The Loch Ness Monster

The legend has it that there is a creature called the Loch Ness monster. Supposedly it lives in the ocean and many people refer to its common name as "Nessie". No one has seen it for sure, so there is a lot of sceptics. If you are one of them, then I have a tale to tell that might make you believe.

It was just an ordinary day in the late Autumn season. The temperature outside was a nice 76 degrees Fahrenheit. No clouds, just a clear blue sky almost crystal-like in nature. I was home alone and looking for something to do. Normally I would sit down to either dive into a good book or browse the internet, but today I felt something was pulling me for an adventure. Almost as if the universe was telling me that I needed to take a trip outside. Following this inkling, I took my dog Tobar outside for a walk when suddenly I heard a strange noise out in the distance. The noise is rather hard to explain other than it sounded like a deeper version Chewbacca but mixed with a whales call. Upon hearing this startling noise I scanned the horizon but eventually found nothing. After gazing back and forth a few times, the strange noise finally stopped and I went back to playing with my dog.

An hour passes by quickly, Tobar and I were still outside enjoying our walk along the beach. He started to act really cute by rolling around in the waves, so I quickly pulled out my phone. I snapped a few easy pictures of him, not examining them too hard, and put it back in my pocket. Tobar seemed as if he wanted to continue our walk further as he looked out toward the ocean. I decided to walk down to the beach with him longer because we both needed time to be outside. We were only out there for a few more minutes before the noise that I heard earlier started to sound again. The only difference, this time, was that it sounded louder. It also seemed as if it were calling out in long cries. As startled as I felt my immediate reaction was to grip my dogs leash tighter and pull him closer to me. I could tell that Tobar seemed uneasy because his tail was between his legs and he was no longer splashing about.

A few moments later, I finally got the courage to go look around. I started to head West because that was where Tobar's gaze was staring. As I tried to walk, he started to whimper and stood his ground. He was not about to follow me anytime soon. I patted my leg how I normally do and said; "Here boy, don't be afraid. Nothing will hurt you, I promise."

He still wouldn't come, so I decided to attach his collar to a tree. I didn't want him to try and run off. All throughout my messing around, I noticed that the sound got louder, and kind of sadder sounding. This confused me, and I was starting to have second thoughts about trying to find the source of this noise. 

After some thought, I finally psyched myself up to venture further. Before I left, I said by to Tobar by giving him a reassuring pat on the head. He licked me, his way of saying "Good Luck," then I headed off on my adventure.

Now that I was alone, I started to feel a bit scared. I decided to stick close to the shore so I wouldn't get lost. If I turned back I could see the little black blob of my dog. His dark fur sticking out against the light sand, and his little Labrador frame pacing back and forth wondering when I'll be back. After a mile or so of walking, I noticed the sound getting louder again. As I examined the ground, there was what appeared to be a huge drag mark. It was approximately the size of a bus. I was dumbfounded at the thought of what this might be from. I was about ready to head back to retrieve Tobar and go home but, I managed to push on.

I followed the track for what seemed like forever, probably two more miles at least. At this point the sound go so loud that it started to hurt my ears. As I looked up, there off in the distance, I see a large grey mass. Upon closer inspection, I could see it moving. I wanted to get closer, but I dare  not walk over to it. That's when I remembered my phone, the good old iPhone 4. Which if you didn't know, it wasn't the best at taking pictures.

It took me a while to get the phone to focus, but when it finally did, I could see that the creature had four definitive fins, two on each side of its body. It was rounded kind of like a football shape. It looked like it may have had a tail too which resembled that of a lizard. The creature seemed to be breathing very heavily with its head underwater.I could make out what seemed to be its nostrils poking out of the surface. It kept twisting its body and every minute it would make its crying sound. Whenever it sounded , it would lift its head high and yell as loudly as it could. Its neck was very long, although it looked proportional to its body. Its face was like a dinosaur, its closest resemblance would be a longneck.

I tried to get a few pictures, but they all came out blurry. I started to walk closer into the water, but as i got about hip deep it noticed me. Its eyes met mine and in that moment I didn't know what to do, I kept still hoping that it would go away. It started yelling in my direction as its gaze never left my own. Instead of it appearing to be angry or startled, it looked sad. When I was looking at it, I could feel it trying to tell me something. This made me decide to get closer. As I did its body dove back into the water. I kept searching for it but it was nowhere in sight. I listened for its calls, but all I heard was silence. I stayed for a good five minutes before I realized that standing there was fruitless.  

As I started to walk way I heard a big sound as if something had risen from the water. I heard the distinctive sound of a creature clearing its nostrils. I turned around to see the gigantic water horse towering over me. I was frozen to my spot, I had no idea what this thing could do to me. Although it was far enough in the water to where I had at least 50 feet between us I was still terrified.

When I finally got the courage to get close enough to where I was barely out of reach , it put its head down at my feet. I as taken aback by its friendliness. I peered down at its head that was bigger than me and it moaned when our eyes met. I reached my arm out, unsure of whether to touch it or not. I decided that I would never have this chance again and it put my hand on its head. Its skin was slick and hot. It felt very similar to a dolphin. I had a felling that it shouldn't be hot, so I quickly started to splash water on it. It seemed to be happy about that.

I stood there for a few moments rubbing its snout, all I was thinking about why this creature was on land and why was it so willing to interact with me. I began to ponder the fact that it could be the last one of its kind. I started down at it and said; "You're such an amazing creature and I hope that you find a way to be happy." It stared back at me, I doubt it understood me but it knew I was trying to communicate. I knelt down a kissed its nose. The creature opened its jaws to reveal sharp teeth but instead of biting me it licked my hand. I smiled a wide grin and stood up. In that moment it started to move. It was headed backwards in the direction of the ocean. It was struggling, trying to move its weight and the sand. I could tell that it was difficult for it but it figured out how to turn around and dive back into the sea. 

I don't know how long I was out there for, but it was getting dark fast, so I needed to head home. I decided to jog back the 3 miles, all the while thinking about the amazing event that I just witnessed. I finally got back to Tobar who seemed ecstatic to see me. I hugged him, took him by the leash and we headed home. All that night all I could think about was the creature. I decided to name it Chance because what were the chances that anything like that would happen on this earth. I finally fell asleep after lying awake for hours thinking about it.

I return to the spot where we met every single day with Tobar. Since that day I haven't stopped taking our daily walk back to the sacred place. I'm hoping that maybe Chance will return. It hasn't happened and I don't believe that it ever will again. But nonetheless, I will always cherish the moment that I came in contact with a creature of the deep.