We miss Patty’s brother, Ray. Among other things, he was an expert on the lore of the Jersey Devil (check out “The Jersey Devil” by Ray Miller and Jim McCloy–it’s a wonderful read), and, oh, could he tell stories!
The Jersey Devil still generates stories, three centuries after it started. It’s easy to laugh at those stories. But when you’re all alone, driving in the Pine Barrens, the laughs get bashful.
Ongs Hat, Double Trouble, Speedwell–I’m glad I’ve been to those places.
I find it interesting that there are local legends of mysterious creatures throughout the world. While I won’t weigh in on any specific examples, I suspect that people are basing this upon something more than their imaginations. It strikes me as hubristic for people to assume that we know about every creature on the face of the earth.
The problem with cryptozoology is that as soon as a cryptic critter is discovered, it ceases to be cryptic.