The Wandering Disciple

A group of peaceful protesters make their voices be heard during a rally in Tampa.  They got the ears of Tampa mayor Jane Castor and police chief Brian Dugan during talks outside a protest in north Tampa.  The rally sought an understanding and change during a time of racial and social injustice in the country.  The Tampa rally is one of many across the country following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.  (Photo: May 30, 2020)

A pair of Guenon play around at ZooTampa. After weeks of COVID-19 quarantine, the Guenon and the rest of the animals of the zoo are ready to monkey around for guests. ZooTampa reopened to guests yesterday with limited capacity and social distancing requirements. If you want to see all the zoo's animals, make a reservation and head over to the zoo for a fun filled day with the animals. (Photo: May 30, 2020)

Tampa, Florida: Originally had plans to visit ZooTampa when they opened today, but we were greeted by a large check-in line. So rather then head back home, we modified our plans and came up with a few other things to do before heading to the zoo later in the day. This first stop was a planespotting trip to Tampa International. Flight volume was still low due to the COVID pandemic but we did manage to get a few planes photographed. Here is a look at what we saw today: N126HR – Gulfstream V   N276WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N280WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines/Missouri One)  N373FX – Embraer Phenom 300  N393DA – Boeing 737-800 (Delta Air Lines)  N415UP – Boeing 757-200 (UPS)  N431WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N434AS – Boeing 737-900 (Alaska Airlines)  N446WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)   N553WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N5113A – Boeing 737-800 (Southern A...

A group of wading birds enjoy a feeding frenzy along the banks of the Myakka River.  On any given day, wading birds like these spoonbills, ibis, and herons enjoy the bounty that the riverfront provides.  There are great places along the river at Myakka River State Park to watch these birds at work.  Because of the great wildlife watching opportunities in the park, Myakka River State Park is a designated stop along the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.  (Photo: November 13, 2016)

The fire service has a rich history filled with traditions. For as long as fire engines have been in service, almost 300 years, they have have been traditionally red. Ask any child to draw a fire truck and you can pretty much bet the truck will be red. But in recent years, some department have merged to a lime green/yellow paint scheme for their apparatus. This is actually for safety, there have been plenty of studies conducted that have proven the lime green/yellow color is easier to see at night and at day. In fact, a four year study in Dallas put the lime green/yellow to the test against the traditional red. The report of the study released 1995 showed that the Dallas Fire Department's red engines were three times as likely to be involved in an accident than the lime green/yellow. This study was then extended out to nine more cities and it still showed the lime green/yellow engines to be involved in less traffic crashes. Pictured here is an engine from the Lee County Por...

Fort Myers, Florida: The flight scheduled continue to be slow due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but things are starting to pick up a bit. A few more aircraft movements have been seen around the field. Due to my schedule, there wasn’t much to photography however there were a few hidden gems including a diverted DHL cargo plane from Miami and a few touch and go maneuvers from a US Navy P-8 from Maryland. Here is a look at what I saw this week at Southwest Florida International Airport: 167955 – P-8 Poseidon (US Navy)  HP-1910DAE – Boeing 757-200 (DHL Aero Expreso)  N68RF – Beechcraft Super King Air 350 (NOAA)  N133VS – Learjet 45  N196UW – Airbus A321 (American Airlines)  N445UP – Boeing 757-200 (UPS)  N683DA – Boeing 757-200 (Delta Air Lines)  N78511 – Boeing 737-800 (United Airlines)  N87353 – Embraer 175 (Mesa Airlines/United Express)  Click on the photo above to view these and the rest of the Southwest Florida International A...

Standing on the edge of Hammock Park, the Andrews Memorial Chapel has served the residents of Dunedin for over 130 years. The Chapel is named after William Andrews, a resident that was killed while riding a horse during a violent storm. The original church was built on the corner of Highland and Scotland but was relocated to its present location at the entrance to Hammock Park in 1970. The Dunedin Historical Society orchestrated the move which required the church to be cut in two and reassembled. Following a restoration, the church reopened as a popular wedding venue. (Photo: May 24, 2020)

Fort Myers, Florida: Spent a little time this week around Page Field. I didn’t get to see too much during the time I was onsite but I did manage to get picture of a new aircraft and charter airline I have yet to see, Air Key West’s BN-2 Islander. Here is a look at what I saw this week at Page Field: N517A – Piper Cherokee  N521AF – Cessna Skylane  N685KW – Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander  N933MA – Embraer Phenom 100  Click on the photo above to view these and the rest of the Page Field photo gallery .

This Memorial Day we stop, reflect and pay tribute to those who gave all in protecting our freedoms. The American flag blows not by the wind in the air but by the last breath of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Take a moment to remember that we are free because of them. (Photo: November 25, 2018)

Boats line up along the historic sponge docks of Tarpon Springs. The waters off the docks are filled with boats ranging from fishing charters, sightseeing tours and pleasure crafts. This busy little port near the Gulf of Mexico has a rich sponging history that dates back to the late 1800's. While the industry has changed throughout the years, the Greek influence can be seen up and down the docks and neighboring shops and restaurants. There are plenty of ways to take in the history of the sponge docks including a cruise on the St Nicholas, where you can watch a Greek descendant demonstrate how they dove for sponges. (Photo: May 24, 2020)

Tampa, Florida: For the first time in a few weeks, I managed to make a trip to Tampa International Airport. Well the COVID-19 travel restrictions have struck TPA hard as well. Most of the floors of the parking garage were closed and the open floors were mostly empty. In the time we were there, we saw no commercial aircraft arrivals or departures. There were plenty of planes parked with engine covers on. On the MRO ramp, there were a few Thomas Cook Airlines Airbus A321 undergoing the changeover to JetBlue and a West Atlantic cargo plane obstructed on the ramp. It was kinda depressing to see a busy airport come to a crawl like this. Here is a look at what we saw around the ramp during our visit: N461UP – Boeing 757-200 (UPS)  N494WN – Boeing 737-700 (Southwest Airlines)  N861UP – Beechcraft Super King Air 350  N901JT – Airbus A321 (Thomas Cook Airlines)  N930JL – Airbus A321 (Thomas Cook Airlines)  N13227 – Boeing 737-800 (United Airlines)...

A little campfire provides some light in the night sky. A cozy campfire is a is a great way to cap off a day of wilderness exploring at Oscar Scherer State Park, part of the Florida State Park system. Located along the west coast of Florida, Oscar Scherer is known for its population of Florida Scrub Jays, an endangered bird found in scrub habitats in Florida. The park features miles of hiking trails and a full campground. (Photo: November 12, 2016)

Is it a Czechoslovakian made L-39 or an F-14 Tomcat from the US Navy. Well kinda both. This unique L-39 with a US Navy's F-14 Tomcat paint scheme rockets out of Page Field this week. But this L-39, built in 1984, never saw military action and has spent its life in the civilian world sporting a pretty slick livery that pays tribute to the popular F-14 that was retired by the Navy in 2006. (Photo: May 21, 2020)

A Western Global cargo plane departs Southwest Florida International Airport into a line of morning rain and storms on Tuesday morning. Based at RSW, Western Global operates a fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and Boeing 747 freight planes used to service contracts worldwide. In addition to the hub in Fort Myers, WGA also operates a maintenance facility in Shreveport. On this departure, N546JN was headed to Anchorage, Alaska before flying across the Pacific to China. (Photo: May 19, 2020)

Preserving history can be a painstaking task. But preserving history that continues to fly and perform week after week over 70 years after being built, that is a non-stop task. Here a pilot of a T-28 Trojan makes a few mechanical repairs before this Vietnam era fighter takes to the skies as part of the Warbird Review during the 2016 Florida International Air Show. (Photo: October 23, 2016)

The Twin Tigers perform their twilight routine during the night show of the 2016 Florida International Air Show at the Punta Gorda Airport. Pilots Mark Sorenson and Mark Nowosielsk take the Russian built Yak-55 across the country to fly a dazzling aerial aerobatic show in front of thousands each weekend. Their routine was awarded the coveted Bill Barber Award for Showmanship in 2019. (Photo: October 21, 2016)

Vice President Joe Biden steps off Air Force Two in Sarasota, Florida during the 2016 presidential election race. Then Vice President, Biden was in town to render support for Democratic hopefully Hillary Clinton as she bid for the White House. Fast forward to 2020 and Biden will be in the campaign trail once again, this time as the Democratic nominee for President. (Photo: October 3, 2016)

Tampa Bay Rays minor league coach Craig Albernaz waves a runner home during a fall instructional game in 2016. As a player, Albernaz was a catcher in the Rays farm system. He spent nine season in the minor league, eight with the Rays and one with the Detroit Tigers, reaching as high as Triple-A. When he retired as a player, he went into coach and coached in the Rays system before being called up to the major to be the bullpen coach for the San Francisco Giants. (Photo: September 30, 2016)

The Venice High School Indians take to the field under the lights of Powell-Davis Field during a 2016 high school football game. This year many high school sports were sidelined due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most spring athletes saw there seasons cancelled just a few games into the season and now the discussions are on the table about the fate of fall sports. While we all miss being side by side and supporting our favorite teams, we will be back there again soon. Until then, stay safe! (Photo: September 23, 2016)

Since starting at the airport fire department, I have noticed a little fox squirrel that hangs around the station. I have tried and tried to get a picture of him, but he never really trusted me enough to get close. In fact it almost seemed like a game, he would hang out until I got my camera and then take off. Well yesterday we reached a plateau in our friendship for him to finally pose for a photo. Here he is, our fire station fox squirrel. (Photo: May 14, 2020)

A lone box car fills up the rotunda of the Florida Holocaust Museum as a solemn reminder of a dark era in World history. This was the final journey for many persecuted Jews as they met their fate at Hitler’s concentration camps. It is a painful but necessary reminder to make sure these heinous acts are never conducted again. (Photo: September 23, 2016)

Tampa Bay Rays minor league prospect Andrew Velazquez charges home after being waved home by his coach during a Fall Instructional League game in 2016. While COVID-19 continues to keep players off the field, there are talks going on behind the scenes with clubs and the league regarding the start of the season possibly in July. But until then, there are plenty of photos from past games to keep the baseball spirit alive. (Photo: September 19, 2016)

Look up, it’s the Red Baron. Well not the World War I ace Red Baron, but the bi-plane sponsored by Red Baron Pizza. This was once part of the Red Baron Squadron, an aerial aerobatic team founded in 1979. The four ship team would travel the country demonstrating what life was like for prospective fighter pilots as they learned the basics in the Navy and Army Air Force trainers. The team suffered a catastrophic accident in 1998 and resulted in the team being disbanded. One of the remain planes is pictured here on display at MOSI but would later be moved to the Florida Air Museum at Lakeland Linder Airport. (Photo: September 11, 2016)

Fried shrimp, grilled shrimp, shrimp scampi. It’s all plated up and ready to fulfill the appetite of any hungry shrimp lover. This is the Shrimp Trio platter at Shrimp Shack in Fort Myers. Shrimp may be the star of the menu, but they have enough yummy seafood to feed everyone in the family. (Photo: May 8, 2020)

In a city in which phonograph creator Thomas Edison lived in the winter, it is only fitting that the art of music and the music lover come alive in a sculpture entitled Melomano. Created by Colombian sculpture Edgardo Carmona, Melomano is part of a twenty-five piece sculpture collection dotting the sidewalks and parks of downtown Fort Myers. (May 8, 2020)

The Blue Angels may be flying over cities on the east coast of Florida, a Great Blue Heron decided to do its own flyover as it soared through the swamp at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. Despite being the largest wading bird, the Great Blue Heron is a majestic flier, making flight look effortless for such a large bird. (Photo: May 8, 2020)

A red-shouldered hawk looks over the boardwalk at Six Mile Cypress Preserve. The wooden boardwalk takes visitors on a stroll through the preserve where you encounter several distinct ecosystems and the animals that call that ecosystem home. This hawk was spotted within an arm's length from the boardwalk, patiently perched on the tree watching the surroundings. (Photo: May 8, 2020)

Fort Myers, Florida: As Florida begins Phase I reopening as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a few of Florida’s natural gems have started to open. We took advantage of this and practiced our social distancing skills during a wildlife hike at Six Mile Cypress Preserve. The park was rather empty for a weekend and we enjoyed a nice leisurely stroll to the preserve. We have been coming to this park for years and this was the driest I have even seen the park. Much of the swamp and ponds were dry or mostly dry. Hopefully this weekend’s rain will help replenish some of the park’s waterways. During today’s trip, we saw: American Alligator  Black Crowned Night Heron  Eastern Gray Squirrel  Florida Softshell Turtle  Great Blue Heron  Great Egret  Limpkin  Northern Cardinal  Red-bellied Woodpecker  Red Shouldered Hawk  Roseate Spoonbill  Snowy Egret  Tricolored Heron  Tufted Titmouse  Wood Duck...

A clouded leopard hangs from the top of its habitat at ZooTampa. Found in the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains and mainland Southeast Asia, the clouded leopard is a wild cat who that is decreasing in the wild with fewer than 10,000 mature cats remaining. Zoo programs like the one in ZooTampa house these playful cats in captivity hoping to preserve the species through conservation. Each year on August 4th, the world celebrates the Clouded Leopard with International Clouded Leopard Day. (Photo: September 4, 2016)

Florida is a collection of people from all over the country and the influence of their hometown can be found throughout the state. Take this building here in the heart of Safety Harbor. Here the wrought iron facade of the French Quarter is recreated in this two story building in the middle of town. (Photo: May 1, 2020)

Time moves at a slower pace when you living on island time. The cares of the world slip away with a little bit of Vitamin Sea thanks to the bright Florida sun and the warm coastal waters. This island oasis is the north end of Pine Island in a small little town called Bokeelia. (Photo: May 3, 2020)

One year and $102 million dollars later, the Toronto Blue Jays had a new look for their thirty year old spring home in Dunedin, Florida. At the conclusion of spring training 2019, work began on renovations to both the main stadium and their nearby practice facility. By the time spring training rolled around in 2020, the Blue Jays were greeted with a new look to their southern home. The updated TD Ballpark featured a bunch of enhancements to the fan experience inclduing new seating options, new team store, renovated suites, 360 degree boardwalk, new videoboard and sound system and expanded concession. Unfortunately the inaugural season of TD Ballpark was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the stadium sits ready to host the Blue Jays and their minor league affiliate Dunedin Blue Jays for the years to come. (Photo: May 1, 2020)

A European Starling splashes in the backyard birdbath during a spring shower. With so many parks and wildlife refuges closed due to COVID-19, the backyard has been the place to go to watch wildlife. During this spring afternoon shower, six bird species were seen playing in the rain in the yard. (Photo: April 30, 2020)

Just outside Safety Harbor, along the north shore of Old Tampa Bay lies a short but picturesque drive. This canopy road through Philippe Park, the oldest county park in Pinellas County. This 122-acre park is rich in history. It was named after the county's first non-native settler, Count Odet Philippe, who introduced grapefruit to the state of Florida. But before Philippe, the area now encompassing the park had a vast Native American history. This was once home to the Tocobaga Indians and an Indian mound still remains here at the park. It was also believed that Pedro Menedez de Aviles, founder of St Augustine, visit here in 1566 to broker a peace truce between the local Tocobaga and the neighboring Calusa. The history of the park is preserved through Pinellas County and through the National Register of Historic Places. (Photo: May 1, 2020)

In 1930, George Jenkins set out to create a grocery shopping experience like no other. It was his third store he opened in downtown Winter Haven would be the one that would set Publix Super Market ahead of the rest and lead the chain to become one of the top grocery stores in the country. In 1940, this store was conserved the Food Palace as it featured many amenities not seen in other stores. Air conditioning, fluorescent lighting, frozen food cases and the electric-eye door, a feature that no other store offered. Combine that with the pastel colors, terrazzo tiles and soft music, Publix instantly became where shopping was a pleasure. The 1940’s Publix remained in operation until it was replaced with a newer store in 1957. Today the store remains along Central Avenue in downtown Winter Haven. (Photo: April 26, 2020)