Strange Things in Out of the Way Places

    Have you ever seen something that has made you do a "double-take"? Something that you saw right in front of you, you know you saw it, but you either couldn't explain it, or couldn't believe it? Well, that has happened to me, twice, both times in remote sections of the Baja peninsula.
    The first instance occurred on March 17, 1993, with Robert Eastman and myself. We were in my Acura, leaving Canon de Guadalupe on the hard-packed dirt/rock road. We were about 1/3 of the way from the mouth of the canyon to the main paved highway (Highway 2), with nothing but desert on either side of us. The vegetation on this part of the route is also very desert like - a few small, dry plants, an occasional tree, small cactus, and little else. Sand and rocks abound throughout this stretch.
    We got to a slight turn in the road, and upon straightening out, we could see a good 200 feet in front of us. Suddenly, something crossed the road. It was an animal, moving briskly on all 4's, about 3 1/2-4 feet at the shoulder, and very husky. It's fast-paced walk was similar to a dog's, but this animal appeared to have no tail.
    Rob and I sat silent for just a second, I was initially stunned. Finally, I spoke up.
    "What was that?" "I don't know", Rob replied.
    We slowed drastically, and pulled to a stop at just about the spot where we believed the "thing" had crossed the road. Perhaps foolishly, both of us got out to survey the area. I looked on the side of the road for footprints, Rob got on my bumper for a better look around. Neither of us saw anything. No footprints, no animal, nothing. Now, remember, there isn't a forest of trees blocking our view here, we are frankly in the middle of a desert, looking over bushes no taller than my knee. Still, nothing around.
    Now, before you begin to ask "how many beers did you have before you saw this thing?", let me assure you we were quite sober this whole time. And the fact that both of us, not just one, saw this "thing", should be verification that something crossed our path that morning.
    A bobcat? This animal was too big.
    A bear? Maybe, but are there bears in this desert? And this animal walked like a dog, not a bear.
    OK then, a dog. Could have been a very large dog, but there were no farms around (at least for a few miles). Could this "dog" have been lost?
    Where did the animal go after we pulled to a stop? Behind a bush? Did it make it's way deep into the desert quickly, out of our sight? There were a few trees a couple of hundred yards in that this animal could have run behind (or in, if it could climb), and been hidden from view. However, I seriously doubt it could have moved that fast.
    Robert and I affectionately call this beast, "Baja Sasquatch". We have been back to Canon de Guadalupe several times since, and every time we pass "the spot" where we saw this beast, we look out for perhaps a glimpse of the animal we saw that day. Maybe someday, we will be fortunate, and see it again.

    Of course, having relayed this story to our friend, Rob Stark, he believes us to be a bit crazy. So it is rather ironic that Rob would be with me for my second "strange" experience.
    This story begins in Cabo San Lucas, on September 6, 1996. Rob and I had just left Robert (who was flying home), and we had decided to head as far north as we could, in an effort to get home in 2 days. After a close call in Loreto with fuel (see Some Thoughts on Fuel), we had cruised through the southern half of the peninsula, and were almost 1/2 way through the northern portion. Against others advice (and our own), we were driving at night.
    We got to a point about 15 miles south of Catavina, on a cloudless, moonless night. We decided to pull over onto a dirt shoulder, and admire the seemingly millions of stars that could be seen that night. As far away from any city as possible, there were no lights around, and I don't recall us ever getting passed by any cars. The stars were amazing.
    After about 10 minutes or so of stargazing, we both noticed a strange light coming from the side of the road, about 150 feet north of us. It was waving around a bit, so it appeared that it was someone walking up the road towards us, holding a flashlight.
    Not wanting to see anyone at 9:00 pm in the middle of nowhere, we decided to get back in the car, and continue our trip home. As we approached the car, I noticed the light still shining, and appearing a bit closer.
    We got in, and drove cautiously onto the pavement. Not wanting to speed by someone who may not be expecting us, we headed north very slowly. We both looked around the pavement, and onto the sides of the road. We didn't see anyone. I made an effort to look for a vehicle parked on the side of the road. Nothing. No light, no car, no person anywhere.
    The desert vegetation was not particularly tall, so there wasn't any room for anyone to hide. There certainly aren't any houses, farms, or any other dwellings anywhere near where we were. So who, or what, did we see? If it was someone walking, why did they hide? If they were in trouble, surely they would have flagged us down.
    Maybe an insect, such as a firefly? That would be one huge insect. Bigger than any one I've ever seen. Even today, Rob and I can't fully be sure of what we saw.

    Two instances, with two different people, and the same results. We saw something strange, even unexplainable, but we saw something. For sanity's sake, at least I can tell people that I wasn't alone, that someone else besides me saw the same thing.
    Was one thing an unknown animal, some type of "Baja Sasquatch" as Robert and I jokingly refer to it? Or just a lost dog?
    Was the other a new type of insect or animal which, up to now, was unknown and unseen by man? Was it a space alien visitor, wandering the desert of Baja? Or was it just a Mexican farmer, too shy to say "hello"?
    Whatever these things are that we saw, we are unable to properly explain them, and probably never will. I guess it's better that way.

A Possible Explanation?

    On January 4, 2006, I received the following e-mail from Mr. John Roberts, perhaps explaining these "strange sightings".

    "On your page: http://www.timsbaja.com/strange.html I figured I would try to explain what happened. I have grown up in Baja, so I have seen a lot of what the desert can do. I do not plan to explain everything, and by all means, leave the mystery page up on your website and feel free to add my comments at the bottom (and those of others over time).

    I have seen the "rancher with the flashlight" phenomenon enough times to no longer be fooled. It turns out many people toss, or place their Tecate aluminum beer cans on bushes next to the road. The bottom of the can has a dish-like appearance that acts as a reflector to your own car's headlights. Any wind will give the can the appearance its moving.

    Coyotes when they are startled can put their tails in between their legs in order to appear more stealthy and be less perceptible to the corner of the eye of a predator. This is only a guess, and the only real chance you had at identifying the creature was to have picked up its tracks. Good luck amigo."

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