My first Manatee
What started out as a meandering ride took shape as a group of 30ish bikers swept past me along 3rd St. S, I followed/gave chase until I reach 39th Ave S and was stopped by a red light. As I worked my way back north there was nothing much of interest at the airport, docks by USF,or at The Pier. As I passed through Vinoy park I did unintentionally scare a pair of women engrossed in conversation…”On your Left”…. Passing through North Shore Park I saw a few pooches and then I was at Coffee Pot Park gazing into the water watching the first manatees I found in the wild. You can see the white marks on their back from boat encounters. A small turtle also mugged for the camera. About that time Kurt Z from Kayak Nature called asking about the tanker truck turnover I photographed yesterday. Turns out 4,000+ gallons of diesel fuel were dumped and Kurt is thinking that a good portion may have gone into the storm drains and will be flowing through Clam Bayou very soon. A quick stop at Rollin Oats and I pointed the bike back home.
It was a fun ride and I am super excited to have seen manatees. Can’t wait to see what other surprise wild natural Florida holds!
- Cleaning up North Shore Park
- Part two of the beach redux
- Happy happy canines
- Great Dane out for a walk
- Curious adults
- It's pointing away from you, notice the white scars from boat impacts
- Turtle
- Female manatee
- Female manatee and what looks like two calves
- Runners in Coffee Pot Park




















