By: Barnali Bose, Editor-ICN Group
BOSTON: The advertisement read, “ Water is no barrier for a duck, why should it be for you?”.Had heard about it, had seen it on our last visit to Boston, so I had to experience the riding-cum-wading experience on my second visit there. Boston has been called ‘America’s Walking city’ for a reason but as of now, I would prefer to call it, “America’s Wading City ”. Boston is located in the state of Massachusetts in USA.
One has to simply hop into a duck bus-boat for a 80-minute land and water tour of Boston.
On land,The Boston Duck Tour covers it all — from the State House in the Beacon Hill neighborhood to Bunker Hill and the TD Garden, home to the Boston Celtics. There’s Boston Commons, a public park in downtown Boston and the oldest city park in the United States; Copley Square, a sort of public square in the Back Bay neighborhood, the Quincy Market to the Prudential Tower to name a few landmarks.
Land almost done, one could splash down into the Charles River for a view of the majestic Boston and Cambridge skyline.
We were just on time ,the scheduled time being 5p.m. We had started quite early from the hotel but traffic snarls, though not quite as pathetic as some other cities, had given us some anxious moments. I had not wanted to miss the riding cum wading experience, by any means.
Finally, with a sigh of relief,we boarded the vehicle that not only looked different but also promised to be different. Having booked online,our seats were automatically assigned.
Formalities having been done, the Duck began to make a leisurely move from the campus of the Museum of Science. It being a guided tour,we learnt quite a bit about Boston as the amphibious vehicle made its way through the heart of the city .
Our pleasant- faced tour guide acquainted us with the history of the duck vehicles. These larger-than-life vehicles,as he called them, were inspired by the historic DUKWs that served the American armed forces during World War II.
A rugged sea-worthy vehicle that could land and drive directly to the front lines was the need of the hour. In 1942, the DUKW was designed, tested and put into full production in just six months. DUKW,the official name is a military acronym but soldiers called these “Ducks”.
Approximately, 21,000 “Ducks” were built during World War II. By the end of 1960s,all had been removed from active service.
Boston Duck Tours,we were informed began operations in 1994 with four original DUKWs. The half-century old vehicles required a lot of maintenance,so their regular use was not economically viable.
Today the only World War II DUKW that the company possesses is used for parades. Its other 28 vehicles are modern eco-friendly replicas.
The 35-seater enclosed “Duck boats”, as the locals prefer calling them, are inspected annually by the US Coast Guard at the onset of spring. The company, the tour guide proudly beamed, usually exceeds their regulations.
After a 60-min ride on land, the guide and the driver swapped seats.The Duck now waded into a narrow channel and then with a swish and a splash was afloat the Charles river.
This transformation of the bus into a boat was a unique experience in itself and the small children gave out squeals of delight.The added bonus was that a few children even got to drive the “duck” for a minute or two, of course, under supervision.
The guide’s tireless narration of the story of Boston’s History and culture with a dash of his personal humorous anecdotes, I found at times, to be rather intrusive into the otherwise serene environment. However,his perennial chatter, like the quacking of a duck, I observed with some relief, often submerged in the splashing sound of the river.
After about 20 minutes, the Duck waded back through the channel evolving into a bus with a jerk and reached the point where from it had begun its journey.
In response to my query if the tours function in inclement weather too, the ever-boisterous guide responded, “Boston Duck Tours runs rain or shine.”
