The U.S. Air Force Academy, from the small portion I’ve been able to see, has some very nice modernist architecture. And a lot of birds.

The kids, though … only one short day left on base.

We snuck the kids up Pikes Peak this morning. We were initially told we’d only be able to drive ti mile seven, then pick up a shuttle. But we made it to mile 16, which is the end of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, so I feel pretty good about that.

And we ate donuts made at more than 14,000 feet above sea level. I’d go back for those.

We stopped to get some chocolate goodies for my colleague’s birthday on the way to the academy and spotted a future work opportunity.

The light out here is different, sharper, perhaps due to the altitude and lack of moisture. Or maybe it’s the lack of oxygen.

After a day of cancelled events, we snuck out a little early and took the students site seeing at the Garden of the Gods and Balance Rock.

Nice roads up that way.

Evening light slips away on the patio of a Colorado Springs restaurant.

We spent the day at the U.S. Air Force Academy getting the lay of the land as we wait for the games to start. This could be challenging …

At 7 this morning, I rolled out of my driveway to start a 14 day journey. By late afternoon, I was rolling south our of Denver with a colleague and a half dozen students, headed for Colorado Springs to cover the Department of Defense Warrior Games.

Someplace near Castle Rock, the rains came and went, leaving us with a double rainbow. Perhaps we’d find some luck and good stories at its end.