This past Saturday my daughter, Amberle, and I attended and participated in the 2009 Western Carolina Ducky Derby in Asheville, NC.
This was a benefit event for Western Carolina Rescue Ministries for food, shelter, clothing and hope. Over 5,600 small yellow rubber duckies were adopted with plans to float/race them down the French Broad River–awarding prizes to the top eight finishers.
However, rains had raised the river water level to the point where it was no longer safe. Someone came up with a rather ingenious contraption using a cement mixer truck and attached long water trough to provide random selection of ducks with some sense of floating “downstream.”
It was a worthwhile event but personally I was disappointment not getting to see and photograph over 5,000 bright yellow rubber ducks floating down the river–perhaps next year. 
As a side note, the first two photos are of a “duck” and a baby, and a woman and dogs interacting. Would you say that these interactions were expressing ‘hello’ or perhaps ‘goodbye?’ Captured in the moment without other clues hellos and goodbyes often appear the same. If you don’t believe it go to an airport and watch as people arrive and depart with loved ones or friends present. I find this interesting and almost used it as a theme for my SoFoBoMo ‘09 book. Oh, the duck is saying goodbye and the dogs are saying hello–of course the last photo is just the duck being silly. 
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Too bad about the high water. Nice pictures anyway. I like the “hello – goodbye” discussion and photos raising the same question. The baby and big duck is very cute as is the last picture. People and dogs have a special attraction to each other. Nice shooting…and better luck next year.
What an interesting idea! And, what fun shots.
By the way, I have been thinking about you and your allergies. Have they quieted down? I hope so.
@Anita: My allergies here are almost over–the tree pollen levels are down. However, when I was taking these shots in the mountains, west of here, I could tell the trees there were a couple of weeks behind and I had to take something for it.
Sorry that the opportunity got away, but what a wonderful series of images!
Susan, Thanks!