The Wandering Disciple

Transportation in the early days was difficult, in order to cross the country you needed to take a risky wagon ride across the rugged countryside.  But it would all change in the the late 1800's as the country was introduced to a new form of travel, the railroad.  Before long, the country was connected with a series of rail lines making it easier to move people and goods across the nation.  The America on the Move exhibit at the National Museum of American History allows you to follow the journey of transportation in the country from horse back to the present day. (Photo: February 14, 2009)

A giant gypsum crystal sits on display at the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of Natural History.  The museum boasts a large collection of gem stones like this crystal.  It seems like it would take a large time for a crystal this large to materialize however with the right nutrient rich soil and ideal temperatures a big crystal can develop pretty quickly.  (Photo: February 14, 2009)

This little saloon in downtown Washington DC was the spot where one of the nations darkest moments began.  April 14, 1865 would start like any other day for Peter Taltavull as he worked at his Star Saloon next to one of DC's prominent theaters.  He served patrons including a famous actor but little did he know, the nation would change in just a few short hours.  After finishing his whiskey, John Wilkes Booth went next door to assassinate President Lincoln. Following the shooting, the saloon was the first choice to bring the ailing president but they chose the Peterson House across the street instead.  The saloon never recovered from the events surrounding the President's death and it closed.  Today it is part of the Ford's Theatere National Historic District.  (Photo: February 14, 2009)

Tampa, Florida:    Took a morning trip to the zoo and traffic worked in my favor for once so I was able to squeeze in a little plane watching action at Tampa International Airport before the zoo opened.  For a busy airport, Tampa is very easy to watch at as the parking garage sits between both runway.  Today Runway 1 was in action so I parked on the south side of the 8th floor of the parking garage and watched a few planes come in.  Since its the holiday season, I got to watch a little cargo action today.  Here is a look at what I saw today: Boeing 737-800 - N17245 Boeing 767-300 - N331AZ Dassault Falcon 2000 - N25KZ Saab 340 - N435XJ Airbus A321 - N167US Boeing 737-700 - N448WN Boeing 737-800 - N940NN Airbus A321 - N708FR Saab 340 - N341AG Boeing 737-700 - N283WN Boeing 737-700 - N941WN Boeing 767-300 - N149FE Frontier Airlines - N317FR

Fort Myers, Florida: The cooler Floridian weather means the outdoor adventures continue, this time with a return trip to Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. This local hike is one of my favorites, a raised boardwalk with plenty of wildlife to see. Although today was pretty quiet, it was still an enjoyable walk and who really doesn’t enjoy a day of outdoor adventures. On today’s hike, I saw: American Alligator  Black-crowned Night Heron  Double-Crested Cormorant   Eastern Gray Squirrel  Great Blue Heron  White Ibis   Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is located at 7791 Penzance Boulevard in Fort Myers, Florida. It is open daily from dawn to dusk. Admission to the park is free however Lee County charges a parking fee of $1 per hour/$5 max per day.  Click on the photo above to view the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve photo gallery .

Cape Coral, Florida: Tucked away in the shadows of the mid-point bridge, the Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve is a hidden gem in a bustling city. One part nature preserve, other part tribute to our nation’s heroes, the Ecological Park has something for the whole family. The 365 acre preserve is the second largest preserve in Cape Coral. It was designated by the State of Florida to be preserved at the City of Cape Coral was being developed. Today it stands as a nature preserve allowing visitor to take a break from city life and enjoy the natural beauty that was once Florida. A trip to the park begins with a stop at the nature center. This small nature center gives you a glimpse at what you will encounter on your hike through Four Mile Cove. From there it is time to hit the trail. Here the trail is a 1 ¼ mile raised boardwalk through forest of mangroves. Along the way, there are information signs to tell you a little more about the park, its residents and the fauna that m...

Venice, Florida: As we get deeper and deeper into playoff football, the field of teams gets smaller and smaller as we enter the Regional Playoffs, or the final four. The Venice Indians hosted the Bloomingdale Bulls in the Class 7A-Region 3 final on Friday night at Powell-Davis Stadium. The first half was a shoot out with both teams evenly matched with the Bulls heading into the locker room with a slim three-point lead. But halftime adjustments gave the Indians the edge with 28 unanswered points in the second half, leading the home team Indians to a 57-32 win. The Bulls got on the scoreboard first with a pick-6 interception by Levi Williams. A quick pass from Jon Catala to Quinton Mccoy on the PAT gave the Bulls 8-0 lead. Venice answered with a 70-yard drive capped by a seven yard touchdown run by Brandon Gregory, the Indians also completed a two point conversion to tie the game 8-8. Bloomingdale later forced an Indian turnover on a fumble marched the ball down the field, ca...