Okay, I don’t think that Lake Monsters are dropped from UFOs. I do not consider it good to talk about the lochs of the world being restocked by flying saucers. Let me be straight about that. But I can’t ignore the fact this has turned into a bizarre news month. Where’s Erik Beckjord when we need him? He would have loved these reports. Actually, he would have ranted at me for not making more of them.

The following two incidents did occur. Just a strange series of temporal and spatial coincidences, to say the least. But that’s all they are. Right?

Grand Isle, Vermont – July 21, 2011. Authorities have called off the search for a missing hot air balloon on Lake Champlain, saying they no longer believe the tip that they received is credible.

Authorities say they got a call at around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 20th, 2011, from witnesses who claim they saw a balloon hit the water near Rouses Point, N.Y., and disappear. That prompted a search involving multiple departments including the U.S. Border Patrol.

The dark night made the search difficult for crews. The search lasted more than four hours before it was finally called off. WCAX News

Then, exactly, a month later, over this last weekend,

21 August 2011
Loch Ness search for mysterious balloon-like object

The emergency services undertook a night-time search of Loch Ness after reports a balloon-like object had fallen from the sky.

The police, coastguard, lifeboat and an RAF search and rescue helicopter scoured the area but found nothing.

The alarm was raised at 20:00 on Saturday, August 20, 2011, after members of the public said they saw a blue object fall on the south of the Loch, near Dores.

Police thought it might have been a hang glider or microlight.

However, following a three-hour search the emergency services could find “nothing untoward”.

Loch Ness RNLI crew member, Vivian Bailey, said: “Speed of arrival on scene was essential and we were able to link our search efforts with those of the Coastguard and RAF, something we practice regularly.

“We believe the reports were based on sightings causing genuine concern and we commend the actions of the members of the public that contacted the emergency services.” BBC News

Tip of the news hat to Scott Mardis and Roddy Hays.

Update:

Also, Lake Erie, the home of Bessie, has been the site of frequent reports of seemingly strange lights (airplanes? airliners? UFOs?) over that body of water.