The Wandering Disciple

A school of fish swim up the clear waters of the Weeki Wachee River.  The clear spring fed waters make the fish easy to spot while kayaking down the river.  In addition to the fish, these waters provide temporary homes to manatees when the water in the Gulf is colder. You can get a close up of the marine life by taking a kayak tour from Florida by Boat, the only vendor that allows you to launch from the protected waters of Weeki Wachee State Park.  (Photo: April 29, 2017)

Weeki Wachee, Florida:  Taking advantage of a Saturday off from Little League, we decided to take a two hour drive up to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park for a fun day in the sun.  We have been wanted to visit Weeki Wachee since passing it on the way to Homossassa Springs a few years ago and decided that today was going to be the day.  Today’s trip consisted to two phases, kayaking the Weeki Wachee River and enjoying the shows and water activities of the park.  We checked in with Boating in Florida, the park’s kayak and stand-up paddleboard vendor for our 8am appointment.  After signing waivers and paying our rental fees, they outfitted us with two tandem kayaks, life vests and paddles and we were quickly on our way.  The photos and descriptions on the park’s website do not really prepare you for the beauty you experience once on the river.  Crystal clear water vibrant with colors and wildlife around every corner is the easiest way I can sum...

The spring fed waters of the Weeki Wachee River flow from the Weeki Wachee Springs to the Gulf of Mexico giving kayakers a 7 mile stretch of crystal clear waters to enjoy. Along the peaceful paddle you can observe many species of birds, otters and even the gentle giant manatees. The sandy bottom of the river also allows for many opportunities to hop off the kayak and enjoy the cool and refreshing water along the way. (Photo: April 29, 2017)

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)

The F/A 18 Hornet of Blue Angel #4 sits on the flight line at the Florida International Airshow in 2012.  The legendary Blue Angels are the premier flight demonstration team of the US Navy.  They perform that high adrenaline performance in front of millions of spectators coast to coast, demonstrating the air superiority of the United States Navy.  (Photo: March 25, 2012)

Englewood, Florida: Key Agency game up a bunch of runs in the opening inning creating a deficit they could not recover from as they fell to Lemon Bay Funeral Home 12-6 on Thursday night at Englewood Sports Complex. In the first inning, Lemon Bay sent fourteen hitters to the plate and pushed across nine runs in the inning. Tanner Martin, Luke Tannehill, Nash Dowd, Devin Clifford, Owen Tannehill, TJ Williams and Zeke Moranda all collected RBI’s in the inning to give them a 9-0 lead. Key Agency got on the board in the second inning. CJ Knicely drew a walk followed by a double by Troy Reames. Kniceley scored on a ground out by Aiden Bell and Reames came home on a passed ball to make it 9-2. Key Agency scored again in the third. Cody Mayes reached on a fielder’s choice and later scored on a ground ball by Knicely to make it 9-3. Lemon Bay struck for three more runs in the sixth inning. Moranda singled to lead off the inning. He moved to third on a double by Cooper Benedict....

Port Charlotte, Florida: In the game of baseball, one unluckly hop can make or break a game and that was the storyline Tuesday night as the Charlotte Stone Crabs fell to the Dunedin Blue Jays 10-3 at Charlotte Sports Park. That one unlucky hop came on a two out ground ball that extended the inning for the Blue Jays, allowing them to push across six runs to take a commanding lead. The Blue Jays broke the scoreless tie by taking advantage of that critical Stone Crab error in the second inning. The Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out. Charlotte starter Michael Velasquez quickly recorded a strikeout for the second out of the inning. Then it look like he was about to get out of the inning with no harm, a ground ball to third took a bad hop resulting in the third baseman Kevin Padlo overthrowing first which allowed Juan Kelly and Lane Thomas to score. Cavan Biggio drew a walk to reload the bases before a grand slam by Max Pentecost would clear the bases and give the Blue Jays ...