TOPSAIL BEACH, N.C. (WFMY)-- Hurricane Florence traveled from Africa to the coast of the Carolinas.
It was just under 4,000 miles for the entire trip. The distance from the Caribbean to our coast is about 650 miles.
Bradley Dixon lives in Alamance County, but also has a house in Topsail Beach. He took a trip to the coast to ride out Hurricane Florence.
Following the storm he found trash on the beach that he believes came from the Dominican Republic and Haiti. "Ended up on our beautiful coastline, it is shocking," said Dixon.
At first glance, the plastic bottles seem like litter you might find in the sand anytime, but when Bradley Dixon took a closer look, he noticed they said "vinegre."
"I was assuming that its some Spanish or French form of vinegar and since on the island they speak French and Spanish, I figured it was a pretty good chance that's where it came from," said Dixon.
Officials with NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said usually marine debris from storms comes from local sources, but it is possible it travels from other locations.
Dixon also found bottle caps marked with CBC for Caribbean Bottling Company. While he can't confirm exactly where the plastic came from,he did some digging.
"I found lots of plastic forks and spoons and knives and after a little bit of research, that's, that's the way they serve their meals. You know, and they throw it right on the ground. There's not a really good way of disposing of trash in Haiti," said Dixon.
The most memorable item found was a handmade toy truck.
"There are indentions where it has been pulled miles and miles by some little kid. So this was, you know some kid treasured this little truck and you know maybe a hurricane came through. I'm not really sure how it ended up in the ocean, but it did and it kind of, it kind of gives you a little connection," said Dixon.
It just goes to show, one man's trash is another is another man's treasure.