"We have had a number of sightings on our side of the river too," continued Harry. "In 1926, there were a number of sightings around Yankton, Oregon. Yankton is about 5 miles from the town of St. Helens. Twenty-eight people described encounters with a 'giant ape.' One account tells of a Bigfoot running alongside a moving truck. I remember talking to Jim Hewkin about this, and he told me that there were a number of reports about a giant ape peeping into people's bedrooms and generally making a nuisance of itself.

"Who's Jim Hewkin?" asked Arnie.

"Jim used to live in St. Helens. He worked for the Oregon Fish and Wildlife, and one of his hobbies was following up on Bigfoot sightings. He believed in them too. He had a number of castings that he made from Sasquatch footprints."

"Well, there hasn't been anything recent out here has there?" asked Walt.

"Oh yes there have been," replied Harry. "In 1980, in Goble, also the same year out by Rainier, Bill Leon Buol saw Bigfoot behind his barn. In 1992, one was spotted out by Fish Hawk Lake. In 1996, they found a number of Bigfoot tracks along the Nehalem River, and in 1997, some hunters reported one out by Vernonia. In addition there have been a number of sightings towards Jewell and in Clatsop County near Saddle Mountain."

Sulo, who up to this time had been fairly quiet, got up and refilled everyone's glasses. "What Harry hasn't told you," said Sulo, "is that he has actually seen Bigfoot."

"Is that right?" asked Arnie.

"That's right," Replied Harry. "A few years ago, Sulo and a couple of my teachers, decided to take me fishing. They had a special place in the foothills by Estacada where they seemed to think the fish were dying to be caught. We arrived at oh-dark-thirty and Sulo had a special place picked out for me. It was great; I started pulling in one fish after another.

I noticed a strange smell. The smell permeated the place; it was sort of a putrid garbage odor. The fishing was too good for me to move, but I sure didn't care for the smell. It was then that I started to feel really strange. I could feel a chill go down my back, and I knew something was watching me. I turned around and then I saw it. It smelled like garbage. It was brown and covered with gray hair. It must have been seven foot tall. It scared the hell out of me; I dropped my fishing gear and I think I let out a shriek that could be heard in the next town."

"What happened?" asked Arnie.

"Nothing. It just disappeared," related Harry. "I don't know where it went. I think my yell may have scared it off. I do know that I didn't feel like fishing the rest of the day."

Arnie turned to Sulo. "Did you see it too?"

"Nope," answered Sulo. "But I sure as hell heard Harry scream."

The evening wore on and Harry excused himself explaining that he had an hour's drive ahead of him and wanted to get up early.

After Harry departed, Walt looked at Sulo and said, "Old Harry is such a be-ess-er, do you really believe that guy? Do your really think he saw something?"

Sulo laughed. "Oh I believe he saw something, and smelled something too. Me and those teachers of his did a lot of planning before we took him fishing."

"What do you mean?" asked Arnie.

Sulo beckoned for them to step outside. He pointed to a small-capped container. "Let me unscrew this lid. Take a whiff."

"Coyote bait," said Walt.

"Sort of smells like garbage," said Arnie.

"Sort of does doesn't it?" laughed Sulo. "I call it Bigfoot bait."


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