Photo of the day — spring in England

Today’s Photo of the Day captures early spring in England. In late spring and summer, this canal will burst with color. For now, spring appears fragile and embryonic. Winter hasn’t yet been overwhelmed by verdant green, and the chief source of color is provided by the red boat gliding across the canal.

Flickr user Kumukulanui shot this image on England’s Worcester-Birmingham Canal last week, just a few days after the official start of springtime.

Got a beautiful image that grasps the seasonality of your location? Add it to the Gadling group on Flickr. If we like it, we might select it for an upcoming Photo of the Day.

[Image: Flickr | Kumukulanui]

Second-tier airports still getting action

Smaller airports may have trouble supporting the needs of large airlines, but smaller carriers are filling in the gaps. Direct Air, for example, moved into Toledo to connect those Ohioans with Myrtle Beach, SC and Punta Gorda, FL – at dirt cheap prices. And, everyone knows that Toledo is a hotbed of trendsetters …

While these smaller airlines do provide service from local airports, saving a long drive and a lot of headache, you do have to make some sacrifices. You know the many flights from Detroit to New York every day? You miss one, there are plenty of others. Toledo, Worcester, MA and other smaller airports don’t offer that luxury. You may only get a few routes a week. This can add a bit of risk to the day of travel, not to mention constrain your plans from the start.

If the convenience of a local airport trumps all, remember to pay for your tickets with a credit card. Not only is it a hell of a lot easier than cash, you’ll be able to get your money back if the airline collapses. With the little guys, this happens from time to time.