Manatees everywhere!

Today ended my extended birthday.  Of course, Michael had to remind me that today was also the first day of my 72nd year.  I never think about it that way, probably for self preservation.  Anyway, we took the kayaks to Crystal River out on the gulf and over to the Three Sisters Springs where the manatees winter. It was pretty crowded there, with the Manatee Festival taking place at the same time there. Kayak rentals were doing a great business as well as the pontoon boat tours and snorkelers swimming among the manatees.

I tried to be sure not to disturb any of the manatees and let my boat just glide by them, but you couldn't help going right over them, too, there were so many.  You can see them in the water in front of my kayak. They're pretty cute when they surface for air with their snouts stretching out.

After we came back to shore and secured the boats on top of the car, we walked over to the festival.  I have to hand it to Michael, that part he was not looking forward to and was only lured there by the aromas and promise of food.  He took it all so well. We walked the entire festival after eating a cold, over priced, pulled pork sandwich then headed back home ready for a well deserved rest.

We intend to have a restful afternoon tomorrow (it is Biblical, you know) after church, the annual meeting there and taking communion to the shut ins. We have been on the go pretty much, with movie(great) and dinner(delicous) last night.  Now it's dinner at Nancy's tonight.  Guess I'd better go jump in the shower.