The Wandering Disciple

A red-winged blackbird stares back at the camera as it crosses across the ramp at the Southwest Florida International Airport. Easily identifiable by their bright red markings on the top of the wing, the red-winged blackbird can be found throughout North and Central America. It is believed to be one of the most abundant land birds in North American and can usually be found along water marshes both fresh and salt water. The male, pictured here, feature the iconic red wing while the females are more brown and streaky. (Photo: July 27, 2020)

A windy country road in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains makes for a scenic afternoon drive. This back road outside Marshall, North Carolina provided a scenic backdrop for one of the excursions during out 2017 summer road trip. Getting off the highways and exploring back roads and small towns are one of my favorite parts of our road trip vacations. (Photo: June 13, 2017)

Braves minor leaguer Randy Ventura rounds second and digs from third during a South Atlantic League game in 2017. Signed as an international free agent by the Atlanta Braves in 2015, Ventura has spent five seasons in the minor league system, split between the Braves and the Cincinnati Reds organizations. Prior to the COVID-19 hiatus Ventura was with the Daytona Tortugas, the Advanced-A affiliate of the Reds in the Florida State League. (Photo: June 12, 2017)

Eating greens is a special treat, It makes long ears and great big feet. But it sure is awful stuff to eat." That is one of the many famous lines about life as spoken by Thumper during the 1942 Disney classic Bambi. While the cartoon Thumper may not have liked his greens, this Eastern Cottontail sure does. (Photo: July 15, 2020)

When George Vanderbilt II envisioned his mountain getaway, he envisioned a grande mansion in a park like setting. So he set forth to make his vision a reality and entrusted Frederick Law Olmsted with developing the landscape of the Biltmore. Olmsted, the architect of great projects like Central Park in NYC and the US Capitol in DC, developed a stunning lanscape of manicured forests and colorful gardens that continues to impress visitors to the Biltmore to this day. (Photo: June 12, 2017)

Asheville has always been known for its unique style, this little mountain town has something for everyone. But they quirky little city in the mountains takes on a different feel after dark. While craft beer scene heats up in the many pubs, the haunted history comes to life as well. One way to experience this side of Asheville is through the Haunted Asheville walking tour. One of the stops on the tour is Church Street where they paved over a cemetery enhancing the paranormal energy in the area. On Church Street sits the Central United Methodist Church, where a ghostly nun still roams the church. (Photo: June 11, 2017)

After commanding 25 missions in the famed Memphis Belle during the European theater of World War II, Asheville native Robert Morgan decided to put on a little show for his hometown. During a publicity tour in his hometown of Asheville, Captain Morgan lined the B-17 up along Patton Avenue in the heart of downtown Asheville. He pitched the wings 60 degree and split the middle of the Buncombe County Courthouse and Asheville City Hall, a mere 50 feet apart. This feat is memorialized in a monument located between these two building. (Photo: June 12, 2017)

The terrain of the Carolinas transition from flat coastal plains to foothill mountains as I-26 crosses from the low country of Charleston to mountains of North Carolina. The further west you travel the higher the elevations you encounter as you make your way to the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you continue north on I-26 into North Carolina, you will eventually arrive in Asheville, our destination during this summer road trip. This photo was taken outside Columbus North Carolina, near the North/South Carolina border. (Photo: June 11, 2017)

A baby Canada goose imitates its mama as it crosses the street at the Englewood Sport Complex. The Canada Goose, primarily found in Canada as its name implies, can be found throughout North America as it migrates during the seasons. As the weather turns colder, the geese can be seen in its iconic "V" formation, flying south for the winter. (Photo: May 6, 2017)

Well the public schools might not be in session but that doesn't stop this school of fish from taking a field trip swim up the Weeki Wachee River. The crystal clear waters of the Weeki Wachee River attract people and wildlife from all over to play in the cool and refreshing waters that are spring fed from a spring located within the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. In the cooler months, manatees seek refuge in the river as they escape the colder waters of the Gulf of Mexico. You can take in the beauty of the springs by taking a kayak trip from the state park and just leisurely coast down the river and enjoy the sights of the river. The first portion of the trip is in the protected waters of the state park where you can see true Florida beauty without development. Once exiting the park boundary, you are also free to exit your kayak and take a dip in the refreshing waters of the river. (Photo: April 29, 2017)

A brown pelican flies along the Gulf Coast at Service Club Beach in Venice, Florida. The brown pelican is a coastal mainstay in Florida, frequently seen flying above the sea looking for its next meal. Prevalent throughout the coastal regions of much of the United States, the brown pelican is a successful conservation story. Once endangered due to the use of DDT in the 70's, the population began to rebound following conservation efforts that banned the usage of DDT and other pesticides. (Photo: April 16, 2017)

A collection of Spanish coins and treasure sits on display in the La Florida exhibit at the Museum of Florida History located near the state capitol in Tallahassee. When the Spaniards settled in La Florida, they brought with them their riches. But the rough seas of the Atlantic Ocean had its way with the ships, sending a bunch of them to the ocean floor, treasures and all. Over the years, through the tidal currents and efforts of treasure hunters, these bounties can bee seen in museums throughout the state. The coins and riches found along the Atlantic Coast of Florida has led to the nickname, the Treasure Coast. (Photo: April 3, 2017)

Pulling out of D-concourse at Southwest Florida International Airport put me nose to nose with an Airbus A321 from JetBlue Airways. The A321 is the largest of the JetBlue fleet featuring 200 seats in a 3-3 layout. Manufactured by Airbus, the A321 entered into service in 1993 and there have been over 2, 091 units produced. (Photo: July 1, 2020)

Lake Seminole just outside the town of Sneads, Florida is where three rivers from three states meet. The lake is fed by the Chattahoochee River from Alabama and Georgia, the Flint River from Georgia and the Apalachicola River in Florida. The lake is the centerpiece of Three Rivers State Park, part of the Florida State Park system. (Photo: April 3, 2017)

The Gregory House sits on some of the best property in the Florida Panhandle. Sitting atop the limestone bluffs over looking the Apalachicola River and surrounded by the rare Florida Nutmeg Trees, it is prime real estate. That is why Jason Gregory decided to built his plantation here. Today the plantation house and the land around the house is part of the Torreya State Park, a 13,000 acre state park outside Bristol, Florida. The park features some of the most diverse landscapes in the state, ranging from river swamps to ravines and bluff. The park's elevation is 300 feet, a rarity to typically flat Florida. (Photo: April 2, 2017)

The Florida panhandle is known for geological features not found anywhere else in the state. A few days ago we spotlighted the Florida Caverns, today we bring to you the state's biggest waterfall. You may ask yourself how does a flat state have a 763 foot waterfall. Well it is courtesy of a 100 foot sinkhole in which a small stream flows into and cascades down the drop before reaching the bottom. The waterfall is reached on via a small boardwalk hike in which brings you close to this Florida wonder. Once a hideout for Seminole Indians, the waterfall later became power for a Civil War era Grist Mill, then a distillery and even at one point an oil well before becoming a state park in 1962. (Photo: April 2, 2017)

For such a small bird, the Northern Mockingbird packs a mighty punch. This mockingbird here in Fort Myers antagonizes a much larger hawk. Much of the aggression shown by the mockingbird is in defense of its nest. The mockingbird is known for its ability to mock sounds as its name implies. They can replicate sounds around there region, sounding like other birds, cats and even urban sounds. The Northern Mockingbird is the only mockingbird living in North American, with a range that extends from the United States through Central America. (Photo: July 6, 2020)