"The hat seen round the world"
Copyright © 2008-2010 Follow The Hat Productions All rights reserved
Accompanied by Greg or Steve, the hat has traveled to many
destinations around the world. Join us as we "follow the hat"
in it's various adventures until, as it's name implies, it is time
to be Head'n Home.
destinations around the world. Join us as we "follow the hat"
in it's various adventures until, as it's name implies, it is time
to be Head'n Home.
History
The history of the “Follow The Hat” website should really be divided into three sections consisting of the hat, the travel pictures and the history of the name itself.
The Hat
Several years ago my brother-in-law and I were looking for the perfect backpacking hat. While attending a sportsman’s show at Cal-Expo in Sacramento, Ca. we found it. The hat we found was the Monterey Bay Breeze by Head’n Home Hat Company, a great, great hat. It provided the ultimate in cooling airflow, was lightweight, crushable and waterproof. Everything we wanted in a hat.
The Travel Pictures
A short time after purchasing our hats a friend of mine was telling me how a plastic pink flamingo his wife had in their front yard disappeared. They could not understand who would want to steal it, or why. (Frankly, I cannot understand why anyone would want a plastic pink flamingo in his or her front yard in the first place). About a month and a half later it reappeared on their front porch with a photo album. It turned out their neighbor took it with them on a trip and took pictures of it all over Europe. I started joking with my brother-in-law about taking pictures of our hats in different locations and thus began the travels of the hat.
The Name
In October of 2005 my wife and I (and the hat), while on vacation in Cancun, became stranded during hurricane Wilma. After several days in an evacuation center we finally made it to the airport in Merida on the north side of the Yucatan Peninsula. The Cancun airport was damaged and people were trying to get out any way they could. While at the airport we met a young man and his new bride who were on their honeymoon. He was very nervous and scared and told me he had never been out of the United States before and did not know what to do. I told him that I was sure the State Department was in contact with the Mexican Government and the airlines, and they had everything under control. I also told him I was going home that night and if he wanted to make it home to stick with me. A few minutes later a representative from the airport came out and said exactly what I had just told the young man. Another gentleman, pointing at me (wearing my hat), said “That’s what you said, that’s what he said, follow him if you want to get home he knows what's going on” and then he said “Follow The Hat”. I was telling my son this story and he told me I should start a website and post pictures of where the hat has been. After about a year and a half I finally decided to sit down and actually build this website.