Riffster and I were riding our mountain bikes, in the Little Big Econ State Forest, when I saw an old oak, whose trunk split in two, decades ago. Half the tree leans westward, across the trail, creating a natural bridge, as well as a hazard to noggins, for folks not wearing helmets, and / or knowing how to duck. (See what I did there?) Affixed to this trunk is a sign reading “Duck Duc Luc”. The other half leans eastward, wandering into the flora.
Having recently received his Doctorate in Cryptozoology, (the study of cryptids), from Y’allTube University, Riffster was delighted to see this, as the Duck Duc Luc, (pronounced Duck Dock Luke), is one of his favorite monstrous critters, even though he expressed some confusion over the connection betwixt that critter, (a giant anatinae like monster reportedly from Vietnam), and the location of the sign.
I set him straight, with a bit of family history.
Although most cryptid experts believe the Vietnamese origin of the Duck Duc Luc, the real story is a lot more interesting. In 1940, my great uncle, Bubba Thibedeaux, flew over from France, for a family reunion, and went hiking in what is now called the Little Big Econ State Forest. During that hike, he came across a flock of hideous, monstrous duck-like creatures, giant in stature, and villainous in nature. Being a long standing member of the French Foreign Legion, these grumpy ducks appealed to his quirky, Cajun nature, so he captured a few, for breeding purposes.
Bubba’s French Foreign Legion unit was dispatched to Cambodia, when the French Indochina War broke out, and naturally, he brought his huge, evil ducks with him, for the purposes of husbandry, free ranging them, to supply meat and eggs to his unit. Bubba was captured by the Vietnamese, and spent a couple years in a POW camp, where he learned POW tap code, using this to communicate with other prisoners. It was during these encoded communications that Bubba learned that his grumpy ducks had been embraced into local legend, joining the cryptid community. Bubba found this hilarious.
When the conflict ended, and Bubba returned to France, most of his ducks stayed behind. The Asian continent naturally had its own anatinae species, however, these were regular sized ducks, with typical, pleasant, duck like dispositions. Critters perfectly content to simply paddle around ponds, wagging their backsides, and quacking. The massive, angsty ducks brought over by Bubba were rarely seen, and the cryptid mythology took root quickly. The Vietnamese called them “Duck Duc Luc”, which literally translates to “Big (expletive) Duck”. It is worth noting that the Duck Duc Luc has, over time, interbred with local ducks, creating the species we know as geese, which explains why those birds are such jerks.
I showed Riffster two locations where Uncle Bubba originally trapped his ducks, and we decided to mark these historic sites, with a geocache. At the posted coordinates, you will discover a Duck Duc Luc, guarding a small container, which holds information which will hopefully lead you to the final, an ammo can, also guarded by a Duck Duc Luc.
If you are curious, and like playing with codes and encryptions, look up the POW tap code. It’s very easy to learn, and it’ll give you a secret means of communication, which may come in handy some day.
This cache approved by the Florida Forestry Service, permit # LE25-08