The Wandering Disciple

The giant cannons of Fort Desoto stand as a silent reminder of a past era, an age when coastal defense was paramount and the threat of naval invasion loomed large. These massive, immobile weapons, overlooking the confluence of the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, are a tangible link to the strategic military history of the region. Though they never fired a shot in combat, their mere presence was a powerful deterrent, reflecting the critical role this barrier island fort played in the early 20th century defense strategy. They speak to the foresight of military planners who recognized the vital importance of protecting the shipping lanes and port city of Tampa, and they now serve as stoic, weathered monuments to the evolution of American military technology and coastal fortification. Taken: June 27, 2004 at Fort Desoto Park (Tierra Verde, FL)  

There are so many ways to enjoy the waters of the Suncoast. My favorite way is by kayak. Kayaking allows you to glide above the water and enjoy the views both along the coast and in the water beneath you all while getting a good exercise in the process. (Photo: September 27, 2014)

There are no prettier sunsets than a Gulf Coast sunset in the Sunshine State. Like this colorful sunset from Fort Desoto Park. With miles of west coast coastline, the Sunshine State boasts some of the best sunsets in the country. And with only a 2-3 hour drive separating the east and west coast, you can easily catch the sun rise on the Atlantic and set on the Gulf with time for fun in between. (Photo: April 7, 2012)

A bushy tail tree rat AKA Eastern Grey Squirrel climbs a tree at Fort Desoto Park in Pinellas County.  Squirrels and many other species of wildlife call the park their home.  (Photo: April 7, 2012)

A wild hibiscus grows in the brush at Fort Desoto Park. The park is a great place to observe wild animals as well as the flora and fauna that provides their home. (Photo: April 7, 2012)

A cormorant stands guard over the kayak trail at Fort Desoto Park. The trail winds through Soldier Hole and along Mullet Key. (Photo: September 27, 2014)

Tierra Vede, Florida: It has been over a year since our last kayak adventure and we have been itching to be on the water. We have considered buying our own but upfront cost has put them out of our price range. So we decided to rent some kayaks and try our own adventure. After looking around online, I decided to go to Fort Desoto Park at the mouth of Tampa Bay. Of the places I researched, they seemed to be very beginner friendly, offering a marked trail with trail map for the tour. Their kayak provider, United Park Service, also seemed to have very reasonable rates. It didn't take much arm twisting, actually none at all, to convince my dad to come along and give it a try. He has always wanted to go but has never had the opportunity. So we packed up the van and headed north to Fort Desoto. We arrived at Fort Desoto at almost 10 am only to find the kayak rental store closed despite their website and brochure stating they opened at 9. I called the phone number on the br...

A wild hibiscus grows along a trail at Fort Desoto Park.  Located on the southern point of Pinellas County, the park is located on the site of an old military fort.  Today Fort Desoto features a museum, campground, hiking trails, fishing piers and much more.  (Photo: April 7, 2012)

A 12-inch canon points skyward at Fort Desoto Park. Built in conjunction with Fort Dade on nearby Egmont Key, Fort Desoto was designed to help fortify Tampa Bay. Construction was completed by 1906 and the fort remain operational until 1910 when the troops were relocated to Alabama. The fort was opened and closed a few more times before ultimately being turned over to Pinellas Parks and Rec in 1948. Today the park features a museum for the fort, camping and plenty of beach access. (Photo: April 8, 2012)

The sun slips below the horizon, painting the sky with another beautiful Gulf of Mexico sunset. The beaches at Fort Desoto are rated in the top of the nation. (Photo: April 7, 2012)

Tierra Verde, Florida:  Day two got off to a rather early start.  Because of the holiday and going back to school tomorrow, we decided we were going to hit the road rather early this morning.  We quickly tore down camp and then headed out to tour the fort before we left. Fort Desoto was a Civil War era fort constructed to protect the Tampa Bay.  The harsh Florida weather has not been gentle on the fort and very little of the original fort remains.  The most prominent remaining structure is the Battery.  We toured the fort and looked at the large cannons before we hit the road for home. On the way home, my wife asked if I wanted to stop by the airport one last time before heading home and of course I could not resist, so we stopped by TIA before heading home.   I really had a great time at Fort Desoto and will be scheduling a return visit soon.  While the park is very pet friendly and it was great having our dogs along, having them w...

Tierra Verde, Florida: For those of you that are familiar with Florida weather, the window for comfortable tent camping is not very long. We have been trying to get a trip scheduled for a while but with our son's baseball schedule, we haven't been so lucky. But we caught a break this weekend as his Saturday game was cancelled due to the holiday weekend. I went online and booked the only available campsite at Fort Desoto Park. I have only been to Fort Desoto once while passing through the area but it was a quick stop and we didn't have a chance to enjoy the park. I was looking forward to going back and exploring the park as it has received great reviews for it's beach, wildlife and for being pet friendly. Since it was highly regarded for being pet friendly, we decided to bring the dogs.  We arrived at the park and checked into our site, #102. What a great site. It was located right next to the bathhouse and had wetlands behind the site. While setting up our ...

Just a few canons remain of what was once a critical coastal fort in the Tampa Bay. Fort Desoto was positioned at the mouth of Tampa Bay and was an active post until closed by the military in 1922. Weather and neglect took a toll on much of the fort's structures although several canons and some of the battery walls still remain. Today there are historical markers that tell the story of the fort. In addition to the history of the fort, Fort Desoto Park boasts on of the nation's best beaches. (Photo: June 27, 2004)

Tierra Verde, Florida: At the mouth of the Tampa Bay lies a barrier island known as Mullet Key. Mullet Key has been a prominent site of Tampa Bay history and is the current home of Fort DeSoto Park, a 1,136 acre park built around the site of the historic fort. Like much of Florida, the first inhabitant to the island were Native Americans. The Tocobaga Indians resided on the island from 1000 to 1500. The location at the mouth of the bay was ideal to the Tocobaga lifestyle. The waters provided an abundance of shellfish and fish provided plenty of food for the tribe as well as a means to trade with other tribes and eventually the Spanish conquistadors. The first Spanish explorer to reach the island was Panfilo de Narvaez in April 1528. Narvaez landed in the region and began searching for riches. As the confrontation with the local tribes became more violent, Narvaez and his group of explorers headed further north. The next major explorer to reach the region was possibly the most p...