoat with fresh coat of paint headed for the Tennessee…

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Shantyboat looking good and almost ready to depart.

#Shantyboat looking good and almost ready to depart. via Instagram

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Freddie Mercury goes back on the #shantyboat.

Freddie Mercury goes back on the #shantyboat. via Instagram

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Last minute #Shantyboat todo list. We leave in one week.

Last minute #Shantyboat todo list. We leave in one week.…

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Newly fiberglassed, epoxied, painted, varnished and sealed #shantyboat motor well. Will it keep water out NOW?

Newly fiberglassed, epoxied, painted, varnished and sealed #shantyboat motor well.…

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Tired of the shantyboat corner being dinged up on docks and piers so now we have rubber baby buggy bumpers.

Tired of the #shantyboat corner being dinged up on docks…

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Bad idea makes good. Fiberglassed #shantyboat motor well

Bad idea makes good. Fiberglassed #shantyboat motor well. #NowhereToGoButForward via…

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Messed up #shantyboat corner now fixed. #WeWillAlwaysHaveSavanna #ILeftMyRubRailInIllinois

Messed up #shantyboat corner now fixed. #WeWillAlwaysHaveSavanna #ILeftMyRubRailInIllinois via Instagram

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I guess the customer service training at West Marine doesn’t include a caution against referring to customers’ boats as “that silly boat in the harbor.”

I guess the customer service training at West Marine doesn’t…

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Heavy felted fiberglass. Bad ideas on the #shantyboat

Heavy felted fiberglass. Bad ideas on the #shantyboat via Instagram

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Lifting the #shantyboat with a house jack to move the cribbing. What could go wrong?

Lifting the #shantyboat with a house jack to move the…

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I think I got a little sun over the last few #shantyboat work days.

I think I got a little sun over the last…

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A Crazy Plan to Launch the Shantyboat in the Ocean [Video]

We launched in the Santa Cruz Harbor yesterday and pulled the boat…

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Benzy on the roof of the #shantyboat

Benzy on the roof of the #shantyboat via Instagram

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Roof work on the #shantyboat at the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor.

Roof work on the #shantyboat at the Santa Cruz Yacht…

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Roof work on the #shantyboat

Roof work on the #shantyboat via Instagram

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#shantyboat workday at the Santa Cruz Harbor.

#shantyboat workday at the Santa Cruz Harbor. via Instagram

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One of the most fun parts about being in the #shantyboat on the river is losing control in a wind and damaging the boat against docks and whatnot. We are fixing things so we can have more of this fun.

One of the most fun parts about being in the…

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Sanding the hull of the #shantyboat in preparation for new bottom paint.

Sanding the hull of the #shantyboat in preparation for new…

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#shantyboat on blocks in our worksite at the Santa Cruz Harbor.

#shantyboat on blocks in our worksite at the Santa Cruz…

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The ill-advised madness of reseating the leaky #shantyboat motor well.

The ill-advised madness of reseating the leaky #shantyboat motor well.…

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The #shantyboat gets a visit from Phil and One-eyed Jack while we wait for the boat lift

The #shantyboat gets a visit from Phil and One-eyed Jack…

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When your #Shantyboat Motor won’t start after you get in the harbor, you use your #BoatUS towing

When your #Shantyboat Motor won’t start after you get in…

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Old habits. #shantyboat

Old habits. #shantyboat via Instagram

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Harbor lyfe in the #shantyboat

Harbor lyfe in the #shantyboat via Instagram

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#shantyboat visits the harbor beach in Santa Cruz on the way to dry dock.

#shantyboat visits the harbor beach in Santa Cruz on the…

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Your average house doesn’t rattle down the road at 60 mph 5000 miles a year. So the #shantyboat doors and windows tend to need a little maintenance and repair.

Your average house doesn’t rattle down the road at 60…

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Important #shantyboat business at the end of the workday.

Important #shantyboat business at the end of the workday. via…

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Breaker box on #shantyboat now with grounding strap!

Breaker box on #shantyboat now with grounding strap! via Instagram

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Upgrading the #shantyboat.

Upgrading the #shantyboat. via Instagram

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Have we repaired the hull yet? No. Aesthetics comes first on the #shantyboat. Painting windows with a delicious old green.

Have we repaired the hull yet? No. Aesthetics comes first…

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Kickstarter: Just a Few Days Left and Almost There

We are trying to raise $5580 before May 31st to…

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A Tangle of Wires, Shredded Tin, and a Descent Into Madness

Just a few weeks until we leave! Aaaa! Panic! Electrical…

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On the #shantyboat our precision work often achieves tolerances as fine as a 1/4″ or more.

On the #shantyboat our precision work often achieves tolerances as…

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Here is what electrical work on the #shantyboat looks like. Hours under the deck.

Here is what electrical work on the #shantyboat looks like.…

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Because the old system of 9 wires going into a crowded junction box was giving me nightmares. #shantyboat

Because the old system of 9 wires going into a…

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What the hell are we doing?

Well, there is some beer drinking, some power tool noises,…

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#shantyboat hijinx during a “work” day. I think we got “drink beer” and “make todo list” accomplished that day.

#shantyboat hijinx during a “work” day. I think we got…

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Secret 110v plug in for #shantyboat shore power when we are docked in marinas.

Secret 110v plug in for #shantyboat shore power when we…

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Secret 110v plug in for #shantyboat shore power for when we are docked in marinas.

Secret 110v plug in for #shantyboat shore power for when…

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Secret 110v plug in in #shantyboat for when we are docked in marinas.

Secret 110v plug in in #shantyboat for when we are…

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Best Secret History postcard ever. Was $20 ever on it, or is that the joke? Either way: hilarious. This will go in the #shantyboat

Best Secret History postcard ever. Was $20 ever on it,…

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Going Into the Third Year of This Successful Project

Thanks to you, the second year expedition of the Secret…

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Knoxville Mercury: Artist to Launch in Knoxville, Collect Stories of ‘River People’ along the Tennessee

Over the past couple of years California-based artist Wes Modes…

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California Artist Launches Tennessee River Expedition on Homemade Shantyboat

Artist raising funds for journey to collect stories of river…

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Fundraising for the Tennessee River

I’m excited to tell you that the Secret History project…

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A successful work day at the #shantyboat

A successful work day at the #shantyboat via Instagram

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Shantyboat Near Dubuque, Iowa [VIDEO]

Shanytboat video taken by the Open Research Buoy.

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Secret History of American River People project at the R.Blitzer gallery. Opening reception Friday. #shantyboat #SecretHistory

Secret History of American River People project at the R.Blitzer…

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Secret History exhibition at the Blitzer Gallery opening reception Friday. #shantyboat #SecretHistory #SantaCruz

Secret History exhibition at the Blitzer Gallery opening reception Friday.…

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Secret History exhibition at the Blitzer Gallery opening reception Friday. #shantyboat #SecretHistory #SantaCruz

Secret History exhibition at the Blitzer Gallery opening reception Friday.…

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#shantyboat in the redwoods.

#shantyboat in the redwoods. via Instagram

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#Shantyboat on the loose.

#Shantyboat on the loose. via Instagram

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