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AUSTIN DUCK ADVENTURES

Written by Artly Snuff

You KNOW that you have seen them driving on downtown streets and floating on Lake Austin, but do you know what those giant-wheeled, awning-topped things full of screaming and singing tourists are doing in our town? Or what the heck they are? They are the amphibious vehicles known as the Austin Ducks. They were originally a British Alvis Stalwart and, on land, can be driven in either 4-wheel or 6-wheel drive. Their maximum speed on land is about 40 miles an hour and they do about 6 knots in the water. In the early 1960?s, they were designed by the British Army for use in Eastern Europe against the Warsaw Pact countries when the ultimate cold war ground war broke out; they could carry up to five tons of supplies against our Communist foes. They were rendered obsolete in the 1980?s by the rapid advance of helicopter technology and so were converted to the tourist transport industry that was blooming in the United States; they are in many other towns besides Austin that feature both land and water sights to see. Tours start from the Austin Visitor Center at 206 East Sixth and they run downtown and in the University area before heading out to splash into Lake Austin at the Walsh Boat landing just north of where Enfield hits the lake. Adult rates cost $22 and children are $13. Call (512) 4-SPLASH for reservations or information. You can also go to www.Austinducks.com