Have you ever stumbled upon a travel keepsake that delivers joy, nostalgia and even a hint of good luck? Meet The King.

He’s a pretty stand-up guy from humble beginnings. Consisting of felt, he was initially crafted by a colleague’s mother with a penchant for art and crafts.

At the time, we were working at Moutcha Bay Resort on Vancouver Island, Canada. One quiet afternoon in the restaurant, our co-worker revealed her mother’s random hobby of making felt animals. Naturally, we were intrigued. “Can she make a cow?” I asked, fascinated. “Can she make a sloth?” another colleague wondered.

The resulting cow turned out to be cow-like, but the sloth? It was an absolute masterpiece – a little creepy and off-putting, but very loveable. My partner laughed out loud and instantly referred to it as an ‘unborn foetus’.

We were entrusted with the creature’s care and took it upon ourselves to crown him as the ‘King of Moutcha Bay’. A natural leader and funny mascot in our eyes, he soon achieved legendary status within the resort.

When the season came to an end, he became a staple in our backpacks and travels. He’s since been on more adventures than most people: road trips, ski resorts, deep-sea fishing, -40-degree winters and demanding hikes.

Sure, he’s seen better days. His head’s nearly decapitated, he’s got an unbecoming bald spot from sticking to a frozen window, and he’s been squashed, tossed, and forgotten more times than I can count.

Despite the wear and tear, he remains the perfect travel companion with many more adventures ahead of him!