We Shall Flight Them On The Beaches
Want a (slightly faded) rubber duck? Just keep your eyes peeled the next time you're at the beach. A fleet of 29,000 rubber ducks will soon wash up on Cornwall beaches - after a 15-year, 17,000-mile epic journey. The bath toys were set adrift in the Pacific after a container was washed off a cargo ship in 1992. The metal container was corroded by sea water, freeing the China-manufactured yellow ducks, blue turtles, red beavers and green frogs. Their colour has since faded to white and they have been tracked across the world, with some turning up in Alaska, Siberia, Japan, Iceland and Canada. Collectors pay up to $1000 for the toys, which have The First Years stamped on them.
FOOTNOTE: Relax, it’s not the spammish Armada.
I once found a bleached out rubber ducky among the reeds of an Austrian lake. Due to the location probably of celtic origin, Hallstatt period, I'd venture to guess. I won't make it over to Cornwall for the arrival of the fittest of them ducks, which is too bad, I'd have loved to add another precious item to my beginner's collection. :-)
ReplyDeleteI would swim with them!
ReplyDeleteRubber ducky, you're the one!!! You make bathtime lots of fun!
ReplyDelete[go Ernie and Bert]
Cute!
Hey David - can you help me plug this post and contribute? I would appreciate your witticism! Cheers!
What a hoot it would be to find one of those!
ReplyDeleteOoo! Ooo! I thought this was going to be about the rubber duckies released into the wild each year on rubber duckie day- honest, there is one! I didn't dream it! I think it's a UK thing. POssibly American. No no, UK. They release lots of them and you get a prize if you find one. Or something like that. Hmmm....
ReplyDelete:@}
I didn't dream it!
ReplyDeleteI hope Wilson (the basketball starring in Castaway) finds some company at least now! I bet he's been lonely out there :)
ReplyDeleteregds
Gautham
Oooh - how cool if I could only beach comb one of those!
ReplyDeleteHi Merisi,
ReplyDeleteRace you to Cornwall.
Cheers
David
Hi Dan,
ReplyDeleteThat would definitely increase their value.
Isn;t it amazing that they've been bobbing around for all these years!
Cheers
David
Hi Steph,
ReplyDeleteWill certainly help plug the post. Check back here in the next day or so.
Cheers
David
Hi Mushy,
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, especially in light of the fact that they've been riding the waves around the world for so long.
Cheers
David
Hi BTBear,
ReplyDeleteRubber ducky day? Sounds good to me. I know there's even an International Talk Like a Pirate Day too.
Cheers
David
Hi Gautham,
ReplyDeleteI bet Wilson would get his bounce back if he saw the ducks!
Cheers
David
Hi Carol,
ReplyDeleteIf you find two, keep one and set the other one off again, in the direction of Melbourne!
Cheers
David
BTBear - not just England, US too. It's the annual duckie race for the Special Olympics. I sponsor a duck (I think it's 25USD) each year! Good fun for a good cause.
ReplyDeleteHey!
ReplyDeleteHere's a page about rubber duckies, including a race of rubber ducks down the Thames in 2006....
Enjoy!
Rubber Duck Races
I mean a rubber duck race.
ReplyDeleteNot a race of rubber ducks.
Thames water has not (yet) produced a new race of duck.