Part 3 - WANNA BUY A SIDEHORSE?

When George and I returned to the factory in Cedar Rapids there were numerous questions regarding the tour, but primarily the discussion centered on the equipment, and was it sold?  Even though the story of the tour was quite compelling it was met with blank stares, and questions on what our next plan was.Since there was a complete set of both men’s and women’s gymnastics equipment sent along with mats and trampolines, the value was quite considerable.  Also the fact that the equipment was now setting out in the desert sun with hopes that no rain was predicted for Cairo made for a very delicate situation.

To complicate matters even more, some of the equipment required floor plates which are used to anchor certain apparatus into wooden floors….examples being, women’s uneven parallel bars and men’s ring frame.  The men’s horizontal bar shipped was of a new portable style and did not require floor plates.

Having to anchor these two pieces of equipment in an open dirt field when we returned would be quite a challenge….but not for George.  Right away he put his inventive mind to work and came up with the perfect solution….just make long cork screws with the floor plates welded to the top.  We could screw them into the ground and attach the required equipment.  It was a great idea and soon the lawn in front of the factory was littered with cork screw floor plates! And the best part was that they worked.

A short month later George and I were off to Cairo in May with hopes that the equipment was still in the field and most importantly that we could get it sold.

George arriving once again in Cairo

As in the past our dear friends, Adli and General Gawadi were there for our arrival. They had organized representatives from various sport clubs for the official showing of the equipment….in hopes that the clubs would be interested in purchasing items.  During the heat of the first day George and I opened the boxes and set everything up. This included screwing eight of George’s cork screw invention into the ground. Later that evening when it was cooler club representatives showed up with great interest and enthusiasm.

Commitments were made for the purchase of all the equipment, but actual money did not exchange hands. We were of course hopefully that the necessary letters of credit or transfer of funds would take place as soon as possible, but as they say in Egypt, “en sha Allah” which means “God Willing.” 

We spent our last days in Cairo visiting with Adli and his friends.

 Before we left Cairo once again, we paused on the balcony of our hotel for another picture with the pyramids looming over George’s shoulder in the background....he had not forgotten the dream of putting a trampoline on top, and continued to talk about it as we once again left the country….. I knew we’d be backJ

Jump to Part 4: "Here We Are Again!"