Where's Sasquatch

#104 - “So. Why are you still here?? You must have won the bet, right? It’s been over a year since then. You have family? Why are you still here?”

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#1 - Sasquatch of Downieville   #2 – No Girl, No Job, and a Bet 

Where’s Sasquatch?  

“So. Why are you still here?? You must have won the bet, right? It’s been over a year since then. You have family? Why are you still here?” 

“The easy answer is I grew to like it.  

“I almost quit.  

“In January.  

“I talked to my folks back home. They wanted me to come home. I almost did, but for the fact that, I like it here. There is peace. 

“I was in two worlds. One all messed up what with my girlfriend cutting me loose and being unemployed and not knowing where I was going. 

“And the other. If I managed to separate the past from the now, I could be happy and let the past fall away. I could be at home in the mountains. 

“I handled the cold well, but it was the long nights and the isolation that was hard. But I got used to it. I fell into a rhythm and began to relish it. 

“Part of the deal was I was supposed to send Harris snapshots of me here at my camp as proof, the best I could provide, of where I was.  

“I would send him the pics – sometimes short video clips - when I got into town for supplies. There’s cell service. 

“Harris wasn’t a stickler on time and such. He was concerned about me. He was as into it as I was once the thing got rolling. I think he had more fun than I did. 

“He came up here twice before New Year’s, just to check up on me. Brought up a couple of bags of food stuffs – vegetables, noodles, trail bars, nuts. 

“We met in the vista pullout. 

“The bacon cheeseburgers and fries tasted great, even having cooled off from the long ride.    

“The second time he brought gear I requested, buying what I needed - portable solar panels and battery generator - enough to power and charge my cell phone and laptop, and run my InstaPot. A couple strings of LED lights. The battery was heavy. It was a full pack by itself. Took two trips. 

“I said, ‘take the cost of it out of the money I’m going to win from you come spring!’ 

“Harris laughed, ‘L-O-L!’ 

“We talked inside his SUV while I packed up the gear he brought. 

“He said, ’Hey, Marty, I got you something.’ From the storage bin he pulled out a pair of snowshoes. ‘I bet you can use these.’ 

“I was floored as I had forgotten to ask him to get me a pair. That’s Harris for you.  

“He said, ‘I have something else.’ 

“He handed me a video camera, new in the box. 

“This will give you something to do with yourself this winter.” 

“I don’t know how to operate a video camera.” 

“You'll learn. There are directions. Send me some short videos. Just show me what your everyday life is. Say something if you like. Whatever. The other pics and vids you sent are good.” 

“The thought entered my head that I’d been roped into something. No matter. I was game. It would give me something to do. 

“Soon, I headed back to camp.  

“There had been a few snowfalls. Snow banked up in the shade. Soon, deep snow would blanket the mountains. 

“It was in January that I was at my lowest.  

“There was a bad stretch of weather. Snowstorms and thick overcast for over two weeks. I almost ran out of solar juice to run my gear. There came a point where I turned everything off and just hunkered down. I only went out for more of my dwindling firewood. 

“The nights were long with too much time to think. Always thinking but coming to no resolutions.  

“But I had shelter, and food enough, and could compete with the cold. I was wonderfully at ease.  

“The weather broke. I had to dig myself out of my tent. It was almost buried in snow. I set up the solar and powered up making use of the day’s sparkling cold crisp clear sunshine.  

“I made a trip to town; it had been three weeks. I did have time to figure out the video camera. I sent pics and a few short videos to Harris.  

“I spoke to him briefly. He would plan on coming up late March, the occasion being the end time for our bet. ‘If you make it,’ he laughed. He was kidding, he knew it was almost a done deal now.  

“Being in town felt strange. Only a few people mill about the downtown street. They live here. 

“They’ve seen me before. They know I'm not a homey and are wary of me. They have reason to, I think. And I, them. I look like someone who has been out in the woods for a while. I don’t want any trouble. I try to be nice. I speak little to those I must and don’t ask questions. It makes it easy; I wasn’t looking to make conversation. 

“One time, Jerry, the store owner who lets me buy in gold, said, ‘You look like Sasquatch.’ He smiled nice like; I cracked a smile and nodded back. 

“I got the supplies I needed and headed for home. Though these snowshoes are now necessary, they leave tracks until the next snowfall for anyone who might want to follow me.  

“I settled in again. During the two months before I would see Harris again, I was busy about the camp. There was a lot of snow. I learned how to conserve the power I had with my solar hookup. There were no further problems, due mainly to not having any long-lasting storm spells. 

“I started digging around down at the creek where the current had pulled away the soil. I found gold. Not big chunks but I could get a couple of grams with a few hours digging and panning. Not bad. 

“It’s hard work. I started feeling strong. 

“And I took videos. Cooking, hiking, digging for gold. Just stuff around camp. Longer videos and I talked more. I sent them to Harris when in town.  

“The days passed fast.  

“My past was now the past, with only a little scarring, but I had no clue what I wanted for the future. I knew I would miss the peace I had found here if I were to leave.  

“I know I can’t stay here forever. Would that I could.”  

“We met at the vista overlook and settled our bet. I pocketed $5,630.00, after paying for the gear I got. 

“I felt I had accomplished something.” 

“What are you going to do now?” Harris asked. 

“I don’t know.” 

“I have something for you to think about.  

“I posted a couple of your videos. They were well received. Surprisingly, so.  

“I put it on Youtube. The one of you digging out of the snow covering your tent and getting firewood. You looked like death warmed over. Like Jeremiah Johnson. It took off. 

“There’s money to be made here, Marty. I call the channel ‘Where’s Sasquatch?’ 

“You want to do it? There’s an audience for this! We can monetize! You make the videos; I’ll edit them and work the channel. Partners. 50-50. What do you say, Marty?” 

“It’s a good idea to team up with Harris on just about anything. He’s a go-getter. It would buy me time up here if nothing else. I couldn't see a downside.  

“Deal!” I said, shaking Harris’s hand. 

“Hey, Marty. Let’s celebrate! Two Rivers is open. Let’s go get something to eat.” 

“I said, ‘I’d rather folks not see us together. I like the anonymity. How about we get the food to go? I'll stay in the back and send you the vids I have while you order. I want pancakes, grits, eggs, and bacon. Two servings of syrup, ok? Get what you want. I’ll buy.’” 

“Ok, sounds good!” 

“In short order, we were back at the vista chowing down.” 

“I got you something.” Harris said. He went to the storage bin and pulled out a Starlink satellite kit. And then, he pulled out a drone. Two of them. One to practice with and a better one for my videos. 

“I’m not even sure I can set up the satellite kit, and I’ll wreck the drones. I don’t know, Harris.” 

“There are directions. You'll learn.” 

“’Look,’ I said, handing him the money I’d just won, ‘Take the balance of our bet and put it toward this stuff and anything else we need to make this work.’ 

“Ok, I’ll do that. We should have cash flow soon after we get rolling. Hey, Marty. We could do a live stream!” Harris had a game plan. 

“With that, I loaded up the new gear and vegetables Harris brought. He would be back in a month or two, bringing me a small battery-powered refrigerator for the warmer weather.   

“Now I have internet access. I don’t need D-ville's cell signal. Harris and I have regular contact. 

“I’ve sublet my apartment, and all my stuff is at Harris’s. 

“The drone took some getting used to, but it changes everything. Harris was wise to get me two of them. 

“This is beautiful country seen from above. This spring I spotted bear on the high slopes. The drone is chased by eagles and hawks and crows, if I get too close to them. A hawk hit the drone, almost brought it down. My subscribers eat this stuff up. 

“It’s been a year since then. ‘Where’s Sasquatch’ has taken off. Harris and I are making a lot of money. Who would have thought? All I do is video my daily life up here in the mountains and talk a bit. Harris says, ‘It resonates.’  

“Get this! People are trying to find me. Organizing search parties and such. The only clues they have are drone shots of my surrounding mountains, and the gold. Most think I’m in northern California. One day, they’ll find me. 

It only took a few minutes for Marty to tell me his story. It seemed longer. I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Marty was talking like he hadn’t had a conversation, as one-sided as it was, with anyone in ages. In his case, weeks at a time. 

He said that while he stressed about finding his future, his future had found him. He would follow this outdoor adventure bonanza where it led.  

We met a few times that summer. Marty videoed our claim with his drone. We have great footage. 

No one had found him yet, but he knew now for sure that his mountain terrain had been recognized and that his seekers were honing in. 

One day I’ll come around the bend and he’ll be gone.  

I think Marty will do alright. 

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