Finding Sasquatch

I'm a fan of Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, or whatever name it goes by.  At the same time, I'm very much a skeptic.  I'd love to believe that they exist, but unless and until I actually see one for myself, I will remain a skeptic.  But I'm still very intrigued by the thought that they might exist.  Now there is a show all about Bigfoot....FINDING BIGFOOT.  It's a lot of fun, but it sure is hokey.

When I was a kid, I remember my parents taking me to the drive-in.  Though I was pretty young, the movie we went to see was THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK (it was a double-feature...THE CRATER LAKE MONSTER was the other movie).  It's about a giant ape-like creature wandering the Arkansas swamps, aggressively attacking people it came across.  I still remember quite vividly some of the scenes from the movie, and they remain etched in my mind even today, particularly a scene of a guy sitting on the toilet as it scares him through the window.  It was a scary movie to that young kid, though I've since watched it and it isn't scary at all.  However, it did make an impression on me and create a fascination for giant ape-like creatures, just like Bigfoot.

I would get books from the library about Bigfoot, and the Loch Ness Monster, or any other "fabled" or mysterious creatures throughout the world.  I was eager to find out as much as I could about these animals.  My childhood was spent reading about them, and watching movies and documentaries about them.  I was really fascinated by the whole subject.  But I was still a skeptic.  I wanted so much to believe in them, but I knew that unless I experienced something myself, I just didn't believe they could exist.  That childhood fascination with these creatures diminished as I got older, and my skepticism increased.

After my wife and I got married, we went to Seattle for our honeymoon.  After a few days in Seattle, we drove to Mt. Ranier, then Mt. St. Helen's, and then down the coast to San Francisco.  It was a fantastic trip!  I rented a convertible Mustang, and driving around "topless" was a lot of fun.  We were in love, newly married, on a dream vacation, and enjoying life.

We were entering some truly spectacular scenery as we neared Mt. Ranier, and we were in a truly remote area.  It occurred to me that this was one of those areas where many Bigfoot sightings took place over the years.  It kind of spooked me to think about it.  I wondered to myself what it might be like to come across one of these legendary creatures.  But, of course, there was no chance that was going to happen.

Later on in the trip, we entered the Redwoods along the "Avenue of the Giants", near Garberville, CA.  As we were driving along, it was getting closer to evening, and we were pretty much by ourselves.  There were a few touristy type stops through the area, and when we stopped to see them, I really got a bit concerned.  I know it was just my imagination getting the best of me, but, aside from us, there was no one else around.  It was really quiet.  So quiet, I couldn't hear any wildlife.  The hair on the back of my neck was tingling, and I had goosebumps.  My wife was really oblivious, and she had none of the preconceived notions of Bigfoots wandering around the woods like me.  I was scaring myself.  But I couldn't escape the feeling that something was watching us.  We took a bunch pictures, hopped in the car, and I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

We checked into a hotel a little later and I shared my thoughts with my wife.  She kind of laughed it off, but knowing she didn't just marry some crazy guy, she didn't discount that there could be something out there.  At least, that's what she told me.  The rest of the trip was as eventful as the first part, and by the time we reached San Francisco, any thoughts of Bigfoot were a distant memory.

I still think about it, though.  Could there really be a mysterious ape-like creature roaming the woods of America's back-countries?  Who knows.  I remain a skeptic, though it's probably not going to take much for me to become a believer.  But until and unless I have a first-hand experience, I'll remain a skeptic.  It's fun to think about, though.

Have a great evening, everyone!