TOWSON, MD—A message in a bottle sent by a Towson man in 2008 has washed ashore in Australia.

The bottle appeared on the shores of Peterborough after it made its way from Brazil over the course of sixteen years.

A local man, by the name of Tony, found the bottle last week while walking along the shore, according to news.au.com.

“Your curiosity has paid off,” the letter read.

“Thank you for recovering this bottle and taking the time to see what was inside.

“I have placed bottles like this one in several oceans at many different locations all over the world in the hope that people like you might find this bottle and return the note to me in the United States.

“I would appreciate you sending me this note so I can find out how far the bottle travelled and for how long,” the note continued.

“To make it worth your while to participate in my experiment, I will send you $20 (US) upon receipt of this note. Please make sure to include your name and address.”

The sender, Joe Johnson, says the bottle was one he likely tossed overboard from one of his many cruises around the world.

Johnson, who is from Towson, told ABC Melbourne that the bottle was launched between Rio and Salvadore in Brazil.

“I’ve been to Australia and I probably threw a few bottles in the water there, but this one is from Brazil ,” he said.  “My wife and I took an awful lot of cruises, but I don’t remember that specific bottle. Every cruise we took … I probably threw a bottle or two in the water. It’s fun, especially if it came from Brazil to Australia.”

Johnson claims that aside from the call he received from Sammy J’s breakfast radio show, he had only been contacted once from another person who had found a bottle — admitting he had perhaps dropped 100 in the water.

An image of the barnacle-covered bottle and note was posted to local Facebook group, The Peterborough Press, with commenters shocked at how a single bottle had ventured from Brazil to Australia over the course of 16 years.

“How fantastic – I love that!” one wrote.

“I hope his (sic) still alive to know it’s been found on the Beach at Peterbourgh, Victoria. it’s been on a long trip,” another added.

“That’s a really fascinating find! To think it has survived 16 years in the ocean,” another added.

“If only that bottle could talk, what an adventure.”

The 88-year-old Johnson has since moved and now lives in a Baltimore County retirement community.

The letter, with contact info redacted, can be viewed below.