Tuesday, August 25, 2009

A Strange Duck Making a Big Splash

A few months ago I saw this strange sightseeing vehicle in Baltimore, and didn't think much about it.


Then a few weeks ago I saw another one in Philadelphia. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it rolling in to the harbor.


SPLASH! Duck sounds, loud cheers and clapping! Quack Quack!
My camera was clicking and my mouth was open as it drove away on the water.
Later I heard a horn and saw our duck friends enjoying themselves on the water.
I need to give this a try. I just wonder if they fly? Quack!
To see other Watery Wednesday posts please click here.
To see other Outdoor Wednesday posts please click here.

58 comments:

Sunny said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sunny said...

The Duck Boats are popular on Cape Cod, it certainly makes you do a double take when they just drive into the water!
Some of your captions make me 'quack' up!
Sunny :)

crocrodyl said...

Wow, not bad:) Extra-ordinary vehicle!

VP said...

Weird vehicle, nice set of shots and very, very good captions... Great catch!

Anonymous said...

Wow... I never saw one of these either! Very interesting!:) Nice pics.

xoxoxo
Donna Marie

Cezar and Léia said...

Wow, that's really original! I can barely believe my eyes as well, this must be fun!
God bless you!
Cezar
P.S.: Léia says she doesn't like sightseeing trains but she would absolutely git it a try on this amphibious thing!

kayerj said...

I've ridden that duck! and have the duck whistle to prove it. The best city tour I've ever been on! great pictures--may I copy them?

Rune Eide said...

They must have bought this one from the Navy and painted it over. I have never seen anything like it.

Anonymous said...

How cool. We have one in Honolulu called Duck Tours. I'm going to have to try and get photos of it when it comes out here and I'm here at the same time. It's exactly the same thing only it's all yellow and drives slower than all get out on the road. Great pictures :)

Anya said...

Interesting,
I have never seen before ;)
Looks very funny !!

Anonymous said...

James, oh yes. We have these up in Boston, as well. Nice shots!

Bim said...

What a weird vehicle - a very entertaining series :)

Anonymous said...

How on earth does it stay afloat?? Must be such a strange sensation to just drive straight into the sea. I think Dublin has a Viking version - but I've never actually seen one of their vehicles..

ProdigalWife said...

I've never seen that! How fun--and how clever of you to think of taking the photos!

DeniseinVA said...

These are great, love watching the 'duck' go into the water. Great action shots.

Jim said...

Good series of shots.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Anonymous said...

I have never seen anything more impressive in Watery Wednesday! This one is an all-time winner! I thought - it looks like a boat - and then bam! It really is! #1 :)
I appreciate your translation in Bulgarian for Nadine. She is really trying to leave a comment - still can't figure it out - the whole Internet translation and Open ID - I hope she will succeed tomorrow :)

storyteller said...

How kewl is this! I don't know that I've ever seen such a thing ;--)
My Watery post is at Sacred Ruminations this week.
Hugs and blessings,

Sistertex said...

Brings back memories. These are military amphibious vehicles that have been sold because they are surplus, and painted over by the companies that run them. I have ridden on them quite a few times in the Wisconsin Dells area. Very cool photos. The ones in WI were just a blast to ride as they went through wooded areas and in and out of lakes. Fun Stuff.

Anonymous said...

Arent they the in thing nowadays? I think I've seen one in Singapore and another city. I should try this someday.

Anonymous said...

This series of photos made me smile. I haven't seen one of these boats in a long time. When I lived in Florida they used to run Duck Adventure tours out of the Port of Tampa but I think they closed down.

penny said...

Your photos are amazing, James. What a fun idea this is and how lucky you were to find it.
I sure wish there was one around here.

Anonymous said...

how cool! we rode the ducks in branson, missouri - that's a fun ride

Dora said...

The ducky ride looks very much like ours in SG. :D

kayerj said...

thanks James, We didn't get any pictures of the vehicle itself. I've got some taken from inside.

Amy said...

Never saw one of those. How fun. Thanks!!

Kat said...

They have duck tours in Austin, and they look like alot of fun. Our daughter went on one in Branson when their high school band performed there, and she said it was a blast! Thanks for the fun pictures. Kathy

Dimple said...

I never saw or heard of these before, but I heard that there were amphibious vehicles used during WWII.

bj said...

This is just about the neatest thing I've ever seen in my entire life. I would LOVE to take grandkids on this ride someday. But...living slap dab in the middle of the Plains of West Texas..no water for a million miles, I doubt I will ever see this cute DUCK...Thanks so much for sharing...

Martha said...

And I thought Branson, Missouri was the only one with "ducks" -- they were originally old WW II vehicles repurposed -- but I think they are building new ones. Duck rides are fun!

Ebie said...

Hi James, isn't this a coincidence taking shots of two boats ran by the same company? This is also so hilarious! Hahaha!
P.S. I also linked my post to Outdoor Wednesday (good idea, hehehe hitting two with one.) Very busy catching up with memes!
My main blog is here.

Sarah said...

Amazing photos. Thanks for sharing. I've never ridden one of these, but I think there is a club for owners of amphibious vehicles. ~ Hyacinth

The Pink Geranium or Jan's Place said...

I saw my first one in Seattle earlier this summer, I agree, they are an odd "duck" to see in town!

Kcalpesh said...

I should call it an amphibian vehicle... Must be fun.... :-)

Karen at Nittany Inspirations said...

Hi from one Pennsylvanian to another. I have seen these in Philly. Everyone seems to be having so much fun and blowing their duck whistles.

Sally in WA said...

I remember those when I lived near Baltimore. Funny vehicles for sure!

Regina said...

Nice splash!

Kirigalpoththa said...

Would love to be in that especially during the splash :)

Arija said...

Great to be amphibious, just would not like to be in it with a storm blowing.

Unknown said...

Those things are so strange!

Olivier said...

superbe ce véhicule amphibie, on doit avoir une bonne sensation quand on rentre dans l'eau.
haughtiness this amphibious vehicle, they must have a good feeling when they come back into water.

Claudia said...

Wow...now thats something new!!

Fun shots.

TTFN~~~Claudia ♥ ♥

VALKYRIEN said...

That is the funniest boat (or car...?) I have ever seen! Made my day! :)
Great shots!

Maria Berg said...

I think they fly to LOL. I happy taht you did have the camera so You saw it go into the water, MB

Unknown said...

i'd love to ride on this duck.:P i hope the tourists were wearing bathing suits underneath.:P

EG CameraGirl said...

Well, wasn't that a surprise? Great way to tour the city from may angles.

susan said...

I guess I have a biased fear of these--In 1999 eleven people drowned after one of these sank like lead in 30 seconds! It happened at an Arkansas Lake and I do not remember the specifics. I do remember that passengers were not required to wear life jackets--wear yours!!! Still, great photos :)

Lois said...

Fascinating way to go sightseeing! Those are great shots. Next time I am in Baltimore visiting my sister, I am going to insist we try this!

Denise said...

I used to live near Baltimore but didn't go on the duck tour. We have one in Austin too though, and I went on that a few years ago when friends came to visit. They are fun. We had to 'quack' at all the passersby as we drove past them.

Mary Bergfeld said...

What fun! During the WWII they had amphibious landing craft. I wonder if they've been recycled. Thank goodness you had your camera with you. I hope you are having a wonderful day.

PeterParis said...

Norally a military vehicle I believe; this is better use! :-)

Gabrielle Mader said...

wow...that is a neat sight!! quack, quack...wouldn't that be fun to ride. Hello from Calif.

Girl in the frame said...

We have one in Austin too, and I always wanted to follow it to watch it go into the water. I like the clouds in the picture! Love taking pictures of clouds. :)

I'm Just a Southern Girl said...

All my life growing up in Hot Springs, Arkansas, I have seen these. I have ridden them a couple of times. Popular with the tourists! You kind of hold your breath when it drops off into the water!

Brenda Pruitt said...

Oh, how fun they look!
Brenda

CreativeMish said...

That is so funny! I think I would stand gawking with my mouth open, too!

Mark Kreider said...

I would love to hear the comments the guys on the Coast Guard cutter are making!

Martha said...

Dont't they look fun? Tara and were going to do that the day we spent in Philadelphia back in June but did the carriage ride instead.

They all line up right across from the Liberty Bell waiting their turn.