Message in a Bottle Found: Ray From Philadelphia
Howdy folks! Today’s post is a plea for your help: I found a message in a bottle from someone named Ray who lives in Philadelphia, but I need help finding Ray!
Ray used a Gatorade bottle for the message:
I found it on an uninhabited island in the Caribbean in May, 2015–and it’s a good thing I found it when I did! Check out the cap on this thing:
Now, this message is pretty much invisible, but with some scrutiny, I was able to read it–the date it was sent was May 16th, 2014. I found it May 17th, 2015, exactly one year and one day after it was sent. But that’s crazy, right?! Look how broken up and deteriorated the cap is!
Just goes to show you that many types of plastic break down quickly in the ocean. I’m not sure how much longer this plastic bottle would have protected the message, but I’m glad it held out long enough for me to get there (and yep, I took all the little plastic scraps from the lid with me when I picked it up 🙂 ).
The message was pretty much invisible…Check it out.
Ridiculous, right?! I know. It took me a long time to figure out how to see the writing. I was able to kind of capture it in this one photo. I mean, I took a million photos, but here’s the only one where anything is visible, and you’re gonna have to zoom in and look close…
Believe it or not, there’s actually a lot of writing on this piece of paper! Here’s what I have been able to decipher:
Hi, my name is Ray. Just wanted to say hi. If you find this bottle, I put it in the water 5-16-14. I live in Philadelphia. Let me know what day you found this. Give me a call (gives number). I was on a cruise.
Help Find the Author of This Message in a Bottle
The phone number is impossible to read besides the 267 area code, which is for Philly. I tried figuring out the remaining numbers and calling–but didn’t get Ray.
Here’s what I know: Someone named Ray from Philadelphia sent this message in a bottle while on a Carnival cruise in May 2014. I know Ray is curious and friendly, and I know that I want to make contact.
I guess I could go to Philly and wander around yelling, “Ray! Ray! Ray!” But I’m hoping that asking for help here will do the trick 🙂 Will you help me find Ray by sharing this post? Or the Facebook post linked above?
***If you liked this story, click here to find me on Facebook and like my page for more message in a bottle stories! You never know when YOU could be the one to solve a message in a bottle mystery! Click here to learn more about messages in bottles, and you can always contact me with questions, ideas, or stories.
***UPDATE!!!*** This message in a bottle has been solved! Click here for the second part of this story.
I love this Great Story! I moved to Philly from Pittsburgh several years ago and I have found Philly to be a magical city full of amazing stories! And yours is another one! I’ve been following your quest to find “Ray” on the local news, and learned tonite that you had found each other! I’m really happy and excited that things finally worked out! I’m now following you on your unique adventures! Thanks for connecting Philadelphia with Salt Lake City ! You’re amazing!!
It me Ray get in contac with me
I work at a tv station in Philly. Would love to chat today more about your search. I’ve sent you a PM on Facebook as well
I have a thought on how you might be able to read the message/phone number. Try the old lead rubbing trick. Hold a pencil sideways and gently rub/scribble over the message. (Kind of like people do with carvings on tombstones.etc.) You could probably use chalk too. It might make the phone number easier to decipher. Good luck and keep us posted!
I learned if your going to send a message in a bottle out to sea . Never use clear plastic bottle for the sun to erase the writing over time and never use a plastic cap for the salt water, waves and fish to eat away at it . Thanks I learned a lot . Hope you find Ray .
Thanks Joe! And good call on bottles–we definitely want to keep plastic bottles out of the ocean. They fall apart quickly in the ocean and hurt wildlife, as you point out. Hope you’ll help spread the word about that! 🙂
i would think it would be an easy find…. contact Carnival Cruises and search for a passenger named Ray on that date. The hardest part would be getting Canaval Cruises to participate…. so maybe make it part of their advertising campaign of seeing the world
but still connected to home….. who’ knows’
Hi Bob! I thought so to, but it’s against Carnival’s rules to throw messages in bottles overboard, so they generally aren’t willing to help in these situations. Thanks for the thought though!
Try cruise Critic forums.
Try Cruise Critic forums. Boards.cruisecritic.com
Hello
My name is Ray and lived in Philly at that time friends and family have sent this to me. Unfortunately I have never taken a cruise. Good luck in your search.
Looking for a guy named Ray, in Philadelphia? Best of luck. If it was York, I’d say you would have found him, but….LOL
I live in a Philadelphia suburb and posted this on my facebook page and on some of the local groups I belong to. Hope you find him soon.
Thanks so much! I really think spreading the word like that is the only hope we have of finding Ray! 🙂
Try the Preston &a Steve Show on WMMR (radio 93.3FM) their great people and this sounds like a story they may do! Good luck!
Great suggestions Samantha! I just heard Preston & Steve talking to him on this mornings show.. cool story
Thanks for this suggestion! Just spoke with them and hoping they can help spread the word and find Ray!
Wpvi an ABC affiliate in Philadelphia
Try contacting Chio from Mix 106.1 (Philly radio station). He hosts Chio in the Morning on that station and likes to share positive stories with the listeners. I’m sure he would be interested in sharing your story. Contact: 215-263-1061
Awesome! Thanks for the tip!
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Try contacting Good Day Philadelphia, the host Mike Jerrick is zany and this might be right up his alley!
Thanks! Will do!
Try contacting Good Day Philadelphia, the host Mike Jerrick is zany, this might be right up his alley!
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Seems awesome except for the fact that someone decided to throw a plastic bottle into the ocean.
Agreed! I doubt Ray realized how bad the plastic pollution problem is, though. My hope is that by sharing this story, I can help people understand that plastic bottles really don’t belong in the ocean… Thanks for your concern!
Very true
did you contact the news in Philly to help?
I have tried–I haven’t found anyone who was willing to help yet, though… Any ideas?
Try posting this article on different philly-based facebook groups! Yardsales, local news stations pages, A sports fanpage, stuff like that will help you reach a ton of Philadelphians!
Good luck on this one Clint! Keep us up to date on it!!
Phil and Fran
Hi clint have you tried contacting the liner he was on and then you might get lucky and there was only one ray you never know hope this helps and good luck regards clint
That’s exactly what I thinking