A favourite hat lost on the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust Cavalcade 14 years ago will soon be returned to its owner, thanks to a veteran cavalcader on this year's trek.
It was lost on a walking trail from Bannockburn to Roxburgh and, 14 years later, a cavalcader on a similar walking trail between those two places, was able to identify its owner.
Ann Paterson (68), of Bannockburn, is taking part in her 20th cavalcade, on the Rocky Ranges to Roxburgh walking trail and is buzzing at the prospect of being able to return the lost property.
She was on the earlier trail when Lester King, of Gore, lost the hat at the Shanty Creek woolshed on the Knobby ranges.
"He looked for it everywhere but couldn't find it and eventually had to go on without it.''
When she recently phoned the woolshed owner, Neil Sanders, of Alexandra, to book the woolshed again as accommodation for this year's trail, she learned he had found Mr King's hat all those years ago.
The hat sported several cavalcade badges but he was unable to identify its owner and had stored it away, Ms Paterson said.
"I said I'd pick it up on the way through and make sure it was returned to Lester, who isn't in good health at the moment. It was quite emotional to collect the hat again, knowing how much it'll mean to Lester to get it back and thinking it was kept safe all these years.''
Ms Paterson said she might "retire'' after completing this year's 90km trek - "but then again, it's pretty hard to say no, so we'll see what next year brings''.
The nine trails in the 24th cavalcade end their journey today and more than 450 walkers, riders and wagoners will meet at the Roxburgh Racecourse, in time for the annual Mt Benger A&P Show and the Roxburgh Rotary Club's Classic Car Show.
