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10 Phone: 813-949-4411 “Say Got It From A Dunndeal Publication” February 2012
WINNERS! Paula Blickle • Nikki Doyle • Marilyn Bravo • Scott Shellabarguer • Gary Kaylor • Nevin Wang • Ellen Edelson • Helen Miskimen • E. Vance Cox
Life on the Weeki Wachee River
Article and photography by Jeffrey Neil Fox
WINNERS!
The Weeki Wachee River is one of the best places to
kayak in the world today.
My wife Sara and I have been blessed and
live in a stilt home overlooking the pristine
Weeki Wachee River in Florida. The headspring
of the river is where the Weeki Wachee
Mermaid Park is located about an hour
north of Tampa. You can actually see mermaids
perform shows in a huge glass tank,
right where millions of gallons of crystal
clear fresh water gushes out of the ground.
The spring is fed from the aquifer and is a
constant 72 degrees year-round.
The river gets its name from how it winds out
to the Gulf of Mexico. I’m told that “Weeki Wachee”
is Indian talk that translates into “Winding
River.” Our homestead is midway between
the headspring of the mermaid park and the
mouth of the river where it spills into the Gulf.
I find it mystical to see millions of gallons of
fresh water flow past our dock and then out
to the Gulf of Mexico. The river goes up and
down and is affected by the tides. If you’re a
crow, we are upriver about a mile and a half
from where the river greets the Gulf.
The pristine river boils with wildlife. Many
creatures are year-round residents and make
the river their permanent home and then
there are the tourist animals that migrate to
the fresh water on a seasonal basis. Kayaking,
swimming, tubing and idle speed boating
are the modes of transportation for humans.
We have the best of both worlds with
the fresh spring river water in our backyard
and then the saltwater of the Gulf of Mexico
a short cruise downriver. Each environment
attracts many species of fish, birds, mammals,
insects and other creatures. Many of
the animals enjoy the saltwater environment
of the Gulf and mix it up with the fresh water
of the river. We see many saltwater fish in
the river that have acclimated themselves to
the fresh water. I’m amazed at all the different
species of birds that call the Weeki Wachee
home. Hundreds of vultures roost in
the tall trees at night and refresh themselves
in the clear river water. Vultures are the sign
of death. Where there is death there is life.
The wildlife I see is abundant and healthy.
I think the most intriguing attraction of the
Weeki Wachee River is the many manatees
that make the river their paradise home. During
the winter, we do get an influx of tourist
mammoth sea cows that are attracted to the
warm river water. The Gulf of Mexico waters
drop below 70 degrees during the winter
months and the manatees are attracted to the
Manatees love the warm fresh water of the Weeki
Wachee River.
warmer water of the river. I’ve named many
of the resident manatees and recognize them
from the boat scars they have endured from
propellers of motorboats. Manatees are vegetarians
and like to graze on the eelgrass that
is plentiful in the river. We see many baby
manatees, juveniles and giant elders. It’s
against the law to harass or impede the progress
of a manatee. Usually, when you see
one manatee, there are more close by. They
do pack up and travel together. I’ve seen as
many as eight manatees together downriver
relaxing in the deepwater ledges of Fish
Hospital Hole, which is 150 feet deep. I like
to watch them surface every few minutes to
get air. There is something special to see a
manatee in a pristine, natural environment.
They all look very healthy sans some scars
from boat propellers. The river is a no-wake
zone and all motorboats have to cruise at
idle speed. The baby manatees usually swim
along side or underneath their mother and
are protected from the propellers that can do
so much damage quickly.
Come kayak the Weeki. You’ll want to become
my neighbor.
Jeffrey Neil Fox has covered the Tampa
Bay Sports scene and fan culture for 4 decades.
He is a great enthusiast of the great
outdoors. Fox and his wife Sara own the
Authentic Team Merchandise Retail Super
Store “It’s Bucs and Bulls Heaven” at 14823
N. Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613. 813-
908-2827 www.AuthenticTeamMerchandise.
com www.GearUpForTheGame.com www.
JeffreyNeilFox.com Fox is an accomplished
motivational speaker and he publishes a
popular fan guide “Gear Up For the Game.”
BucMag@aol.com.
Vultures ride the thermals.