My daughter Sophie sent an article, a book review really, about the legend of Bigfoot. The Secret History of Bigfoot. I love bigfoot, I suppose we all do in my family. Many of us (well mostly me) have bigfoot stickers on our phone cases (above) and cars. I BELIEVE! Or at least I badly want to believe that a man-like primate roams the forested areas of our country craftily hiding from his would-be human captors. What is life without mystery, and what’s more mysterious than Bigfoot.
In the article Sophie sent, the author reveals that as a child he became obsessed with cryptids and cryptozoology. As an adult, I never heard of these topics and googled the terms for some quick education. From Merriam-Webster: Cryptid – an animal that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist. Ah, Bigfoot.
When Sophie first left for college, I asked her to send me a sticker for my car. I envisioned one of those white ovals with green letters that read UVM, or a sticker to go across the bottom of my back windshield reading University of Vermont, or even a Go Green bumper sticker. What she sent me was the Loch Ness Monster with the caption The important thing is I believe in myself. Not quite what I envisioned, but I love it all the same, and I slapped it on the back window of my pickup truck alongside Kokopelli riding a mountain bike and, of course, Bigfoot. Interestingly, four years later, still none of our family cars sport a UVM sticker.
When I asked about the significance of the Loch Ness Moster, Sophie said “No, it’s Champ, the Lake Champlain monster.” Champ lurks in the depths of the massive lake adjacent to Burlington Vermont. Did you know there was more than one famous Lake Monster? I guess I did. My college friend Mike grew up on the shore of the Chesapeake Bay. He often told stories about his fear of Chessie, the bay monster, whom he could sense skulking beneath his dingy when he got stuck on the water after dark.
As I searched for a definition of Cryptids, I saw Wikipedia has a comprehensive list. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cryptids#cite_note-Live_Science_2013-10 Some cryptids through history have been verified. Seafarers have for centuries told stories of seeing mermaids and giant squids. Mermaids remain elusive, but we now have scientific proof of the existence of giant squids—maybe not big enough to pull under a sixty-foot schooner, but pretty darn huge. I won’t get too detailed with what’s in the cryptid list (you should read it, if for no other reason except to learn about the Bukit Timah Monkey Man), but since we’re already talking about lake monsters, here is a rundown of the aquatic serpent critters Wikipedia listed.
Champ – Vermont/New York
Gloucester Sea Serpent – Cape Ann
Igopogo – Ontario
Isshii – Japan
Labynkyr Devil – Russia
Loch Ness Monster – Scotland
Mamlambo – South Africa
Manipogo – Canada
Mokele-mbembe – Republic of Congo
Ogopogo – Canada
Selma – Norway
Lots of Cryptids. I notice that Chessie isn’t on the list, so possibly not even comprehensive. Also missing is Millie, the Old Mill Creek Monster. When my children were young, as we crossed the Old Mill bridge on our way to their grandparents’ house, I always told them the legend of Millie (which I shamelessly made up). I suspect the world is rife with sea serpents, if not incarnate, they certainly live in our tall tales.
No one ever comments about Champ or Bigfoot on the back of my pickup or even Bigfoot on my phone case. Perhaps people think it’s odd or immature, or maybe they just don’t care. I always ask about such things—bumper stickers, band shirts, tattoos. And if the image is Bigfoot, all the better. That guy’s an American legend.
The Other Stuff 
I like that nothing has ever been proven either way about Bigfoot – like the Loch Ness monster and various other mysterious beasts, it’s nice to wonder.
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Agree. The mysteries add to the excitement of life.
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i used to be able to do an awesome “bigfoot call”– so much so, that my family used to tell me to “do the bigfoot call” and show ’em. LOL. brings back good memories! thanks for taking me back 🙂
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And now I can only imagine what the Bigfoot call sounds like 😢
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A lot of time and money has been trying to find proof about the Lochness Monster (I think). None found yet but who knows! Are these monsters real or imagined? Maybe they’ll find proof one day : )
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Well, I’ve certainly learned a lot today, Jeff and this post was a really interesting, if not enlightening, read that I enjoyed a lot. I’d never heard of Cryptids. I love the idea of there being a Bigfoot lurking out there in the wilds somewhere. I think your sticker is really cool. Good for Sophie for buying it for you. She obviously knows the way to your heart 😊! I’ve never been to Scotland, but would enjoy a paddle around the loch, looking for the Loch Ness monster! By the way, what does UVM stand for. I’ve tried to work it out, but I’m puzzled. Hope you’re well. X
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UVM stands for University of Vermont. I know, that doesn’t make sense. The etymology of Vermont comes from the French words Vert Monts (meaning green mountains), hence the VM. I think they just decided to call it UVM to confuse everyone ever after. I’m glad your feeling well enough to be out and about on wordpress.
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Ah, now I know. Thanks, Jeff. X
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haha, I went the wiki link hoping I’d get to see photos of these, then remembered…
I believe! I have a patient who goes to build trails in the woods, pretty stoic, tough, outdoorsman. He’s got a phone video recording of this rhythmic sound while he’s standing out in the woods by himself. Not machinery. Definitely something organically generated, not a bird, something big, calling. He believes it was a bigfoot, and honestly, I was inclined to agree.
There’s a whole world out there we puny humans know nothing about. Why not?
Also, great sticker. And probably a great sticker collection you’ve got on your truck 🙂
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غلامِ رُوئے اُو بودم، اسیرِ موئے اُو بودم
غُبارِ کوئے اُو بودم، نمی دانم کجا رفتم
( حضرت بو علی شاہ قلندر )
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I love this, yes I believe and I imagine these creatures are very friendly and looking for kindness. Your posts have a way of seeping into my psyche and the topic usually appears in my life soon after. Like this morning I saw a T-shirt with big-foot. I wish I knew how to copy and paste. Bottom line it’s thought provoking joy filled stuff. Thanks!
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Predictably, I have a t-shirt too. I’m glad you (and others) enjoyed this. A little more fact-heavy than my usual stuff.
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The Jersey Devil lurking in the swamps of the New Jersey Pine Barrens could be roaming your neighborhood. Close enough.
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I wasn’t aware of the Jersey Devil before. You’re right, we’re not that far away from eastern PA. That bugger could be hiding out in the woods behind my house right now. One more thing to worry about as I take the compost out after dark.
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