Summer of 2005, Sears Island, Searsport, Maine

I moved to Belfast,Maine from Rhode Island in 2003. The Maine coast is beautiful to experience and loving the ocean as I do I can never get enough of it! Sears Island is an amazing place to roam. One never knows what the ocean will wash up on shore during any given night. That summer day in 2005 was the last time I walked there.
It was a perfect bright sunny morning to go walking, I decided Sears Island would be my focus but this time instead of walking around the Island I would take the path that headed inland over the Island to the otherside.
I drove up route 1 to the little "finger" of land/bridge that leads to the Island, parked my car to the side and headed out onto the path. The morning sun was glistening throughout the thick foliage high above me. The trees and vines were shining with multiple shades of greens and golds. I was enjoying this visual and olfactory feast when suddenly I was hit with the most repugnant stench, like as if a skunk and death had just sprayed my face. I was startled and thought to myself that something dead must be close by, and then at that very moment I knew I wasn't alone. I was aware of being watched. The hair at the nape of my neck crawled high up my head, along with a cold feeling of terror. I have not had these feelings since an encounter with an evil spirit in my attic years ago, but that is another story.
I kept moving forward on the path with the same pace not wanting to show fear to what ever it was. I had heard that moose stink very badly, but this was like death, not strong musk or fungus. I was scared and pushing forward to get to the otherside of the Island. I finally reach it but there was no way to get down to the sand and shore. The vegetation was to thick and prickly and all I could think of was escaping this hell I'd walked into. The only way out was to return the way I came. I was scared and fought with myself about returning that way, so I walked all over the end of the path and cliff searching for a path of some kind that would lead down. Nothing.
With what courage I could muster I retraced my steps, my heart in my throat with my mind and eyes on alert. Every step forward was terrorizing. As I approached the place I had 1st smelled the putrid stench with fear...it was gone!! Nothing!
I kept smelling the air but it had returned to the sweet surrounding foliage. I hurried off to make it fast back to my car. I will never forget this horrifying experience, and never went back to the Island again. This story is true. It happened to me and I have no need of validation.
This encounter is the 1st time I could ever believe in Bigfoot for myself.
Thank you.
​Jeanni