USAFA Falcon Football

The entire clan attended a US Air Force Academy Falcon football game today. Quite a blast. We still have a little figuring out to do to get handicap parking where we don't have to do two flights of stairs to get to our seats, but Tracy says she's already got it scoped for next time. Unfortunately, Falcons lost 28-25, but they made it a game right up to the end. And there will be a next time! You'll note below (and in all the pics) that much of the action was not the game on the field (and I don't mean the littles changing seats every two seconds) - all kinds of other events and activities were going on during and in between. All the photos are here.

During the national anthem.

Parachuters scored a field goal!

The crew was mostly to keep the flag off the ground.

A pair of A-10 "Warthogs" flew over.

The were spinning them like helicopter blades!

A little falconry during halftime.

Touchdown Falcons!

This guy was monitoring the TV broadcast for "media timeouts."

They sang their alma mater at the end of the game - everyone did.

Tracy: 3 weeks post op. We are getting back into normal life. Jonathan has gone back to school half days. All the symptoms we had been dealing with are virtually gone. He is anxious about what we will do if his pain comes back but hopefully with time that too will disappear! #chiariwarrior #chiarimalformation

Brush fire at the USAF Academy

Tracy saw and heard a lightning strike just west of us at about 1pm (our time). The next time she looked that way about 2:45pm this is what she saw. That's the Academy Chapel at upper left. Looks like a grass fire just on the other side of I-25 from us on Air Force Academy grounds. Amazingly, rain moved in, but only for a little while. It's still going... Update: the fire was mostly extinguished by dinner time.

USAF Academy

Bob and Jamie visited the U.S. Air Force Academy here in Colorado Springs today. The chapel is the most well-known feature of the campus which draws over one million visitors per year (making it the number one tourist attraction in Colorado). Better get up there soon if you want to see it sooner than later. On January 1st the chapel will close for a multi-year renovation, stripping it to its underlying steel frame and then putting it all back so it doesn't leak. The look won't change, and much of the stained glass will be re-used. The visitor center and chapel are open every day (see website for times). And the public is also welcome to attend services. I plan on attending a traditional protestant service (currently Sundays at 9:30am) before the end of the year, mainly to hear the 83-rank pipe organ. All of today's photos are here.

Vail

Vail is our last stop on this Colorado Rockies excursion. Before I forget, if you choose to vacation to a ski (or winter sports) location during a none-skiing time, be careful. We found that these areas had strong winter and summer activities, but during the "shoulder seasons" (or what some called the Rollover Period), lots of activities and eateries shut down. For Fall, that's September and October with each area having their own particular dates for the off time. Be sure to check. All the photos are here.

Breckenridge | Glenwood Springs | Vail

Betty Ford Alpine Gardens

Apparently the official Fall colors of Colorado are green,
yellow, and orange (deciduous) and blues/greens (evergreen).

Is that what I think it is? Middle of Vail Village.

We caught the last day of OktoberFest.

Lots of vendors and farmers' market,
but surprisingly not very many beer sellers.

The girls took a river rafting trip, Timberline Tours.

Class II.

That's our suite on the top floor.

Westside Cafe. Fabulous bloody mary with all manner of veggies and a
sidecar of amber ale. And their Avocado Toast with fried egg was scrumptious.

The Red Lion for lunch.

The Ski Trooper

Anne of Green Gables rehearsal

September 16th partial dress rehearsal at the studio... Photos by Kayla Coburn.

Glenwood Springs

Nana, Papa, and the Underwoods spent a couple days in Glenwood Springs after their Breckenridge stay. The drive from Breck to Glenwood Springs was gorgeous, Fall colors everywhere. All the photos are here. On to Vail...

Breckenridge | Glenwood Springs | Vail

Hotel Colorado. Built in 1893, we're counting this gem on our "great lodges"
list. The hotel got a new owner just last May who happened to be there this
weekend celebrating the hotel's 125th anniversary.

View to the west from the tram up to
Glenwood Caverns.

Glenwood Caverns.

Glenwood Hot Springs Resort (right next to Hotel Colorado). We didn't
go there, but it's part of the view that got Jamie interested in visiting
Glenwood Springs when passing through by train in 2005 with his Dad.

Glenwood Springs train station.

Front courtyard at Hotel Colorado.
We enjoyed a number of meals and drinks at this spot.

Restaurant in Hotel Colorado.

This spiral staircase behind the hotel gift shop
was installed by the Navy when they used the
hotel as a Navy hospital.

The 125th anniversary included tours of the hotel
and grounds by "realtime" characters.

East bound Amtrak's California Zephyr leaving Glenwood Springs station.

Iron Mountain Hot Springs.

Riviera Supper Club and Piano Bar. One of the many delights at this establishment
was Jonathan Gorst, Music Director/Principle Conductor for the National Tour
of The Phantom of the Opera 2007-2012. He entertained us all evening singing
and playing the piano. Our kind of music: musical theatre sprinkled with ol'
favorites like Mister Bojangles and Scott Joplin. Food was great, too. Among
the many requests he accepted, mine was "More I Cannot Wish You" from
Guys and Dolls. Lynn's was "Bring Him Home" from Les Miserables.