Our group prepared for a late afternoon felucca ride on the Nile River at Cairo. I had on my Tilley Endurable. I bought it at the Queen’s Quay Terminal in Toronto in November, 2002. Too far back to be covered by the Tilley insurance. On the last few tours I noted that other tour members were wearing a Tilley. We began making a “Tilley Group” photo.
Thanks to Katherine of Alabama I have a way to remember my Tilley Endurable. I still had it at the end of the felucca ride, but the next morning I realized that it was not in my room. Had I left it on the bus? The driver said no. Had I left it in the hotel lobby after talking with our tour guide? The hotel staff said it was not among their lost and found items.
I hope my kids will give me a new Tilley for Father’s Day. Till then, here is my final memory.
Tilley Group in Egypt. Photo by Katherine.
My only consolation came the next day when I went with my guide and one of his local friends to the Eastern Delta, biblical Goshen, in a private car. I lamented my lost hat. Osman said, it is better that you don’t have it today. Egyptians don’t wear hats. You blend in better without one. The few times we stopped at police checkpoints, the officer never said, “Who is the foreigner?”
Oh, and by the way, if you see an Egyptian wearing a Tilley hat ask him where he found it.
Ferrell's Travel Blog 
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