Amanda and I escaped the winter chill for a week in St. Petersburg, Florida. The city lies within Pinellas County, which includes more island municipalities, all interconnected by some 400 bridges. The most recognizable span is the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which took five years (1982-1987) to construct. The bridge is more than four miles long, linking Terra Ceia in Manatee County with St. Petersburg.

I went to Fort De Soto Park one morning to watch the sun emerge behind the iconic bridge from a deserted East Beach.

From our place on Isla Del Sol, we had a great view of the Tierra Verde bridge, illuminated in purple and gold to show unity with the embattled nation of Ukraine.

Someone suggested that I check out the view from under the bridge. It turned out to be a great tip, offering a unique perspective on the structure and its flowing architecture. However, I was more interested in the other people I found there.

Matt, a former US Army Ranger, was piloting his paraglider over the bay, eventually executing a silky-smooth landing directly under the bridge. His SUV was parked there, sporting a wind sock atop a small mast, helping Matt assess the wind speed and direction.

At the same time, Timmy was sitting in the bed of his pickup truck, quietly strumming a six-string. He is a former firefighter and paramedic. He told me he comes here to “get lost” in the tranquil sunsets and escape the daily chaos. Without words, he reaches out to his mother, Patty, who passed away about two years ago, providing updates on her grandson, Charles.

I can’t help but wonder what’s going on under the other 399 bridges.