Weeki Wachee is known for its mermaids. Arriving into town, you will see those illustrious beauties as statues and murals throughout businesses, parks, and signage. It was a 4 hour road trip taking the backroads, where we discovered a winter ice skating park outside Tampa, Snowcat Ridge, that opens annually November through January…
Mary’s Fishcamp was our home for the long, Memorial weekend. Our friends, the Wilds with their oldest son and family joined us, booking one of the larger cabins which was right next to the boat ramp. We put in our boat, using the boat ramp onsite and greeted our friends with a wave from the captain’s seat as we backed up. Using the side wall, they were already enjoying the cold, clear water of the Mud River our 119th of the mission.
The campground had a large general store and live music for the weekend that played on the patio overlooking the water. That first night we enjoyed hamburgers and hotdogs, told stories by our fire, and prepared for an early morning. The young Wilds had plans to see the famous mermaid show and had to leave the park by 8am to wait in the line to get in and then again for the show tickets as the entire Weeki Wachee State Park is known for its first come, first served policy. Whereas the Tillery trio and other Wilds set out for an afternoon of river roaming during a busy holiday weekend. The savannahs and landscape were stunning, with crystal blue skies overhead as we headed towards the Gulf. Yet, as we meandered into the Weeki Wachee River #120, it became quite congested with house and after house along the river each with more floats and toys than the next. Michael was a great captain and navigated around the kayakers and tubers with ease, though as we neared the spring head it became too much and we turned around despite seeing a beautiful array of American flags and joy in the faces of all the swimmers.
Back at the campground, we played beer pong and brought our tambourines down to live music that brought all the campers to the patio.
Next day we found a sandbar out in the Gulf where we ate sliders and basked in the sun; it was picturesque. That final evening, we drove a few miles to experience the Silver Dolphin with an attached candy store and secret garden full of odd, humorous art like giant ants and praying frogs. Dinner was good and made for a delicious end to our three-day adventure complete with mermaids and friends.
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