Lost Rolex found! Lake Mendota, WI

It happened in an instant. A routine boat docking turned to dissapointment when Dave Mayland’s Rolex watch caught on a mooring fixture and flew off his wrist into the dark waters of Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin. To make matters worse, the watch was a 10th anniversary gift from his wife.

I received a phone call from Dave telling me of his loss. The question uppermost on his mind was, “Do you think it can be recovered?” After reviewing the details and looking at satellite maps together via the internet, I determined there was indeed a good chance of locating and recovering Dave’s lost property.

The morning I arrived on location, I had only just gotten started when a thunderstorm forced me to retreat to my car for safety. Once the worst of the storm passed I resumed the search while a gentle rain peppered the lake’s surface.

The lake bottom was not friendly to my Minelab Excalibur detector. It encountered evidence of former cottage-country visitors and ice fishermen–Old Blatz beer cans. These were summarily returned to their resting places, this in concert with Wisconsin DNR regulations [any artifact found in the ground or water that is 50 years old or older is deemed to be an archeological relic]. Coontail aquatic plants likewise impeded my search efforts. But after three hours, a promising signal proved to be that of Dave’s treasured wristwatch.

Dave, thank you for allowing me the joy of locating and recovering your fine Rolex. May its story continue many more years. Thanks too, for your kind reward.