The Wandering Disciple

The rebirth of the Blueprint livery by JetBlue Airways captures the airline’s innovative spirit, transforming a modern Airbus into a flying design sketch that celebrates the artistry behind aviation. With its intricate technical markings and blueprint-style lines stretched across a deep blue fuselage, the aircraft feels like a concept brought to life—symbolizing both the airline’s forward-thinking identity and its roots in creative disruption. As JetBlue continues to evolve its fleet and branding, this revived livery stands as a bold reminder that every flight begins with an idea, meticulously drawn and ultimately realized in the skies. Taken: May 20, 2026 at Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, FL)

The elevated boardwalk through the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is an immersive experience that carries visitors deep into the heart of this delicate and vital ecosystem . Spanning a vast, protected wetland, the slough is an area of seasonal freshwater flow , critical for filtering water and providing a natural habitat for a multitude of species. The carefully constructed walkway offers a unique vantage point, ensuring minimal disturbance to the environment while maximizing the opportunity for wildlife viewing . This rich environment supports a diverse population of flora and fauna, including alligators basking in the sun , wading birds like herons and egrets hunting in the shallow waters, and turtles paddling beneath the cypress trees . The preserve is a living testament to the importance of wetland conservation , offering both a serene escape and a profound educational experience about the intricate balance of nature in Southwest Florida .  You can see more photos from Six M...

PopStroke is a state-of-the-art entertainment and dining venue centered around a premium miniature golf experience . Developed in partnership with Tiger Woods and TGR Design , the facility is known for elevating the traditional putting course with two 18-hole courses—one challenging and one family-friendly—that incorporate synthetic turf , bunkers , and rough , mirroring the conditions of a full-size golf course .  Click on the photo to see more photos from Pop Stroke .  Taken: May 9, 2021 at Pop Stroke ( Fort Myers, FL )

Fort Myers, Florida: The atmosphere in Fort Myers on Saturday night was electric, filled with an air of anticipation and joy as Danny Gokey's United We Worship tour made its stop at First Assembly of God. The evening promised a blend of powerful music and heartfelt testimony, featuring not only Gokey's renowned vocals but also the talents of special guests Seph Schlueter, Tasha Layton, and Mac Powell.  The night commenced with a vibrant performance by Seph Schlueter, a worship leader and songwriter known for his passionate delivery and heartfelt lyrics. Seph's energy was contagious, his authenticity shining through as he led the audience in worship with his hit song "Counting My Blessings." His performance set the tone for the evening, creating an atmosphere of intimacy and connection.  Following Seph's uplifting set, the stage was graced by the Dove Award-winning Christian artist, Tasha Layton. Tasha's powerful vocals and inspiring message of hope resonat...

A quite pond in the middle of the woods provides a hidden oasis in the hustle and bustle of daily life. A stroll down the elevated boardwalk of Six Mile Cypress will bring you to quite spots like Pop Ash Pond where you can marvel at the beauty of Mother Nature and the animals that call this pond home.  Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is a critical ecosystem in the heart of Fort Myers. As the nearby areas began to develop, the community quickly realized the importance of the slough on the regional watershed and an effort to preserve the land began. Today the park features an elevated boardwalk and interpretive center that help explain the importance of the slough and its impact on the local waterways.  Taken: October 5, 2014 at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve (Fort Myers, FL)

A brand new Airbus A321neo flown by United Airlines lands at Southwest Florida International Airport. This landing marks the first visit by a United A321neo at RSW. The particular plane still sports a new plane smell as it has only been in revenue service for about a week.  The new engine option or NEO, is a redesigned A321 featuring a more efficient engine resulting in a smaller carbon footprint and a more comfortable cabin giving passengers a better in-flight experience. The A321neo launched in December 2023 and will be expanding as United has ordered 130 aircraft.  Taken: January 11, 2024 at Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, FL)

A pair of Boeing 737 Max 9's sit on the north ramp after being grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration. On January 5th, an Alaska Air Max 9 had a door separate from the fuselage resulting in a cabin decompression event and an emergency landing by the aircraft. Upon investigation, the FAA determined this was a dangerous condition effecting all Max 9's and forced the grounding of all Max 9's until the condition can be resolved by Boeing.  The Max aircraft is the latest next-gen aircraft made by Boeing. The aircraft while technologically advanced has had its share of problems. This is the second system wide grounding of the Max fleet. The previous grounding order effected the Max 8 series and the TCAS system failure that resulted in two crashes overseas.  Taken: January 8, 2024 at Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, FL)

The air traffic control tower shines bright against a painted sky as the sun rises over Southwest Florida. The new tower stands as a welcome beacon over the airport greeting travelers with a light show as they arrive into Fort Myers.  Southwest Florida International Airport is the gateway to the southwest side of Florida's Gulf coast. The airport connects over 10 million passengers a year to destinations throughout the United States, Canada, Germany and Cuba.  Taken: January 4, 2024 at Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, FL)

Lynx Flight 655 touches down at Southwest Florida International Airport on the inaugural flight from Toronto. The Canadian carrier will provide four flights a week from Southwest Florida to Canada using the Boeing 737 Max aircraft.  Lynx Airlines is a ultra low-cost carrier based in Calgary. Founded in 2022, Lynx provides services to 18 destinations in Canada and the United States.  Taken: December 1, 2023 at Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, FL)

A deputy from the Lee County Sheriff's Office marshals in a US Navy helicopter during the American Heroes Air Show. Held at JetBlue Park in 2013, the American Heroes Air Show is a one of a kind helicopter only airshow featuring helicopters from local law enforcement, military, government and civilian operators.  Founded in 1996, the American Heroes Air Show mission is to showcase the dynamic capabilities of rotary-wing aircraft. Since then it has been used as a recruiting tool for the heroes of the show as well as an immigration and naturalization platform. The show occurs yearly in a different location. The 2024 show is scheduled for Los Angeles.  Taken: January 19, 2013 at JetBlue Park (Fort Myers, FL)

An Avelo flight pushes back from the gate at Southwest Florida International Airport ready to take a plane full of passengers on their travel adventure. Avelo will be taking us on our next travel adventure as we prepare to embark on a trip to eastern Pennsylvania.  Be sure to check back in the coming weeks as we bring fresh content from Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Harrisburg and more.  Taken: November 3, 2022 at Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, FL)

An alligator catches some rays on a floating dock at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. While humans lay out in the sun to tan, alligators need to lay out in the sun to regulate their body temperatures.  This dock is located in Gator Lake at Six Mile Cypress Slough Park and is one of the best places to spot gators in the park. The park features a 1.2 mile boardwalk that is one of the best places to spot wildlife in the area. Taken: October 23, 2011 at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve (Fort Myers, FL)

Fort Myers, Florida: The Florida Complex League began their 2023 season this week throughout Florida. The FCL is a rookie level league in the Minor League Baseball system and is typically the bottom level of affiliated baseball in the United States and is played in the spring training homes of the major league clubs in Florida.  On Thursday afternoon, the FCL Red Sox hosted the FCL Rays at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers. After a brief delay due to a quick shower that passed through, the teams got things started in their third game of the season.  The Red Sox jumped out to an early lead on an RBI single by Johnfrank Salazar in the first inning that scored Marvin Alcantara to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.  They extended their lead in the second inning by pushing across a pair of runs. Angel Pierre drove home Karim Aybui with an RBI triple to right. Then it was Alcantara picking up an RBI with a single to score Pierre to make it 3-0.  The Red Sox added two more in the b...

An Avelo Airlines flight taxis to the gate at Southwest Florida International Airport showing off its colorful tail in the Florida sun. The airlines connects Southwest Florida with three destinations; New Haven, Raleigh-Durham and Wilmington DE.  Avelo Airlines is a relatively new low cost carrier servicing the United States. Founded in April 2021 from the former Xtra Airways, Avelo's fleet of 15 Boeing aircraft service 34 destinations. We will be taking our first flight on Avelo in July as we fly from Fort Myers to Wilmington for our Mid-Atlantic vacation.  Taken: May 8, 2023 at Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, FL)

Usually its the baseball players that compete for the game MVP however on Sunday afternoon the hardest working team on the field was the grounds crew. Heavy rain forced an early ending to Saturday night's Mighty Mussels game. But despite the sunny afternoon, the wet field conditions continued into Sunday and put the ground crew to work to get the field playable.  After an almost hour and a half delay, the field was deemed playable and Sunday afternoon's series finale got started.  The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels would end up dropping the game to the Dunedin Blue Jays 8-5.  Unfortunately with the delay, I was not able to get any game photos. However thanks to a pair of rain checks, we will be back in the future for another game.  Taken: May 7, 2023 at Hammond Stadium (Fort Myers, FL)

In the aviation community, special liveries represent paint schemes that are not the primary look for an airline.  They can provide spotters with an adventure to try and see each special livery the airlines have to offer. Special liveries are used to spotlight corporate sponsorships, special events, aviation/airline milestones and even the history of an airlines. This special livery is JetBlue's retro livery.  While JetBlue is a rather new airline when it comes to the history of commercial aviation, this airline pays tribute to the golden era of aviation.  To honor this special livery, I photographed it in black and white to further enhance the retro look.  I believe this is the first black and white photo I have published so I hope you enjoy it.   Taken: May 3, 2023 at Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, FL)

A daytime excursion train from Seminole-Gulf Railway sits at the station preparing for a ride through Fort Myers. Guests aboard this daytime sightseeing tour got to ride the rails through Fort Myers, the Caloosahatchee River, North Fort Myers and back.  Seminole Gulf Railway is a rail company based in Southwest Florida. Primarily a cargo line, the railway hosts passenger excursions like the popular murder mystery dinner shows that take place during the evenings.  Taken: March 29, 2008 at Seminole Gulf Railways (Fort Myers, FL)

  The Medal of Honor is the highest military honor bestowed upon heroes who displayed "Conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty". Awarded by the President in the name of Congress, over 3,500 heroes have been recognized since the inception of the honor in 1863.  To honor these heroes, American Airlines released Flagship Valor. Dedicated to recognize the Courage, Sacrifice, Integrity, Commitment, Patriotism and Citizenship of these heroes, Flagship Valor was unveiled by American Airlines in March 2022 to be a flying memorial to Medal of Honor recipients.  Taken: December 12, 2022 at Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, FL)

A Hawker Hunter buzzes Runway 6 at Southwest Florida International Airport during a sunny December afternoon. The warm late Fall/winter weather of the Sunshine State makes for great flight training over the Gulf of Mexico and every once and a while one of the aircraft will make a pass at RSW during the sortie.  This Hawker Hunter is flown by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company a defense contractor that flies as an adversary during training missions. The civilian cadre of pilots fly foreign military aircraft like this former Swiss Air Force Hawker Hunter.  Taken: December 6, 2022 at Southwest Florida International Airport (Fort Myers, FL)

For King and Country levitate above a sold-out crowd at Hertz Arena during last night's concert. Each year the group travels the country bringing Christmas joy and rocking music all in the name of Jesus.  The Drummer Boy Christmas tour made three stops in the Sunshine State, starting in Fort Myers yesterday, Tampa today and Orlando on Saturday. If you get the chance to catch a show, I highly recommend it!  Taken: December 8, 2022 at Hertz Arena (Fort Myers, FL)