Hunting for Wild Mermaids!

Not real hunting, but more like searching for wild Mermaids. I should tell you that I am a non-believer. I do not believe in the actual existence of mermaids, ghosts, witches etc. Now that I have that out of the way, what is a Weeki Wachee? It’s a beautiful river in Florida. The waters are so, so crystal clear, I could see the bottom down 15 feet deep or more, which makes it very easy to spot wild Mermaids, that is, if they’re actually real. Rumor has it that they're several wild Mermaids living on this river and they play tricks on you while paddling down. The water temperature averages in the mid seventies year round and the trip is approximately seven miles long and takes about 3 hours, which is perfect for wild Mermaid hunting. Also, you go with the flow. I like going with the flow.                                                                

I began by paddling down the Weeki Wachee with the family. One thing that I did learn on this trip and that is, “somebody can’t paddle and it’s not me.” Two canoes and only one person that can paddle properly, now that’s an adventure! Oh well, back to the story. I am thinking that wild Mermaid hunting is like Snipe hunting and I don’t want to be holding the bag, if you know what I mean. But I did feel a tug on the back of my shirt while paddling around a bend. Could it have been a wild Mermaid? Nah, probably a limb, and then up ahead I saw a few canoes gathered around an area in the river and I heard the word Mermaid.

My immediate thought was, paddle faster. But it took awhile because I had to help the other canoe. Miss Can’t Paddle At All and Mrs. Can’t Hardly Paddle spent most of their time cleaning and inspecting tree limps or collecting spiders near the bank of the river as most beginning paddlers do. Finely, after much struggle we made it. Dang, there’s no wild Mermaid. Its just some fish. No wait. It’s wild Manatees. Cool, two adults and one smaller manatee. They are just chilling under the water and every once in a while they come up for air. This is nearly as good as seeing Mermaids.

What a great Outdoor Adventure! We finished the trip and we never did see a wild Mermaid, but I can say that I saw wild Manatees, can you? Also, was that tug on my shirt a Mermaid, I may never know? Remember "What’s in your woods, lake, river, or bay?" Get out and find out! LEO.