Update: Aaron Dawson just called me back to tell me the rest of the story. See below. On October 4, 2015 at 9:30pm, Captain Jeff Kraynik posted on Facebook: “So we’re freeing up a lure that got caught up in the mangroves & out floats a note in a bottle. Upon opening, it appears to have been set afloat on 09-09-10 from Treasure Coast Park by: Aaron Dawson, Marion Oaks Lane, Ocala, Florida 34473. Along with the note was a $5.00 dollar bill that was partially decomposed from saltwater intrusion through the cork. I believe Treasure Coast Park may be the public boat ramp & kids summer camp next to River Palm Cottages in Jensen Beach, about (45) forty five miles south of where we found the bottle. So if anyone knows Aaron, have him give me a call.”
I searched online and found a phone number and left word with Dawson’s mother. So did Capt. Kraynik, who updated, “I spoke with mom last nite who confirmed that her son has been releasing bottles for years. Aaron was at work at this time. At 3pm today, got a call from Aaron who stated he set the bottle afloat just south of Ft Pierce Inlet in 2010. I advised him that the bottle must have floated north along the coast, got sucked through Sebastian Inlet on an incoming tide & floated (4) four miles north in the Indian River Lagoon. The bottle must have then floated into the mangroves & got trapped for (5) five years. Still damn cool!!!” See below for an update to the story.
From Andrea 10-7-15: Dawson today called me back and agreed to share more of his story with me. He’s 34 and has been releasing bottles for years. This one was released near Sebastian, FL, tossed into the ocean from Treasure Coast Park.
Why does he do it? It’s something to do on vacation, he says. He throws them out to see how far they will go and to see if someone finds them. He’s released a dozen of them and so far only one other has been found. It was released in the Missouri River from Yankton, SD in June 2015 on a trip to Mount Rushmore. It was found a month later a few miles away.
How are the bottles sealed? The bottles are stopped with a cork and then wax is applied over to seal it. The wax on the one Kraynik found must have become damaged, allowing sea water to partially decompose the $5 bill inside. Dawson wanted to include the$5 so someone glancing at the bottle might see it and investigate to pick it up.
Dawson plans his vacations: He likes to vacation at National Parks and Civil War Battlefields, and mentioned New Orleans, Fort Sumter, Rock City, Ruby Falls. He also collects trading cards, and goes to comic conventions. He is a Browncoat, which is what fans of the scifi western cult hit tv series Firefly call themselves, named after the soldiers in the war being fought in the show, who wore long brown coats.
His next vacation? Dawson plans way ahead for vacations, he said. His next vacation? Probably back to New Orleans for the 2016 Wizard World Convention.
Where does he get his bottles? He’s purchased them from Barnes and Noble in the stationery department and also from The Victorian Trading Company catalog. He also gives them out as gifts for friends and family.
What is his “real” job? Dawson is an assembler at Wal Mart, assembling displays, grills and bicycles. He enjoys the job because while he works he’s always planning his next vacations. I f you’d like to contact Aaron, I have his permission to give his number to leave him voice mail (352) 347-5658
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