Highway 41...Day 6...A Sentimental journey

Even tho it took most of the day to wind my way down to Estero and Bonita Beach...I finally made it to where Mom and Dad spent their winters. It's the first time I've been here without either of them...and sunset found me at their favorite beach and quite sentimental and meloncholy in a beautiful sort of way (the same effect sunsets have on me).

I miss them.

Favorite sites of the day:
Outside my door at the Sundial Motel, I see a permanet resident that looks like a long lost relative. At check out, I chat it up with the owner and borrow a vintage post card of the place and create a page of the the upcoming "then and now" book:
The Sundial Motel (formerly The Holiday) then and now.

And more fabulous roadside art:












The pavement that I dropped the camera on...fortunatly it seems to be unharmed.






In Fort Meyers I see one of the kitschiest motels yet. Complete with every lawn ornament and symbol known to vintage Florida.
People, I'm telling you....God is in the kitsch.

This fabulous landmark, lets me know I'm in Estero and tells me it's almost time to turn right. Believe me, it's the only thing that looks familiar as Estero has turned into one continuous strip mall. : (
Mariner's Cove
10 m.p.h. ~ Bingo at the hall. ~ 7:30 am coffee clutch ~ Tackle boxes and fishermen ~ Three wheeled bikes ~ Evening card games ~ Boat docks ~ Orange blossom scent in the air ~ Lazy days ~ Shuffle board courts.

Mom and Dad's old stomping grounds.

I see them on every corner. I recognize everything, but recognize no one. I stop to see Faith, but she must be out and about. I take a drive by shot of their old trailer, but later realize I think I'm one lot off.

I take one last spin around and drive out...off to drown my sentimentalness in the ocean.

Directions to here:

"Remember everything, she said, when only memory remains." (Adam Duritz ~ Counting Crows)

highway 41...Day 5...Sarasota at Sunset

Mission accomplished at Weekie Wachee, I pulled out of the parking lot and headed south on 41.

It was all twizzlers, chips, cokes, Americana playlist on the ipod and shots of motel signs until the sun set in Sarasota and I stopped at the Sundial Motel, my home for the night.

For those of you who know how I chose my mechanic in Indy, (Mr. Bendo), here's where I'd go in Florida.




The Doors...

I'm really liking this new series.







Think "break on thru to the other side" by, of course, The Doors, as the soundtrack.




The farther south, the more mobile home parks I see, and I feel the first pang of missing those two snowbirds.







Decisions, Decisions...too much neon and googie 50's architecture to choose from.
I end up at the Sundial Motel...and am treated to ice from the owners personal fridge, vintage bathroom tile and high speed wireless internet...that was unadvertised, but greatly appreciated.









Goodnite, Sarasota.

highway 41...Day 5...bobble and the mermaids!

Here it is Folks!


It's survived the condo-ization of Florida.
It's 70 years old.
It pre-dates Mickey
It's Florida Kitsch at it's best.
It's the Mermaid show at Weekie Wachee.










If I remember my mom's story I think the last time I was at Weekie Wachee...was 1964 before I was born, as in the womb. Or maybe I made that story up? I'm not sure, but my siblings had seen the show and it's taken me 42 years, but I finally took it in...and yes, it was all I thought it would be !I'll tell you, these girls are "in shape" as Tim in Orlando told me...and not only are they in shape, but they are really talented and great athletes. And the smallness of the place is charming and it has Mom and Pop style integrity. For example, the performers (mermaids) not only give the performance, but also clean the theatre after the show. And I'm not making this up, I have video to prove it, the mermaids are "proud to be americans" and they prove it by flying the stars and stripes...need I remind you they perform underwater? You get the picture?

Yes, Weekie Wachee may be a small park and it may be struggling to survive in the shadow the new Florida, but it is ALL heart and I loved it.










A retired mermaid serves up popcorn and Mermaid Carlie serves up Florida traditional Kitsch. Ex-mermaids still come back for special shows and reunions of the "Soroity of Sirens."





Bobble and the iguana at the animal show. Mermaid Kerri on dry land.


















How Mermaids move on dry land.


Me and Mermaid Nikki.

Directions to here:

Weekie Wachee is Roadside Americana at its best.
But like many other Roadside Attractions, they are in trouble. Money is not covering their expenses and repairs needed on the underground springs and theater. This will be a big year for them as their fate will be decided at the end of the year. For more history and information on the "save our tails" campaign go here: http://mermaid.weekiwachee.com/

Highway 41...Day 5...the morning drive

Bobble and I said goodbye to the Bontekoes in the morning and they headed to church and we headed back to the gulf coast for our date with the mermaids. After driving almost 1,000 miles and only making 1 or 2 wrong turns and getting "lost" (mostly winding roads) in horse farms (who knew Florida had so many), HOW and I mean how...can this girl get turned around on a simple turnpike? Yes, I missed the exit for the Interstate I wanted and somehow ended up farther south from the road that would take us to the mermaids and the show that started at 1:30 pm. After changing my mind several times on whether to put Weekie Wachee off for another day, I put the Crown Vic in police mode and sped, as in V-8 sped, passing cars left and right to get to the park on time. The park, as in Weekie Wachee, not THE park as in:
Yep, that's all Bobble and I saw of Disney World...as we knew where the real Florida awaits. We pulled into Weekie Wachee, parked, paid and had 7 minutes to spare before the first show "Fish Tales" began.7 minutes til mermaids and counting......!!

Highway 41...Day 4...Relaxin' in Orlando

Thanks to the kindness and phone calls of the ever capable Peggi, I didn't have to resort to converting the Vic into a convertible to get cooled off. We started the day dropping the Vic off to get the air fixed. I wish audio blogger was still available so you could hear the authentic, thick accent of the Irish mechanics at Shamrock. Peggi and I explored all the antique and thrift shops in the cute town of St. Cloud while the guys worked on the car. On the way back home, I passed three ladies on the classic Florida three wheelers. These ladies made me laugh out loud as I was reminded of the folks at Mariner's Cove. This was the drive by shooting:
Spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing with the Bontekoe's in their wonderful home. Tim's favorite spot..."the room," is worthy of his media affections and impressed me very much, enough so, that I considered spending the rest of my vacation staying here and watching movies.















Peggi's favorite spot, I think, is the patio...a perfect place to relax and begin training to be a professional dart thrower. I'm considering it as my next big career move.













According to dart pro, Tim, the red bullseye is not the highest score on the board. Who knew? After he told me it was the 20 - red slot, I hit it everytime.

Spent Saturday night catching up with the Guilford's.
I adore Matt and Betsy. Adore.
Matt is a terrific humble artist and makes drawing look effortless. Betsy makes numbers bend, combine and stand in line at attention on a spread sheet like nobody's business. But what I like most about them is that they are themselves. Real, funny, deep, kooky and completely themselves. Did I mention I adore them?

Went to bed dreaming of Mermaids as tomorrow is back to 41 and on to Weekie Wachee!

Directions to here:
Orlando...why are you so far away from Indy?
Having caught up with good friends, I wish these two cities were closer together.
Regardless I am blessed by these good people. Thank you friends, for a wonderful visit !