S.O.U.L. Investigates Dauphine House

I received an update from our friends in New Orleans. S.O.U.L. ran a paranormal investigation at Dauphine House, the Haunted B&B we stayed at back on the tour. Here is a brief descripton of what they experienced in the rooms we stayed in.

"One of the doors downstairs started to close on one of the investigators. She tried to push it open and it felt as though someone was on the other side forcing it closed. Another investigator tried to help her and push it open, too. There was definitely something/someone pushing against it! I wouldn't be surprised if it was the Top Hat man just playing with them. Then the bathroom door in the middle room (that was the room that Tracy and Ed were in) opened by itself. It had been securely shut..we could hear it unlatch and open. A woman who channels ghosts was watching and saw a whitish mist float above the bed, and then one of the pillows moved. She said it looked like someone was leaning against it."

Sounds liek they had much more of an exciting evening than when we stayed. I am thinking that is a good thing...

Hoax Doesn't Equal Proof that Bigfoot is Not Real

At this point it is looking like most people are on the side of saying that the body of a Bigfoot found in Georgia is a hoax

That doesn't mean that Bigfoot doesn't exhisit.

If you are still a believer, you will just have to work harder at explaining why you believe.

Find this graphic and others at our CafePress shop - Georgia Bigfoot - Hoax or Real

Is Bigfoot Real?

Georgia Gorilla
Of the believers or the skeptics, who will get to say "I told you so"? A press conference on Friday, August 15, will decide. According to all the buzz in the bigfoot world, a body of a dead bigfoot was found in Georgia.

Photos have already been accidently, leaked to the public. That along with all the very methodical PR tricks around it could point to another hoax or wanting to protect the real deal.

Will we find out or will there be yet another story told on Friday leaving us all in the same spot as before... Is bigfoot real or not?

If you want to show people you are a believer visit our friends at BigfootSurplus for great bigfoot merchandise! 

Florida's Skunk Ape

What an adventure this stop was thanks to the people of The Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee. Our host Dave Shealy, has spent nearly his whole life looking for a creature, believed by many, to be only a figment of his imagination. Located at the south tip of Florida in the Big Cypress Swamp it was easy to see how a bigfoot like creature could remain hidden in this environment.

First Dave wanted us to learn about the other animals that coexist in this habitat so he introduced us to Rick. We were treated to a wealth of information on alligators, snakes, turtles, and birds. Rick even let us handle a small alligator which was a highlight of the day for the Believe It Tour crew.

Then Dave had a swamp buggy tour planned for us. He took us into the swamp looking for evidence of the Skunk Ape. Unfortunately nothing turned up. We did however, have an enjoyable time listening to the stories and learning about the native plants that would provide a food source should we find ourselves lost in the everglades.

Unlike the conditions that the Sasquatch of the pacific northwest live, tracks in the swamp do not last long. Making it difficult to find and cast. Dave did have a few plaster casts of tracks he was able to locate. The difference between the Skunk Ape and Bigfoot tracks is that the Skunk Ape is a four toe print were the Bigfoot is a five toe. Other evidence that was shown to us was the photo taken of a Skunk Ape off in the distance walking away from a tree covered area. This showed another difference. The color of the hair on the Skunk Ape was a reddish brown versus the darker, almost black color you hear most for the Sasquatch.

For more information on the Florida Skunk Ape visit Dave's skunkape.info or plan to stop at the headquarters in Ochopee. Then you can make your own decision as to the truth behind this creature. We believe it!

The City of Live Mermaids

Our stop at Weeki Wachee turned up much better results for mermaids than that chance finding at the Voodoo shop. The type of mermaids that everyone imagines when the topic comes up.

Historically, this aquatic being has been linked to both positive and negative reasons for their existence. According to Wikipedia, tales of mermaids are nearly universal. The first known mermaid stories appeared in Assyria, ca. 1000 BC.

For the mermaids of Weeki Wachee, they have taken the positive portrayal. One that Kids fantasize about. In my interview with one of the mermaids, i was told that it tends to be little girls that enjoy this the most and that she too always wanted to be a mermaid. Her dream had come true.

A visit to the park includes shows like the one we were lucky to catch, Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid. Large glass windows from below the water level allow visitors to view these shows as if they were right there in the spring with the mermaids.

If you would like to see mermaids and enjoy Florida's only spring-fed waterpark of constant 72 degree spring water, white sandy beaches, thrilling flume rides, a kiddie pool area, tiki bar, and beach volleyball, visit the web site. Weeki Wachee Springs the Only City of Live Mermaids

Lil' BIT

How great is this? Yesterday when we were checking in for our campsites I started telling the woman behind the counter about the Believe It Tour. When I asked her if she knew of any local stories or legends. She told us about this creature that some have seen in the wooded area behind the campground. Described to look like part Monkey, part squirrel.

My first reaction was to find out if it had a name. The reply, no. Opportunity knocked and I answered. Can we name it? She said we could pick out a name.

The result, Lil' BIT.

BIT for Believe It Tour and Lil' BIT for a little bit monkey, a little bit squirrel.

She loved it and said from now on when she tells the story she will call it by name.

The only thing that would be better is if we had a chance to see it. However, we all heard monkey sounds during the night. We Believe It!

Feejee Mermaid

One aspect I find interesting about this journey is the way every stop tends to relate to other stops, no matter how far off they may appear. Here is one example of what I am talking about.

While we were exploring the fun side of New Orleans and the shops of Bourbon Street I spotted a feejee mermaid in the display case of a Voodoo shop. Might not be like the mermaids we will see on Friday, but for a cryptozoology link to our trip it's a must.

Tarpie the Lake Tarpon Monster

Since we had such a long distance between our stops in Louisiana and the Florida points, today was scheduled just for driving. From the time we left home that was bothering me. That I had no official stop for the Believe It Tour to explore.

With a good connection to the internet this morning I did some quick research and found that Lake Tarpon has a Lake Monster!

There was only a short amount of time for a quick look around the lake. Nice view, but no monster. Next step was to ask around and see if any of the locals if they had heard of "Tarpie" again no luck.

Doesn't mean there is no such creature, could be that quick research wasn't the way to go this time. If anyone knows more, please let us know.

In the News

Wes Helbling of the Bastrop Daily Enterprise wrote an article about our stop at Oak Woods Home for the Elderly in Mer Rouge.
Read the full story

Haunted Battleship

Because of scheduling, our original plan for an investigation of a haunted plantation was changed to investigating a haunted battleship in Baton Rouge. The group from S.O.U.L. brought along some of their equipment used to determine fluctuations in areas like temperature and electromagnetic fields.

Not having the luxury of spending the night on the ship in a more controlled environment we made the most of our time. It was exciting just to watch how an experienced group of investigators worked the space. Each having different areas of interest.

One specific happening that is worth noting happened as I was following along with Liberty, a S.O.U.L lead investigator. It was in a bunk room on one of the lower levels of the ship when Liberty was asking if there were any spirits in the room with us when he got a spike on the EMF meter. I started to record the session with my little video camera and continued taping as Liberty kept trying to communicate with the spirit. About 10 minutes into the session my fresh battery quickly drained and the camera powered off. Not getting any real response, Liberty decided to ask if the spirit would like us to leave and if so to make the lights jump on the meter. Immediately the lights jumped from full to off several times. -- We left the room!

Turns out that four other cameras from the group all had the batteries drain during this same time, even though they were in different areas of that lower level.

All in all that was enough to make for a very exciting stop for the Believe It Tour. Plus the time spent with our friends from S.O.U.L. after the investigation over a Louisiana style meal was a fun way to end our time in the area.

The Dauphine House

With all the history in New Orleans we were really looking forward to spending the night at The Dauphine House, a bed and breakfast located in the historic Faubourg Marigny, just one block from the French Quarter (near Bourbon Street and Esplanade Avenue). Owner, Karen Jeffries, is extremely knowledgeable in so many areas of New Orleans she can point you to all the right spots.

We had heard stories of it being haunted and that was what I thought the draw was for us. To actually spend one night in a spot that we might experience some activity.

Nothing ended up happening as far as ghosts, but for me the information and stories shared with Karen was a highlight of the trip.

If you are planning a trip to New Orleans the Believe It Tour highly recommends The Dauphine House.