Lake Erie Monster
In northeastern Ohio and Michigan folklore, Bessie is a name given to a lake monster in Lake Erie, also known as South Bay Bessie or simply The Lake Erie Monster. The first recorded sighting of Bessie occurred in 1817, and more sightings have occurred intermittently and in greater frequency in the last three decades. Bessie is reported to be snake-like and 30 to 40 ft (9.1 to 12.2 m) long, at least a foot in diameter, with a grayish color.
Over the centuries, people have described Bessie in many ways. Some say she has a dog-like head and large fins. Some even say she has human-like arms.
Her colour has been reported as grey, copper, or silver. One thing that’s fairly consistent across sightings is her long, snake-like body that measures anywhere from 5 to 18 meters long.
Cryptozoologists often believe that lake monsters are surviving relatives of the Plesiosaur, a huge marine reptile with a long neck that supposedly went extinct with the dinosaurs. Could Bessie be the ancestor of this ancient species?
This is the first ever reported sighting of Bessie!
It’s 1793 and the captain of the Felicity is steering his sailboat through the shallows of Lake Erie’s islands, duck hunting and admiring the rugged natural beauty of the area. His loud shots ring out, echoing over the still water.
Suddenly, the captain sees something that makes his blood run cold.
According to the captain, an enormous serpent had started thrashing around near his boat, having been startled by the gunshots. He reported that the creature was huge—easily over 5 meters long—though it disappeared before he could get a better look at it.
Bessie Today
On September 28, 1990, The Daily Kent Stater reported another sighting of Bessie at East Harbor State Park in Marblehead.
A man named Harold Bricker stated that he and his family saw “a large creature moving in the water about 1,000 feet from their boat,” wrote reporter Mitch Weiss. “They described it as black, about 35 feet long, and with a snakelike head. It moved as fast as their boat.”
After the lake monster surfaced, it later disappeared under the water a few miles north of Cedar Point.
Does Bessie still haunt the waters of Lake Erie? Nobody truly knows. But one thing’s for sure: The next time out on a boat on Lake Erie, definitely watch out!
Watch a YouTube Video on other sightings: Lake Erie Monster
Read More from the Source: Bessie
About the cache
The cache is a regular-size Ammo Can hidden just off the Horse Trail. As always, please use stealth and return the cache to its original location. Also, when trading please trade fairly with items of equal or greater value.
Crosswinds Marsh Rules
No fires
No bikes / ATVs / personal watercraft
No swimming or ice fishing
Dogs must be leashed
No alcohol or illegal substances
No camping
Fishing in designated areas only
Collecting plants & animals prohibited
Park only at N 42° 05.744' W 83° 26.552'
All Geocachers must follow the above rules.
Crosswinds Marsh is open from DAWN to DUSK. Admission is FREE.
The Crosswinds Cache Crew pledges to develop and maintain quality, interesting geocaches in the marsh consistent with geocaching and Wayne County Parks rules permit process.
