When you live as close to the water, (both rivers and lakes) as we do, there is no excuse for not finding a way to cool off on a hot summer day. So when my husband and I found ourselves with a couple of spare hours on a warm Sunday, we did what any other couple would do: we jumped on a duck.

Make that Duck. As in Original Wisconsin Ducks. Not a plug for the outfit mind you, just for my favorite Duck Driver and Greaser (mechanic).

Our ride was on the far left: Coral Sea.

As many times as I’ve heard the corny jokes (and oh boy, are they corny), or the beginning speech  “…What I’m going to tell you is 1/3 Wisconsin state fact, 1/3 Native American legend and a little something I like to call ‘food for thought,’ aka Grade A baloney…” I still laugh.

Just when you start ogling the beauty of the area, the woods, the ferns, the rock formations, and the river, you realize that your driver is telling a story WITH HIS HANDS while driving a seven and a half-ton amphibious vehicle with a double clutch. My heart still beats fast when he covers his eyes while going down that scary hill! (I think he’s peeking, don’t you??)

This is a legendary tourist attraction in the Wisconsin Dells area. You haven’t done the Wisconsin Dells until you’ve been on a Duck.

As soon as the ride was over, it was back to my office to do catch-up work before the next senior portrait session. My schedule is filling up, and I’m meeting great teens from the Sauk county area! The life of a senior photographer is never dull.

And so I leave you with this final photo. Happy Duck Trails — stay cool!