Sunday, July 28, 2013

Travel tip 22: ALL GOOD STORIES DESERVE EMBELISHMENT - HENCE BIGFOOT!

 After a thousand miles of motorcycle riding and one sleepless night in a tent clenching a flashlight my Hunt for the ever elusive Bigfoot has come to an end. Three days of riding through the forest and visiting with the locals of Humboldt County has led to nothing less than an excellent adventure and one tired explorer.



Upon arrival in the sleepy little town of Willow creek, (which was nestled well within the emerald triangle in Humboldt County) We made our way directly to the Bigfoot Museum where we had arranged a meeting with one of the worlds foremost experts on Bigfoot, Her name is Peggy McWilliams, a life long native to the area. Although she admittedly has not seen the furry giant herself, Peggy has heard almost every tale and been witness to many persons who have had a close encounter. She 100% believes in the creatures existence and hopes to one day come face to face or foot to foot with a genuine Sasquatch. She donates her time to working at the Museum so that others can believe like she does.

Peggy told us many things about Bigfoot including his many other various names, and spotting throughout the world. She told us about how we could attract a bigfoot, by leaving out chicken or Hot Dogs, or by whistling in the woods. We were told to keep an ear out durring the night as often Bigfoot will throw rocks at your tent or scream through the forest night. She told us to treat the Bigfoot with respect, and told us to heed the stories of the native Americans who claim the Bigfoot anciently worked side by side to garden and harvest crops with the natives. Peggy regaled us with several encounter stories, all of which made me nervous for camping latter that night.

Perhaps the greatest thing that Peggy told us in her interview was this: Who are they to tell us he (Bigfoot) doesn't exist, simply because they have never seen or heared one, although there are many who have....... If they have never come to look for themselves, or attempted to feel its presence, how could they ever know. THEY CAN'T!



After Purchasing a Map with over 400 spotting locations plotted on it, and a field guide on how to observe a Bigfoot - we headed out to get some supplies and grab a bite to eat. At the Bigfoot restaurant we found a hearty meal and had a chance to read through our books and map. The waitress who took our order reluctantly told us the story of when she as a little girl came face to face with the Bigfoot, and how Human it looked, she told us the encounter meant nothing to her until she latter grew up and realized what had
happened. She told us she doesn't talk about it much because she is afraid people will think less of her. It left me thinking how much in this world might go unsaid simply because of fear.

We then drove out to the areas on the map where there had been the highest concentration of sightings and spent the day searching the mountain road looking for any sign of the bigfoot. Although we saw now sure signs during the day, there was an eery feeling persistent through the day no bought spurned on by the stories we had heard earlier in the day.

When it came time to set up camp, we drove down to the Kalamath River where there was both water and food sources ( Berry Bushes) that might be used by the Sasquatch people durring the night. My travel buddy Jeremy was not feeling well (Heat Exhaustion) and so after taking a dip in the river and playing his flute in hopes of calling  in a sasquatch (Peggy had told us this might work) Jeremy returned to Willow Creek to get a hotel room, leaving me alone by the fire. As Jeremy drove away I walked around and set out some hot dogs ( a recommendation by Peggy) in hopes of baiting in a bigfoot.



At first my resolve to stay out alone was strong, but as the sun drew further behind the mountains and the buzz of the insects died away leaving only the sounds of darkness, My mind went into alert mode. I kept the fire burning for hours trying to convince myself that nothing was out there, I even tried listening to songs on my Iphone, but nothing could calm my nerves. It was pure mental punishment camping alone alongside the river with no-one but a 500 pound furry myth to hear my cries. I had built my fear up so much that I couldn't even bring myself to look up at the skies and enjoy the stars. Eventually I crawled inside my tent and attempted to sleep, but it would not come easy, not that night.

As pure exhaustion was about to overcome me and perhaps give me a chance to sleep, I heard something move out in the bushes..... My entire body went rigid and still. I could swear I had heard something.. right? Then I heard it again.... My thoughts raced but I could not move an inch..... and then ...... THUMP ..... CRACK....against what seemed the side of my tent.  I tore out of the tent screaming and hollering I suppose at that moment it was fight rather than flight.... The sounds I made I hadn't heard since Basic training for the army. I grabbed for my flashlight and looked around frantic and fearful for what I might see.

The beam of my light searched and searched and then from nowhere but everywhere I heard a voice.... Hey You alright?..... It was a mans voice, not a monster. My Beam came down on a thirty something man in the bushes, who looked just as scarred as I was. I had apparently scared him while he was out taking care of nature.  Another camper just like me out in the woods. We both laughed and I appologized and went back to bed, greatful not to be so alone in the woods.

In the morning I woke Up an looked around ..... I found Scat of some sort, full of berry, and several of my hot dogs were gone....... Bigfoot????? probably just a bear right - But who am I to say - I've never seen him.

Today's travel tip might seem dishonest, but lets face it, History is made by those who write the novels!


Saturday, July 20, 2013

Planning for adventure - GULLIBLE STYLE!

So every now and then I get to take a trip that is just for me, an unabashed weekend or a few days where I go where I want to go and do just what I want to! 

Coming up next weekend I will have just this opportunity. My wife and daughter are headed to Washington state to visit friends and I have the whole week to myself.  So my plan is simple, as soon as the whistle blows on Friday I am out the door on my motorcycle to a destination unknown - a weekend of discovery and adventure, however at this point the question arises - where will I go? What will I do... what do I hope to find? 

In my opinion there the two best parts of and adventure are divided in two parts: The adventure its self and all the work that goes into planning it! The following information is part of what I use to plan my trips and is based off of what I learned about planning while in the military.

HOW TO PLAN FOR AN ADVENTURE - GULLIBLE STYLE

1. FIND YOUR DESIRE (OBJECTIVE) - THEN WRITE IT DOWN!


Make a list of your greatest desires in life - This can be a simple list or a long list, but the purpose is to find purpose for your adventure. It needs to be something with meaning to you so that you can wrap your desires in the satisfaction of accomplishment. Once you have made your list of desires, try to pick a few of them off you list that you think could be fulfilled via your travels. The driving force behind any good adventure is the satisfactory fulfillment of dreams and passions!

Examples: Face jump from a building or bridge, eat at the Eiffel tower, fall in love in Rome, discover ancient ruins, learn guitar from a Spaniard.


2. STUDY, STUDY, STUDY 


Find destinations, activities and meaningfully unique or historicaly significant places that you can add to your destination list. The areas of study should have basis in allowing you to understand and complete your desires in a way that gives meaning and purpose to your adventurous soul.

3. MAKE A BUDGET 


Although there are some people with unlimited funds for adventure, many of us have to limit our selves due to the constraints of the pocketbook or the reality of our lives. Set a budget for your adventure so that you can set realistic goals and expectations.

4. DEVELOP AN ITINERARY


In the beginning you simply need a map with destinations and way-points, but at some point you need to develop a realistic timeline to go along with your adventure. A timeline combined with destinations and goals is absolutely necessary for the successful implementation of an adventure. Although during your trip this time line is bound to change, be cut in half or all together dismissed its good to have a solid well though out plan based on where you plan to go an what you want to accomplish.Based on your studies you will know when and where to go for your adventures.


5. DECISIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS


There is a lot to be considered depending on how you want to fulfill your desires, you might choose to travel by Plane, Train or automobile but anyway you go you have to make a judgement call about how you will do it and why you chose to travel that way. Often I travel by motorcycle when I could go by car, but the adventure is totally different each way I do it. Part of what makes this part of the process fun is finding deals or researching the places you will stay. The one suggestion I have for this portion of your planning is to leave things open enough that a reservation can be canceled, or a flight missed without major financial loss. Often while adventuring I find that my plans change and its nice to be able to abort a specific moment of the trip to accomplish a new or changed plan. DON'T BE HELD CAPTIVE BY YOUR RESERVATIONS.

6. MAKE A PACKING LIST


This is one of my favorite steps simply because I love gear and equipment. Depending on your adventure you may need to bring roller skates or ice climbing spikes, but no matter what you do - you have to plan your equipment needs wisely. Properly planning a packing list includes being aware of what you can travel with, what you can get at your destination and understanding the real needs of your adventure. Many times I have made the mistake of over-packing and other times under-packing, but more often than not when I make and follow through with a packing list I travel with a well balanced pack and have what I need. I often find it necessary to contact someone who has been on a similar trip before to ask them what they wish they had taken and what they wish they had left behind. If you know a pro in your adventure genre its probably a good idea to take them out to dinner and ask them all about their trip and what they liked the most about it, its often very exciting to hear other peoples stories knowing you will soon be traveling on your own towards an adventure.

7. EXECUTE THE PLAN!

This is the last step but perhaps the most important. There are lots of things that can get in the way of your dreams, it seems like there is always something to get in the way of a good adventure. If you fail to go on your adventure because you lack the courage, or you let regular life get in the way of your adventures, then you are missing out on your dreams, desires and passions.  just remember -