We saw a lot on our trip up the west coast of Florida, but these two scenes stand out:
A parade of bicycles, all of the riders in vintage dress, as we pulled up to our hotel in downtown St. Petersburg. One man pedaled in boater and bow tie; another, in a white cap, rode a unicycle. Inside I asked the receptionist what the occasion was and he said, unimpressed, that the group frequently gathers to ride through the city.
The blue water of Three Sisters Springs in Crystal River darkly dotted with manatees. From the boardwalk rimming the springs, we looked down on dozens of lolling sea cows. Occasionally one would poke its snout above the surface and make a soft snorting sound. Walking to the end of the boardwalk, we came to the narrow channel that connects the springs to the river, and here watched as manatees swam seemingly effortlessly from one body of water to the other.
