It’s been 21 years in business – telling visitors to Tallahassee to take the short drive down to Wakulla Springs and see the largest fresh water springs in the USA. To see alligators in their native habitat. To experience ice cold water on a hot summer’s day. And oh, yes, to see manatees – those darling sea cows native to Florida.
And they often, many, many times, come home to the Little English Guesthouse beaming. Because they saw a Florida manatee!
From all over the world, they came, and they saw a manatee!
Or how about this, 37 years in Florida – and gazillions of trips to Wakulla Springs State Park. Sometimes just Thom and I, many times to entertain family and friends….never have I seen a manatee.
Never.
Not once.
Well, my friends, 2024 is going to be different. I decided this is the year I see a Florida manatee, live and up close.
A couple of weeks ago, we took off, headed south to check that off my proverbial list.
Wakulla Springs Lodge was as lovely as ever. Not many people around. The air was crisp and cool.
I was excited! We talked to the man selling tickets for the boat ride down the river.
Yes! A manatee had been seen that morning in the basin. My heart soared.
Sign us up, Scotty!
Alas, there was no room on the next boat – or the one after that. In fact, since the Covid pandemic, one could no longer just wander up, pay a minimal fee and get on a boat. It had to be booked in advance, either over the phone, or online.
Hopes dashed, heads hung low, we skulked away. How could there be a Florida manatee a few feet away from me, and I not be allowed to get in the river to see it?
We would have to take our chances another week (like maybe next week?), book our tickets online and just drive down there, and hope to see one.
We managed to get a table in the Wakulla Lodge dining room for lunch. That also required a pre-booking. What happened to the days of spontaneity and “just do it”?
Pandemic caused staff shortage, and supply chain issues – and now everything has to be planned, booked and organized.
Wish I were a manatee and could just swim somewhere else when the mood takes me.
But I”m not. So I shall plan, and prebook, and obviously, take a lot of boat rides down the Wakulla River (glad it’s not expensive!) until I see a manatee
Game on!
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