IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DUCK (SAN FRANCISCO, PANAMA CANAL, BVI)

We have a duck! Yes, that is right. Deek is the easy child or guest you always wanted. His needs are simple, he doesn’t eat, has no complaints – just sits on the boat with a happy grin on his little beak. He prefers sunshine but is content on the boat if it is raining. Our duck is called ‘Dr. Deek’ which is short for ‘Dr. Decoy Duck’.

Deek has even been towed on a beach in Catalina Island and down a ski run in Squaw Valley.   He has been to Candlestick Park for a couple Giants baseball games and a 49er game. And he especially enjoyed swimming with the sea lions at Isla Cedros off the west coast of Baja. Deek has transited the Panama Canal although I’m sure the canal workers couldn’t figure out what a plastic duck was doing behind a sailboat.

Deek has had a few costumes. His Giants outfit was a hit at Candlestick.   For a long time he had some ‘Fo-nays’ (fake ray-bans) and a red cowboy hat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We obviously love Deek. So much that he was part of our beach wedding on Cane Garden Bay, Tortola. A few days before the wedding, I snuck him off the boat. My Mom and Aunt Charlotte who were staying with the rest of the family ashore, made a floral cumber bun that matched the same one Whitey was wearing.   When the minister asked for the rings, the best man brought Deek out with our rings hanging from ribbons on his neck.

Sadly, Deek #1 was lost on the life raft after we were rescued from our catamaran sinking. We remembered to grab him from the boat but then they couldn’t get the life raft onto the freighter. We were sad as Deek had been a part of so many great memories.

But about two weeks after we arrived on Tortola after our rescue, one of the crew, Kevin Prior, surprised us with a NEW Deek. He had his father in the states buy a decoy duck and shipped it down to him. We were thrilled. The new Deek has a slightly different look, slightly more mature. We call him ‘Admiral Deek’. He just keeps us laughing.