The Wandering Disciple

A willet plays in the surf along the shore of Manasota Beach in Englewood.  Shorebirds like this willet can be found along the surfline searching for food in the surf.  (Photo: March 14, 2016)

When this pig flies, the tropics are in turmoil and someone is under the gun for a dangerous tropical cyclone. Miss Piggy is a P-3 Orion flown by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Aircraft Operations division based at MacDill Air Force Base. The aircraft more commonly known as a Hurricane Hunter flies into the heart of tropical systems to gather data to help determine the path and intensity of storms, helping the staff at the National Hurricane Center make informed forecasts that help save lives and protect property.

The future of air superiority, the F-35 Lightning II sits on display at MacDill Air Fest. Developed by Lockheed-Martin, the F-35 is undergoing final development for use by the US Air Force, US Navy and US Marine Corps. The stealth aircraft features three models; conventional, short take-off/vertical landing and carrier based. (Photo: March 19, 2016)

A KC-135 Stratotanker from MacDill Air Force Base sits on static display at MacDill Air Fest. These giant aircraft provide aerial refueling support for global operations. Produced by Boeing, the KC-135 entered service in 1957, making it one of only a handful of aircraft to serve continuously for over 50 years. It is modelled after the Boeing 707 commercial passenger plane. The 414 aircraft operated by Air Mobility Command can be configured for aerial refueling operations of US military aircraft or as a medical evacuation aircraft. (Photo: March 19, 2016)

A CF-188 Hornet from the Royal Canadian Air Force makes the journey to the Sunshine State for the MacDill Air Fest. The CF-188’s are the Canadian equivalent to the USAF’s F-18 Hornet and are the fighter aircraft in the RCAF fleet. (Photo: March 19, 2016)

Englewood, Florida: The Key Agency Little League majors team improve to 3-0 with a 7-1 win over Lemon Bay Funeral home on Thursday night at Englewood Sports Complex. Key Agency was led by starting pitcher Cody Mayes who struck out 12 on the mound while going 2 for 2 and producing five of the team’s seven runs on the night. Key Agency jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Bryce Noll and Mayes drew walks to get things going. An RBI single by MJ Patrick followed by a two run single by Timmy Distefano made it 3-0. Key Agency made it 5-0 by scoring two more in the second inning. A two out rally got started following a single by Noll. An RBI single by Mayes would plate the first run of the inning. Mayes later scored on an RBI single by Patrick to increase the lead. Key Agency added a pair of runs again in the bottom of the fourth. Mayes delivered a single that scored Vestin Paul and Noll to make it 7-0. Lemon Bay broke up the shut-out by pushing across a lone run in t...

Looking down the business end of an A-10 Thunderbolt II can be one of the most intimidating sights for an enemy combatant. The A-10 deploys a 30mm cannon capable of firing 3,900 rounds of armor-piercing shells a minute. (Photo: March 19, 2016)

Englewood, Florida: A battle of the unbeaten major division teams excited Little League fans as Key Agency hosted Labadie Construction on Tuesday night at Englewood Sports Complex. Both teams entered the evening contest without a loss. A dominating starting pitching performance combined with a red-hot offense led to Key Agency ending the night with a big win. Key Agency jumped out to an early two run lead in the first inning. Cody Mayes got the inning started with a single to center. Mays moved into scoring position following a single by Bryce Noll. MJ Patrick broke the scoreless tie with a single to give them the lead. A wild pitch would score Noll to give Key Agency a 2-0 lead. Key Agency struck for three more runs in the second. Timmy Distefano singled to lead off the inning. A hart hit ball by Gabe Todaro scored Distefano. Donte Taylor took a pitch to the ribs to put runners on the corners for Key Agency. Taylor then moved into scoring position after stealing second....

Sarasota, Florida: As the 2016 minor league baseball season gets closer, the teams are out on the backfields of Florida and Arizona preparing for the season with a schedule of spring training exhibition games. Today the Frederick Keys hosted the Charlotte Stone Crabs at the Buck O’Neil Baseball Complex in Sarasota. While the purpose of the games is player development and not winning or losing, these games provide a great opportunity to watch some great baseball in a close setting. There is still plenty of roster shake-up expected to occur before the end of camp, so the players seen with these clubs may not be the actual players on the team when the season opens in early April. Click on the photo above to view my Stone Crabs/Keys photo gallery .

The B-29 Superfortress “FIFI” flies over South Brohard Beach in Venice, Florida. With over 11,000 B-29’s produced by Boeing, FIFI is the last remaining airworthy B-29. FIFI is operated and maintained by the Commemorative Air Force and travels the country during the Air Power History Tour. (Photo: March 6, 2016)

Bello Nock enterains the hometown crowd during the 2016 season of Circus Sarasota. Bello, a native of Sarasota, was named the Clown of the Year by Time Magazine and takes his routine of comedy and aerial acrobatic to people across the globe.  (Photo: February 24, 2016)

Rally Gator gets the crowd into the game at Ed Smith Stadium.  Rally Gator was the mascot of the Sarasota Reds during their time in Sarasota.  The team played in the Florida State League until the Reds moved their operations to Arizona in 2010.  (Photo: July 14, 2007)

A popular attraction, the Stanley Falls Flume has been entertaining visitors to Busch Gardens Tampa for many years.  The log flume attraction plummets riders to a splashdown, helping provide a refuge from the Florida heat.  (Photo: June 24, 2007)

An Airbus A319 operated by Frontier Airlines smokes the main landing gear as it touches down at Southwest Florida International Airport. (Photo: February 21, 2016)

The large oak tree that marks the beginning of the Richard Leiber trail at Highlands Hammock State Park is believed to be the oldest living thing in the park. History books date this oak as being over 1,000 years old. While it is no longer growing green leaves, the park has gone through great conservation efforts to ensure that this natural wonder is available for visitors to observe for years to come. (Photo: February 28, 2016)