When we got to Colorado Springs Sunday night, there was a wobble in the car. It would wobble left to right, turning into a vibration as the car sped up. Not good.

After fretting all night, worrying if it was a major suspension problem and how many days would I be stranded in Colorado Springs, I was up at 6:30 and got the car over to a local tire care center just two blocks from the hotel.

I was fortunate that I have a good friend in Colorado who drove over the mountains the night before. We packed up and ran over to the car dealer and lo and behold, a tire had failed internally with two big lumps in the tread. Paying full retail for a new set of tires fries my brain, but what else to do? I could at least get the car back that afternoon.

Off the three of us went to tour the Air Force Academy, where my son is keen on going.

After one heck of a campus tour, we drove through the Garden of the Gods. Low speed, spectacularly beautiful, I apologize that I didn’t get any pictures. Then it was a blast down I-25 to Santa Fe, except my son booked the hotel in Bernalilla. Turned out to be a gorgeous room at a good price. It was dark, it was late, I’d been up since 6:30, I was done.

You may have noticed an aviation theme on the trip so far. I’m a pilot and love flying, and my son is working hard to get accepted to the Air Force Academy. They have campus tours that we were able to be part of and had a whale of a time.

I was quite impressed with the academic standards and the emphasis on character and leadership they instill in the students. Quite a facility, quite an education. And that location!