With daytime temperatures sitting firmly in the 100-degree range and air quality officially unhealthy for sensitive groups, any strenuous exercise I’m doing has to be as early as possible in the day. This morning as I stepped out my door, the air felt stagnant and thick and already slightly uncomfortable. It was a bit daunting, but I felt rewarded as soon as I rounded the corner and got a good look at the sky.

The clouds helped explained the sultriness of the morning air; but the minor discomfort was nearly worth the payoff — the view from the bluffs looking toward the sunrise.