Twenty-five years ago today, a Nessie enthusiast in Scotland began what has become an epic quest to prove the existence of the legendary creature said to lurk in Loch Ness.
Inspired by a childhood fascination with the cryptid, Steve Feltham moved to an area near Loch Ness in 1991 after quitting his job and selling his home.
Since then, the search for Nessie has become a full-time endeavor for the indefatigable fan of the creature.
In fact, Feltham's quarter-century crusade has earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for longest continual monster hunt at Loch Ness.
In reflecting on his lengthy pursuit, Feltham revealed that his initial perspective on the mystery was eerily similar to many other paranormal researchers who eventually dedicate their life to the field.
"When I first came here I had no clear idea how long I would need. But I thought I would see something in three years," he recalled to the BBC.
And, ironically, his thoughts on the mystery today now reflect the hardened outlook of veteran investigators who have also spent decades attempting to unravel paranormal enigmas.
"I look at 25 years as a good halfway mark in trying to solve this," he mused to the news service.
Unfortunately, aside from one enigmatic sighting that cannot be definitively attributed to Nessie, Feltham has yet to get a clear glimpse of the creature.
Nonetheless, he intends to continue watching the waters of Loch Ness in the hopes of solving the mystery once and for all, promising to dedicated another 25 years to the vigil if that is what it takes.
We can only hope that Feltham won't have to wait that long, since he's certainly earned a resolution to the mystery by now, but we also suspect that we'll probably be celebrating his 50th anniversary in 2041.
Coast Insiders who want to learn more about the notorious Nessie can check out interviews with a number of researchers, including author Steve Alten, writer Lee Frank, and forensic artist Bill McDonald.
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Source: BBC News