Bill's searches for the Wawa Grande (Ecuador's Bigfoot)

[Ron Mauer Sr]

I think of the adventure as something similar to testing one's limits.

It may be good to go back more than once, in calculated increments, slowly going deeper unless you feel it is time to stop.
If there is a local shaman you can trust, I would ask for advice.
Otherwise your curiosity will never be satisfied.
I like the idea of having a backup dog and a backup adventurer.

[RunningDeer]

I do understand everyone's concerns. I choose not to vote.

I use to keep to my trips to myself, such as the outward bounds, the fire walk and fighting/Tai Chi competitions. I didn’t want to be influenced (programmed) by caring loved ones.

The graphic above depicts my belief and roads taken. It is in no way intended to influence Bill’s adventure. Note: what I use to do is different from what I do now. Once done, the magic no longer needs doin’.

♡

[avid]

Decision/Confusion strikes, I’m not saying it cannot be done, just worrying for the health and safety of Bill and Mara (in this case), and in this circumstance. His choice....

[Chip]

I can only put myself in Bills shoes knowing that there might be something there worth experiencing again.
And I would definitely be going back.
I’m quite envious of all your time available to have these great trips Bill!
Go for it!

[Ron Mauer Sr]

When considering adventures, one should always weigh the risks vs. the potential benefits.


Maybe the potential benefit is simply the thrill of the ride. :-)

[Hazelfern]

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)

Posted by Ron Mauer Sr (here)
When reading your post, I was reminded of what I was once told "You wanted to touch the stove to see if it is really hot."

No, I never said that! Here's what I did say:

Posted by Bill Ryan (here)
Believing that Blue Avians are real isn't the same as believing I'll burn my fingers if I accidentally touch the hot stove.

That's rather different. What that means is that I don't have to touch the stove to see if it's hot. I already have a very strong belief about that, that's founded on good evidence.

@avid, Flash, I do appreciate your concerns. Maybe we should start a poll. The options might be

1. For goodness sake, don't go.
2. For goodness sake, DO go.
3. Go if you must, but please don't camp overnight.
4. Go, but stay tuned all the time and don't come back without a fun video.
5. Go, but only with a partner, a transponder, and at least one other big dog.
   

Love the idea! Foxie peeled off a little too soon to enjoy your adventures.
The answer is obvious. A combo of 2 and 5. Go if you can.

[Nasu]

Fortune favors the prepared mind. I'm looking forward to hearing how it went and the pics of you and Mara...x... N

[Bill Ryan]

Hey, everyone: thanks for all your comments. (And concern!)

My thought yesterday about returning to the Haunted Lakes this time to camp overnight was really quite an idle one. But the idea did somehow seem attractive, and I kind of crept up on it by taking a close look at Google Earth to see how I might get there a little more easily, and so on.

I was getting used to the idea again, and it all seemed very reasonable. That's despite my determining last time that I'd definitely NOT go back — I remember the decision clearly! — and later joking to a friend that I might possibly take people there as a guide one day, but only for a minimum fee of $1000 each.

Well, last night I went to bed, very relaxed, and as usual before I fell asleep I was reviewing the events of the day, large and small. And so I looked again at the Haunted Lakes return trip idea, because the comments (and warnings from avid and Flash) had been so very interesting.

Suddenly, I 'saw' something very dark, and quite big. Malevolent, and definitely not very nice. Very clearly, in my relaxed state. It was like I'd suddenly spotted it and caught it unawares, and this time it hadn't been cloaked.

It was indeed a siren call for me to return. That was totally clear. There and then, I made the firm decision NOT to go back. So — I'm announcing it now, and that decision will definitely stay.

[happyuk]

Thank heavens! I've only had the chance to look at the footage of your last trip and Mara's unease at that one particular moment was clearly evident as much as it was unsettling. I've witnessed the clear intuition that animals have before - my friend and were once walking her dog and we approached someone whom I already knew to be a malevolent weirdo and her dog immediately sensed this and started growling defensively.

[Dennis Leahy]

Possibility #6: Go naked and alone. Smear peanut butter all over your body, and take a large dead animal with you, for bait. Bring a boombox, fresh batteries, and one special song on CD. Make "wounded animal" noises throughout the night.

With the peanut butter smeared all over your body, you are pretty much invincible (if you've ever seen a dog with a teaspoon of peanut butter in their mouth, you'll know why.) When the Wawa Grande, or other creature of the night approaches, hover your index finger over the CD boombox 'play' button, making sure that the volume is turned up to 11. When the creature is within 10 feet (or you can use 3 meters as your guide, as you probably think in metric units), press the play button. Music soothes the savage beast, so if it is a savage beast, it will calm down and you can interview it. If it is not a savage beast, then the music will create a surreal scene, and the critter will either run away giggling or ask you to dance. Either way, a win.

Download the song here. You're welcome.

[Orph]

Posted by Dennis Leahy (here)
Smear peanut butter all over your body, ....

With the peanut butter smeared all over your body, you are pretty much invincible (if you've ever seen a dog with a teaspoon of peanut butter in their mouth, you'll know why.)

Except when Mr. Wawa Grande, or Mr. Yeti, show up with two very large slabs of bread and a few gallons of milk. Then your peanut butter theory kind of gets a little sticky.

[avid]

Phew!!!! I had to have a lie down with relief....

[Flash]

Posted by Dennis Leahy (here)
Possibility #6: Go naked and alone. Smear peanut butter all over your body, and take a large dead animal with you, for bait. Bring a boombox, fresh batteries, and one special song on CD. Make "wounded animal" noises throughout the night.

With the peanut butter smeared all over your body, you are pretty much invincible (if you've ever seen a dog with a teaspoon of peanut butter in their mouth, you'll know why.) When the Wawa Grande, or other creature of the night approaches, hover your index finger over the CD boombox 'play' button, making sure that the volume is turned up to 11. When the creature is within 10 feet (or you can use 3 meters as your guide, as you probably think in metric units), press the play button. Music soothes the savage beast, so if it is a savage beast, it will calm down and you can interview it. If it is not a savage beast, then the music will create a surreal scene, and the critter will either run away giggling or ask you to dance. Either way, a win.

Download the song here. You're welcome.

British are still in feet and inches mostly

The pre-metric preferred system of measurement used within the country was imperial units, and though metrication had commenced since the mid–20th century not all aspects of society has undertaken metrication.

As of 2016, the government, industry and commerce have substantially completed their metrication programmes, however imperial units are legislated to be used for only:

Transport: the mile, yard, foot and inch for road traffic signs, distance and speed measurement (miles per hour) and
Trade: the only products that can be sold in with imperial units only are:
draught beer or cider by pint
milk in returnable containers by pint
precious metals by troy ounce.[1]
Imperial units are also common use in the media, advertising, retail (alongside metric units), weather reporting and other areas of society. Imperial units are also often used to colloquially describe body measurements, such as height and weight.

In schools metric units are taught and used as the norm and imperial units that remain in common usage in the UK must also be taught.[a]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric...United_Kingdom

So Bill, we will still have you for more years. Thanks

[Stephanie]

Posted by Dennis Leahy (here)
Possibility #6: Go naked and alone. Smear peanut butter all over your body, and take a large dead animal with you, for bait. Bring a boombox, fresh batteries, and one special song on CD. Make "wounded animal" noises throughout the night.

With the peanut butter smeared all over your body, you are pretty much invincible (if you've ever seen a dog with a teaspoon of peanut butter in their mouth, you'll know why.) When the Wawa Grande, or other creature of the night approaches, hover your index finger over the CD boombox 'play' button, making sure that the volume is turned up to 11. When the creature is within 10 feet (or you can use 3 meters as your guide, as you probably think in metric units), press the play button. Music soothes the savage beast, so if it is a savage beast, it will calm down and you can interview it. If it is not a savage beast, then the music will create a surreal scene, and the critter will either run away giggling or ask you to dance. Either way, a win.

Download the song here. You're welcome.

Oh that made me laugh out loud and dissipate the tension!😃

[Ron Mauer Sr]

It is sometimes wise to approach satisfaction of curiosity by going slow. But that can be difficult for the impatient like me.

[Flash]

Posted by Sstarss (here)

Posted by Dennis Leahy (here)
Possibility #6: Go naked and alone. Smear peanut butter all over your body, and take a large dead animal with you, for bait. Bring a boombox, fresh batteries, and one special song on CD. Make "wounded animal" noises throughout the night.

With the peanut butter smeared all over your body, you are pretty much invincible (if you've ever seen a dog with a teaspoon of peanut butter in their mouth, you'll know why.) When the Wawa Grande, or other creature of the night approaches, hover your index finger over the CD boombox 'play' button, making sure that the volume is turned up to 11. When the creature is within 10 feet (or you can use 3 meters as your guide, as you probably think in metric units), press the play button. Music soothes the savage beast, so if it is a savage beast, it will calm down and you can interview it. If it is not a savage beast, then the music will create a surreal scene, and the critter will either run away giggling or ask you to dance. Either way, a win.

Download the song here. You're welcome.

Oh that made me laugh out loud and dissipate the tension!😃

I don't dare writing any comments on this one, but giggling too.

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Dennis Leahy (here)
With the peanut butter smeared all over your body, you are pretty much invincible

I could smear Mara all over with mustard, too. Wawa Grandes probably don't like hot dogs.

[Ron Mauer Sr]

Pepper spray for physical threats. For non-physical threats, I do not know.

[RunningDeer]

Posted by Ron Mauer Sr (here)
Pepper spray for physical threats. For non-physical threats, I do not know.

GhostBusters

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=m9We2XsVZfc

♡

[Bill Ryan]

Posted by Ron Mauer Sr (here)
Pepper spray for physical threats.

Yep, that too.

Peanut butter, mustard, and pepper, and anything large and hungry would simply run away.

Add in some marmite, as well, and that would clinch the entire thing.