Original Believe It Tour

Believe It Tour Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 17:02:00 +0000

Please visit our new blog Believe It Tour Blog

S.O.U.L. Investigates Dauphine House

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:50:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:54:00 +0000

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?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:11:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:43:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:12:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:52:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:15:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:39:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:27:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:17:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:00:00 +0000

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.

Vampires?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:49:00 +0000

New Orleans is full of hauntings and other interesting topics like voodoo, and for a group like the Believe It Tour it was like being a kid in a candy store. Unfortunately we didn't get a lot of information on vampires as hoped.

I did try to find some answers. Enough to write about here. However, the stories I was hearing were so different from one another that it is difficult to put them together in one simple post. The consistent characteristic I did realize is that vampires (or at least legends of vampires) are part of the fabric that makes up the unique paranormal side of this wonderful city.

If vampires are of interest to you this is the place to visit. Do some research upfront and I am sure you will be setting up a very exciting trip.

Lafitte's Black Smith Shop

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:41:00 +0000

After a perfect day of exploring the haunted locations through-out New Orleans, we blew off some steam at Lafitte's Black Smith Shop Bar.

"It's some steps away from the main action on Bourbon, but you'll know Lafitte's when you see it. Dating from the 1770s, it's the oldest building in the Quarter -- possibly in the Mississippi Valley (though that's not documented) -- and it looks it. Legend has it that the privateer brothers Pierre and Jean Lafitte used the smithy as a "blind" for their lucrative trade in contraband (and, some say, slaves they'd captured on the high seas). Like all legends, that's probably not true.

The owner managed to maintain the exposed brick interior when he rescued the building from deterioration in the 1940s. At night when you step inside and it's entirely lit by candles (Offbeat magazine claims Lafitte's patented the word dank), the past of the Lafitte brothers doesn't seem so distant. (Unfortunately, the owner's penchant for treating good friends such as Tennessee Williams and Lucius Beebe to refreshments was stronger than his business acumen, and he eventually lost the building.) In other towns, this would be a tourist trap. Here, it feels authentic." (Source: Frommers)

We stepped back in time when we walked into Lafitte's and joined 6 other patrons around the piano. The intimate setting lent itself as the perfect backdrop for the conversation that followed. The pianist told us the story of the spirit he'd seen in that very establishment and in true entertainer fashion, he put it to music. It was an eerie tale of a lingering smoke like spirit in the corner of the bar. The spirit hovered for moments before vanishing quickly. Although our entertainer has never seen the spirit again, he hopes to get an encore appearance one of these dark nights.

The History of Voodoo

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:06:00 +0000

The alley that lead to the Peristyle (temple) of Manbo Sallie Ann Glassman was bursting with art depicting skeletal images, crosses and hearts; presumably “day of the dead” celebration images. The Peristyle itself was chock-full of symbolic art that covered the walls and alters. Around the room, 3 alters were found; each area honoring a different set of spirits. When our Priestess host entered the room, she was adorned in flowing white attire which only enhance her already peaceful demeanor.

She eagerly explained the origin of the Voodoo religion and how the misconceptions began. Slaves were ripped away from their families and were exported to the “new world.” The slaves came from all over so their languages varied and communication was difficult. Symbols, specifically religious symbols, were understood and accepted as a means of hope. Slave owners were wary of any black magic type religions the slaves would practice so they spread dark tales about the Voodoo and punished slaves for openly practicing. So slaves learned quickly to mask their voodoo with Catholicism. Each Voodoo spirit, still to this day, has a corresponding Catholic Saint.

As Sallie Ann pointed out, Voodoo withstood generations of torture placed on its followers. How hard it must have been for the slaves to believe and hold so tightly to their religion when the white man’s God appeared to be much more powerful. It’s amazing the religion survived at all.

Today the religion is thriving and Sallie Ann stresses there is much good in it. She said, as with any thing, there are those who will attempt to use the dark side of Voodoo for their own personal gain (called Hoodoo) but she does not condone those practices. So Voodoo is the religion and Hoodoo is the non religious practice of magic or black magic.

As we processed the information Sallie Ann gave us, we began to see the artifacts from the other intertwined religions. Although Catholicism gives Voodoo it’s Saints, holidays and artifacts, there are many other religions that contribute to this religion and the alters were full of recognizable religious icons.

We had heard of the upcoming Healing Center being planned for New Orleans and asked Sallie Ann about it. She told us about the barrier braking meetings that have taken place since the Katrina disaster. She, along with religious leaders from each represented religion in New Orleans, met and miraculously set aside their differences to discuss what they TOGETHER could do to bring the people of New Orleans together for common good. This healing center was the outcome of those meetings. Educational classes, job coaching, counseling, and even classes such as Voodoo 101 will be available at the center. It’s an exciting venture but even more important is that it began with a union of individuals with very different religious beliefs who all want the same thing for their home and the community of New Orleans, LA.

Oak Woods Home for the Elderly

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:16:00 +0000

Oak Woods home for the elderly in Mer Rouge, LA was a highlight for the trippers. We visited with a vivacious group of ladies who had a plethora of stories to share.

Our visit was sparked by an April Fools news article written by Wes Helbling that cited a recent Bigfoot spotting. Of course it was a hoax but the article sparked conversation amongst the residents at Oak Woods and the stories of sightings started coming out. It was such a hit that the staff at Oak Woods took a group of interested residents out on a day trip to the local swamps for a Bigfoot search. Although they did not find Bigfoot on that particular trip they were still able to tell us the stories from their past experiences. They each had a story and the stories were not just limited to Bigfoot. We heard tales of spirits, ghosts, graveyards, mean grandmothers and even a joke about the great life of a squirrel (thanks Lola!)

It was a great stop and I'm so happy we added it to the schedule. A special thank you goes out to Susan and the outstanding staff at Oak Woods.

As seen in the above picture L to R: Ruth Moore, Lola Haynes, Jeanette Ray, Jureta Fort and Maggie Payne.

Thank you all for taking the time to share your stories with us. We loved each and every one.

Monster Burger

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:14:00 +0000

A quick thank you goes out to the folks at the Country Cafe in Fouke, AR for their Monster Grub! Brad took full advantage of their 1lb. Monster Melt but even he could not conquer that beast!

Boggy Creek Monster

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:02:00 +0000

We stopped in on Fouke, AR, the home of the Fouke Monster, aka Boggy Creek Monster. The ladies at the Monster Mart had a few good stories to tell. One friendly face, I believe her name was Karen, said she had seen the Bigfoot like monster herself. She and a friend were driving when they it cross the road in front of them! That sighting as well as all the other sighting stories had convinced her. The last documented sighting that she was aware of was in 2003.

After our short visit at the ladies at the Monster Mart we took a short drive through the Boggy Creek area. We didn't spot anything ourselves but who's to say we were not spotted by it.......?

We visited the home of Smokey Crabtree but unfortunately missed meeting him. Smokey was the man that saw the Boggy Creek Monster and told the stories that sparked the making of the famous movie. Maybe we'll catch Smokey next time we are passing through.

Storytelling Slideshow

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:29:00 +0000

To top off the afternoon of storytelling, Deborah was nice enough to share a couple of her songs. We put together this slideshow to part of one of those songs.

Tahlequah

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:36:00 +0000

We spent the afternoon with Deborah Duvall, Murv Jacob, and a few of their friends sharing stories out back of Murv's art studio. After telling them what we have been up to for the last several days of our journey, topics of all kinds just opened up. What I found to be interesting was Murv's explanation of how Cherokee beliefs would fit into whatever it was we happened to be discussing.

Storytelling is obviously an important part of the Cherokee culture as is the understanding and partnership with the beings around us. Beyond the enjoyable conversation, just having the opportunity to learn a few lessons was well worth the time spent with these wonderful new friends.

--------
Deborah L. Duvall, author, was born and raised in the heart of Cherokee Nation, Tahlequah, Oklahoma where she has lived and worked with the Cherokee Tribe on numerous projects and cultural endeavors over the years. Her in-depth knowledge and love of Cherokee history, tradition, and culture resonate with genuine 'Cherokee' warmth and humor in her authoring of The Grandmother Stories.

Murv Jacob, artist / illustrator, a descendant of Kentucky Cherokees, is known for his intricate paintings of Cherokee village scenes, Cherokee people and animal dances. His ample illustrations for these books are as detailed and rich as any of his award-winning paintings.

I Believe

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:55:00 +0000

I must admit that when we were planning out the route months ago, I was not in favor of putting Roswell on the list. A bit out of the way and one of those spots that feels like everyone has already been. Then after hearing from everyone that we HAD to go to Roswell I agreed. Either way, it was a great way to follow our night spent at the UFO Watchtower and I did have fun time.

What a difference between the two. Roswell is -- everything alien. Wal-Mart, McDonald's, and the rest of the local shops along the main street all have UFO and alien themed storefronts. Fun place, but the designer in me thinks they could really go all out and do so much more.

Let's leave it with this note. If you are a UFO fanatic, then it is a must.

Below is a video clip to give you an idea of what the museum is like.

Believers

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:22:00 +0000

Here is a photo sent in from a couple of our "Believers" in Rhode Island.

Do you have a photo or story for us? Send it in to us at info@believeIttour.com!

UFO? You decide.

noreply@blogger.com (Ed) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 02:30:00 +0000

In the sky, is it a bird, is it a plane, a weather balloon or just another UFO? Ed spotted something in the sky just south of Santa Fee New Mexico as we headed towards Roswell. We grabbed our cameras and started shooting. This is a zoomed in shot of the unidentified object. You decide!

Freak Happenings at Watchtower

noreply@blogger.com (Tracy) — Sat, 31 May 2008 20:37:00 +0000

According to owner Judy, several strange things happen in the area. There is apparently a vortex in the garden just in front of the tower. Visitors have reported feelings such as dizziness, nausea etc at the sight. (Both Mike and Ed had a strange physical effect near the vortex!!!)

There have also been several reports of mechanical problems such as video and camera malfunctions. We certainly had our own dose of mechanical failures. Out of the 5 still shot cameras we have on the tour, 3 had their batteries die while on site. Mike’s video camera also gave him a difficult time while he was trying to film Brad’s explanation of the group’s unusual sighting. The audio came back with a static sound that only recorded intermittently. Hmmmmm

UFO Watchtower Hooper, Colorado

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Esordi) — Sat, 31 May 2008 17:05:00 +0000

We arrived in Hooper, CO to get a firsthand look at the UFO Watchtower. After hearing numerous locals talk about their UFO sightings, Judy Messoline and her “partner in crime” Stan, set out to create a gathering place for the curious. Since the opening of the watchtower in 1999, there’ve been 47 documented sightings from the tower; 24 of which, Judy has been lucky enough to catch.

We spent hours with Judy and Stan and were fascinated by their stories, pictures and artifacts. It was around 10:30pm when we said goodnight to our hosts and set out for a night of UFO watching. Mike, Ed and I set up our tents just beside the Watchtower while Brad opted to camp directly on the tower’s floor where he could stare up at the sky till morning.

Ed and I soon joined Brad on the tower’s floor and laid back to stare up at the stars while Mike was braving the Vortex in the garden area below. While lying on the tower’s platform we saw numerous satellites blasting through the sky, a couple of shooting stars, and even ONE QUESTIONABLE SIGHTING. I was the first to see the 3 lights travelling in a triangular shape but didn’t speak up because I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Then to my surprise, Ed excitedly pointed out the same 3 moving lights. Brad quickly spotted them, followed by Mike. We all watched the 3 move across the sky in unison. Brad pulled out his binoculars and assured us they were 3 separate objects instead of one. He seemed to think they were 3 panels off a rocket booster all traveling at the same speed. Ed and Mike saw a fourth faint light traveling towards the original 3, while I just sat there rubbing my eyes in disbelief. What was it? They crossed the sky and were out of sight after about 10 minutes.

It was not long until Mike ran up to join us. As the skeptic Brad laid on the platform in complete peace, the rest of us found ourselves feeling a little jumpy. Every noise spooked us to the point of nervous laughter. I think we’d heard far too many of Stan and Judy’s stories to really rest comfortably. We never made it too our tents. With the exception of Brad, the team slept in the dome shaped gift shop beside the tower that Judy and graciously left open for us (in case it got too cold out.) I’m sad to say it wasn’t the cold that drove us to sleep on the gift shop’s floor but instead I think our active imaginations got the best of us.

Although we did not get much sleep, it was a great stop along the Believe It Tour and I’d certainly do it again.