The Wandering Disciple

Fort Myers, Florida: Hope aboard the train and be transported back to the day when the rails were luxury transportation. Seminole Gulf Railway in Fort Myers is a functioning short line railroad that operates passenger excursions and dinner trains along with its freight fleet. Since 1991, the railway has operated passenger excursions out of their Colonial Station. Most nights of the week, they depart on a murder mystery dinner train. Riders take to the rails on four vintage railcars from the 1930’s to 1950’s. They have entertained over a half million rides in their history. They also operate a daytime excursion that takes riders on an hour and a half journey through Lee County passing through towns that flourished from the rails. The main function of the Seminole Gulf Railway is its freight service. Operating since 1987, the railroad took over tracks that were once operated by Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and Seaboard Air Line Railroad. They operate two lines, one from North Na...

Sarasota, Florida: Almost 7,000 fans packed Ed Smith Stadium on a sunny Sunday afternoon to watch the Cincinnati Reds face the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training exhibition game. Those fans enjoyed a great pitching duel between the Reds Edinson Volquez and the Phillies Brett Myers, but when the game was over, it was the Phillies holding on to a 6-2 victory. Both Volquez and Myers clinged to a shut-out through five innings of play. It wasn’t until bottom of the sixth inning when the scoreless tie would be broken. That’s when the Reds stuck for two runs to take the lead. Ken Griffey Jr drove home Juan Castro and Alvin Colina to give the Reds a 2-0 lead. The Phillies struck in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of the Reds bullpen, rocking both Gary Majewski and Todd Coffey. The Phillies used two hits and four walks to score three runs and take the lead 3-2. The Phillies added three more runs in the top of the ninth inning to ensure their victory. Brett Myers picked ...

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Phillies are a major league baseball team from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest single city professional sports team. The Phillies play in the Eastern Division of the National League and are two time world champions and have won seven National League pennants in their franchise history. The franchise was founded in 1883 as the Quakers. The name was soon changed to the Philadelphias which was ultimately shortened to the Phillies. The Phillies remained relatively quiet until the 1950’s. Their lone league pennant came in 1915. During this large stretch of mediocrity, the Phillies managed just one winning season from 1918-1948. With a new owner in 1943, the Phillies began to work their way out of the basement. The new leadership combined with exciting young players propelled the Phillies to win the NL pennant and sent them back to the World Series in 1950. But they fell apart following the season and struggled through the late 19...

Cincinnati, Ohio: The Cincinnati Reds are a major league baseball team from Cincinnati, Ohio and are a member of the central division of the National League. The Reds are five time world champions and won the National League pennant nine times in their history. They are the oldest team in professional baseball. They began play in 1866 as the Cincinnati Red Stocking and were originally an amateur team and gained professional status in 1869. The Red Stockings went 130 games in a row without a loss from 1869 to 1870 with the 1869 season being an undefeated season at 57-0. In 1870, the team relocated to Boston and became the Boston Red Stockings. The city of Cincinnati returned to professional with a new Red Stockings team in 1876. However the team was banned from the league in 1880 for serving beer to fans and renting their ballpark out on Sundays. The Red Stocking resurfaced again in 1882, this time in the American Association where they won the league title their first season. They pla...

Tampa, Florida: On the edge of the Serengeti Plain lies the home to the king of the jungle. The Edge of Africa is a walk-through safari that takes you face to face with lions and underwater with hippos. Opened in 1997, the Edge of Africa is an abandoned African fishing village on the edge of the Serengeti that is now home to many African animals. It is home to lemurs, hippos, crocodiles, hyenas, lions, vultures and meerkats. For more pictures, click on the picture above or visit my Busch Gardens photo page.