How a fishing balloon from Yarmouth made its way to Norway and back

After Lars Framvikand a friend found a fishing balloonon the shore of Andenes, Norway, in November 2015, Framvikwanted to find its owner, but there were a few challenges.

While there was a phone number on the balloon, it didn't have an area or country code, so phoning the ownerwasn't anoption.While it was marked with the vessel name, Blaine + Hayden, Framvik thought that was the place it was from.

But the balloon did contain another hint:the name Terry Saulnierappeared on it.

Framvikput hissearch for the owner on the back burner until recently, when hesigned up for Facebook.SearchingSaulnier's name, Framvik came across a profile for Saulnier'swife, Tracey, about two months ago.

Framvik sent her a message with some pictures of the balloon and asked whether it was her husband's. It was.

Terry Saulnier fishes out of Yarmouth Bar, N.S., which is 5,232 kilometres from Andenes, a small fishing village in northern Norway.

The balloon, which floatedon the surface of the water, was connected to lobster trapsto indicate where they were. Itmeasures about 60 by 90 centimetres,meaning it would be expensive to ship. Framvik wanted to get it back to the Saulniers, so he hatched another plan.

Framviksaid Canadian Forces personnel are regularly in Andenes.It isn't clear why this is the case, and the military did not immediately respond to a request for details.

Some Forces members were there recently and Framvik asked if he could send the balloon back with them. After they got the OK from officials, it was sent on an Aurora plane to CFBGreenwood.

The balloon looked a lot different from when it was lost in April 2015. It was now decorated for the Christmas holidays and had messages in English and Norwegian. Framvik said he wanted it to be a Christmas card from Norway.

"I don't think he's going to use it for fishing anymore," said Framvik.

Terry Saulnier said he plans on hanging the balloonin his garage. The lobster fisherman saideach yearhe loses about 15 per cent of his balloons.

He said when fishermen find balloons lost by other fishermen, they usually sell them back for $10 each.

"He's never gotten one back from away, other than locally,"said Tracey Saulnier.

How did the balloon end up in Norway?

CBCmeteorologist Kalin Mitchell said ocean currents are responsible for getting the balloon to Norway.

"From there, the Gulf Stream can transport those objects into what is called theNorth Atlantic Drift, which flows from west to east across the northern Atlantic Ocean."

Mitchell saidthe North Atlantic Drift then branches off into a number of smaller ocean currents, including the Norwegian Current thatruns parallel to the north coast of Norway.

Besides the fishing connection between Yarmouth and Andenes, there are other similarities between the places. Framvik said people in Andenes are friendly and help each other. Thathospitality is evident in an offer Framvik made to the Saulniers.

"This man from Norway has invited us to his home and we have a place to stay when we go visit Norway if we ever do," said Tracey.

She said she and her husband plan to go to Germany for a trip in a few years and are thinking about including a visit to Norway.