Are we a jinx?

What is with this weather.   We arrived in Colorado Springs, CO (my birth city) last Friday for what was to be a week of calm, quiet sightseeing and relaxation.  Instead we left 3 days early on  Tuesday night at 8 pm to outrun the Black Forest wildfires.  This area is so very dry and had record breaking high temperatures.   The campground  was at 100% capacity, but several families were arriving in their RV's hoping for a place to park since they were in the evacuation boundaries.  The picture below is taken from our coach window showing what the skies looked like around our campground.   We were only 15 miles from the fire and they were predicting a wind shift that would have brought it even closer.  I looked at Ron around 7 pm and he said "you want to leave don't you?"    We checked out at the office and told them to give our spot to those being displaced from their homes.   We spent the night in a Denver Walmart and left Wednesday for Cheyenne, WY which was our next stop anyway.    We did get to tour the United States Air Force Academy, Mesa Overlook and Manitou Springs.   We didn't get to the Royal Gorge (which is where a second fire is burning  out of control), Garden of the Gods, Seven Falls etc.   Guess we will have to go back another time.

The Air Force Academy was established in 1954 and moved to their present location in 1958.   It encompasses 18,500 acres at the foot of the Colorado Rockies.  Although the grounds are very impressive we spent most of our time touring the Chapel with 5 distinct areas for Jewish, Protestant, Buddha, Roman Catholic and "all other" worship. They have a nice museum and film highlighting the life of a cadet.

The Cadet Chapel, an all-faiths house of worship. is made of glass and steel and soars more than 150 feet with 17 spires.

  The Jewish synagogue's  foyer is paved with over 1,600 pieces of Jerusalem brownstone donated by the Israeli Defense Forces and the walls are made of purple stained glass panels.  A Torah scroll saved from the Nazis during WWII is displayed.   

Buddhist area of worship.

The Buddhist Chapel (Vast Refuge Dharma Hall) is 300 square-feet and is made of Port Orford Cedar, a rare, fragrant wood used for temple building in Japan.   The altar and alcove are also constructed of wood, American Cherry and Ash.   

Behind the altar of the Catholic chapel are abstract glass mosaic mural composed of varying shades of blue, turquoise, rose and gray tiles.    On each side of the altar are two 10 foot tall marble figures of the Blessed Mother and Archangel Gabriel.  

By far the largest area is the Protestant Chapel located on the upper level with a 99 foot high pinnacle ceiling .

The choir loft houses a classical pipe organ with 4,334 pipes.   The largest pipe is 32 feel high and the smallest is pencil size. 

The all faith room is void of any religious symbolism to make it acceptable to a variety of faiths. 

Taking a rest at the statue of Hubert Reilly Harmon, the Founder and first Superintendent of the Academy.

What's a visit to an Air Force Academy without a stop at the B-52 on display.

We attended Sunday Mass at Corpus Christi Catholic Church.   I was waiting for Ron to ask me why I didn't pick a closer church.   He is so easy going he never questioned it.   I chose this church because this is were I was baptized  ??@@!! years ago.

Baptismal font, although I doubt this is the original one.  

We are safe in Cheyenne, WY  hoping we didn't bring bad luck in the form of snow or a hurricane!

Hope all is well!