Weeki Wachee

I hope that when I’m old and gray (not too far away from where I am now) that I don’t want to miss a single second of sun that warms my face like I do now. I would rather be depleted and worn out and exhausted and sunburnt with frazzled hair and too much sand on my feet than go inside and maybe miss something that the sun shone its rays on just for me to see.

We took an afternoon flight to Tampa. It was my first time on a plane in two years. The airports were a little tricky to navigate with a mask on as my balance is still a little sketchy and escalators now scare the shit out of me (picture the scene from Elf …. I have literally done that. Like for real) We arrived at midnight and I stepped outside into the humidity with a stupid big smile on my face. It was plastered there for the remainder of the trip.

We grabbed a rental car the next morning (rentals cost a fortune in that area at the moment because the companies were forced to sell half their fleet during lockdown) and headed to the gulf.

When I think of Florida…. I think of the color orange. I also think of the bright pinks and teals mainly because of Don Johnson’s t-shirts under his white sport jackets in the 80’s. But now… I think of green. Lush green jungles, with live oak sprays swinging over the water.

The drive was easy and quiet and different than I had imagined. It took less than an hour. The interstate was surrounded by lush forrest. Hall full of palm trees and half full of pine trees and then open spaces filled with cattle and marshes. We arrived on Shorline drive to get to our little bungalow and the road was hemmed in by greenery so thick and lush that I was sure we would get swallowed by the trees…. they would wrap the car in a blanket of vegetation. We pulled up to the little blue house and immediately found lizards sunning themselves. My son was pleased to see wildlife in the first 30 seconds of arrival.

We spent the first day/ afternoon on the water. (Our rental came equipped with paddle boards and kayaks and fishing poles and anything we needed….. we were all in heaven) The house was in Weeki Wachee Gardens right on the canal. The Canal winds and turns and is lined with houses and when the houses disappear it’s pure jungle. The water is so clear that you can see your feet touch the bottom. You can paddle for hours up the pristine waters and if you’re lucky you will run into a manatee here and there. Turtles sun themselves on the rocks, palm tress hang over the water, sun seeps through the trees, trickling rays over the water, making it more transparent and mesmerizing.

We saw our first two manatees within the first 10 minutes out, and already my son exclaimed “this is the best part of the my trip!”

Manatees look like a cross between a whale and cow. They are huge animals, that just glide under the shallow water and feed off of the foliage on the side or bottom. Occasionally coming up for air, sticking their snouts out for just a short breath here and there. Their bodies have tiny little hairs all over them that I could barely make out under the water, but once they put their nose right next to my kayak, the details of their docile bodies were incredible. Every time I would see one my heart would race and my eyes would bulge and wild and I would cover my mouth to keep from squealing….. I never wanted to frighten them. They are gentle giants. So peaceful.

Weeki Wachee, from my perspective…. is so much different from the rest of Florida. It’s laid back and uncrowded. There are very few people pruning themselves for selfies, even though it’s the perfect place for it. It’s the least pretentious place I think I’ve ever visited. The restaurants are chill and open and you can park your kayak right outside (The Upper Deck is right on the water) They smell of fried seafood and are lively and happy. Beer flows and it’s ok because your ride home is with a paddle. An atmosphere that made us feel a little more normal. I ate seafood for every meal. Alligator tail, conch fritters, crab sandwiches, crab pastas, lobster bisques, shrimp, scallops, grouper… you name it… I ate it. Because it was fresh. And because it’s my favorite.

The water during the day was crowded with a peaceful crowd. Every age group, every size, every kind of person was represented on the water. Kayakers, paddle boarders, small boats, canoes and occasional a pontoon would slide in between everyone. Sometimes people would glide by with music blaring. Others would be tied to a random palm tree having a nap on the water. The flats were filled with people having lunch. Laughter. I heard a lot of laughter. And if you paddle far enough… you find ice cream.

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I stayed on the water longer than the boys. I always need my own time on vacation. I needed help getting in and out of the kayak, so evening time was my time. (I normally would get up in the morning, but it was cold in the mornings…) The first night I ran into some locals and ended up riding all the way back with them. They gave me a huge list of things to do and where to go. I love that about vacation. And I love that I have become a person to make friends with complete strangers on a canal in a state I’ve never been to. My career choices have definitely made me a person willing to talk to strangers (just not on the phone) I wish I could have gotten their names.

The next morning, since it wasn’t raining like it was supposed to be, I got the boys up and we jumped in the car and headed to the beach. The drive down was through what seemed like one big city/ strip mall. I thought would we see more of the coast, but the coast was 4 blocks away, so a different route was taken on the way back. We ended up in Anna Marie Island. The town was very picturesque of a beach town, full of souvenirs and good food and bright colors (pinks and teals) Shopping was of course done and then the beach called.

There is nothing better than finding a path to the beach… and seeing that first glimpse of ocean that you have been missing. It’s my favorite thing about visiting …..that little path.

It was windy and the beach wasn’t crowded. The first thing to approach us was a turtle making its way back to a nest. My day, like my son seeing a manatee… was made. The water was turquoise, the perfect shade. The sand was made of quartz, keeping it cool. The waves rolled in with the wind. Little girls did cartwheels next to me. Parents were burying their kids in sand. Seagulls were begging for food in flocks. And again my head was filled with noise and laughter. Music to my ears. I was so excited to get in the water that I forgot I can’t run. I tried. It didn’t work. I also wasn’t able to keep my balance against the waves. Even that didn’t get my mood down. I just swam/ crawled to where I could sit and watched my son and husband fight them. That permanent grin never went away. Especially when fish would come flying out of the water right next to my little boy.

Seafood was of course found on the way back in a Marina in Bradenton. Probably the best meal of the trip. (Riverhouse Water Front)

At the end of the day I was sunburnt. Ice cream was found (SOOOOO FREAKING GOOD) The boys fished into the night right off the dock. Set the crab trap. I cuddled into a blanket with a book and had sea dreams.

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The next day was the day I was blamed for not planning anything fun.

I am the planner, but I wanted to just take the day off. It was only 43 degrees in the morning. It was only 60 degrees during the day. The water was off limits for me. (Cold on vacation is not my thing.) I literally didn’t plan anything for this vacation if I’m honest. Which is very like me. I’m the planner/ non-planner. (Is that a thing?)

It just turned into the day of weird.

Our breakfast was weird.

Our activities/ road side attractions were weird. (Like literally the weirdest thing I have ever seen in my life kind of weird. Like worse than carnival sideshows weird.

They were just weird.

And I say this, because I don’t want people to think that vacations are perfect. Ever. They aren’t. Somedays suck. Somedays are stinking weird.

But you know what redeems weird days? A good supper and a sunset…. to put the weird day to bed.

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The last day was spent on the water. Mostly. It was a slow day. With no agendas. The water was full of people. I loved it. Every second. I’m slow and methodical so I’m always behind. And I never mind it. (Mostly.) A water bag protected my camera. I would pull it out every now and again, but mostly I watched. Another sunset was taken in. The last meal of seafood was had (I am missing it already.) Fishing was finished in the early morning.

Easter morning came and eggs were hidden (yes I planned for that and thank god my teenage son still likes to hunt to eggs) Crabs had been caught and fish were let go. Fancy pictures were taken. Houses were cleaned. And a delicious breakfast was had next to the canal with a hundred turtles.

The flight back… my smile faded a little. I wasn’t quite ready.

But now……I know I can go.

And I will.

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