The Kelley Hat – Lost after 16 Years

Several years ago, I traced my love for adventure back to a childhood infatuation with Indiana Jones. Like Indiana Jones, I’ve developed relationships with hats over the years. Hats often lost and recovered by strokes of good luck. For my latest hat, which I had for sixteen years, it’s adventuring days are over.

I purchased the hat in Sherman, Maine the day before I began the Appalachian Trail in June 2006. It traveled 2,100 miles on the AT, 4,500 miles on my trans-America cycling trip, 30,000 miles on our Airstream tour, and to the most remote island in the world, Rapa Nui. I lost it in September 2022 on our way back from Rapa Nui / Easter Island. I left the hat in a dark taxi. I didn’t realize I’d lost it until the next morning.

I’ll be buying a new hat soon, one I may have into my fifties.