Day 2: Tech v WVU
UP, UP, & AWAY
LAS CRUCES -- Given yesterday's 1am MT wake-up, today's 4:15 rise was sleeping in. But first thing's first: the altitude (5300 ft) chapped my lips, requiring a visit to a nearby 24-hour CVS. (Yeah, yeah, TMI.) But I still made it to the Balloon Fiesta grounds before the pre-dawn launch at 5:45 used to test the winds aloft. My thanks to both Newsradio 770 and 103.7 The Oasis (jazz) for passing the time in my ears.
As dawn broke, balloon after balloon fired up and took off. Today was the Special Shapes Rodeo, apparently one of the more popular events; among others, non-copyrighted versions of Spider-Man, Woody Woodpecker, and Elvis ascended to the delight of thousands. Having had my fill, I headed on north to the state capitol of Santa Fe.
After visiting both the state's History Museum and the Palace of the Governors -- the oldest continuously occupied building in the US -- I dropped by the capital building, known as the Roundhouse. As its name strongly implies, it is in fact the only circular capital building in the country.
Today's lunch was another chance to redeem a coupon, and today's choice was the Ranch House. Along with my green chile brisket sandwich -- not for the faint, or even woozy, of stomach -- I received a free plate of queso (their word for "cheese & nachos").
The next three hours passed by quickly -- at 75mph, to be precise -- before I came upon the only American town to name itself after a game show: Truth or Consequences. Formerly Hot Springs, T or C (as the natives call it) switched its name in 1950 to draw attention to Ralph Edwards, the radio show's host.
I finally made it into Las Cruces, the home of New Mexico State University. As the schedules worked out, the women's volleyball was playing across the street from my hotel at the Pan-American Center, where the PanAmaniacs live.
The Aggies took their record to 12-5 (6-1 WAC, a half-game behind league-leading Utah State) with a straight-set victory over Texas-San Antonio, 26-24/25-19/25-21. The attendance of 1,545 surprised me a bit, but then I still haven't been to a WVU volleyball match, either. Of note: one of the Aggies was named Bradley. Not Bradleigh -- Bradley. Parents, these days....
Upon arriving back at my hotel, I noticed a bus in the lot. Turns out, the Kansas State equestrian team is staying here for meets against NMSU and West Texas A&M this weekend. (If you think the 15-hour bus ride down from Manhattan was rough, imagine the horses....)
LAS CRUCES -- Given yesterday's 1am MT wake-up, today's 4:15 rise was sleeping in. But first thing's first: the altitude (5300 ft) chapped my lips, requiring a visit to a nearby 24-hour CVS. (Yeah, yeah, TMI.) But I still made it to the Balloon Fiesta grounds before the pre-dawn launch at 5:45 used to test the winds aloft. My thanks to both Newsradio 770 and 103.7 The Oasis (jazz) for passing the time in my ears.
As dawn broke, balloon after balloon fired up and took off. Today was the Special Shapes Rodeo, apparently one of the more popular events; among others, non-copyrighted versions of Spider-Man, Woody Woodpecker, and Elvis ascended to the delight of thousands. Having had my fill, I headed on north to the state capitol of Santa Fe.
After visiting both the state's History Museum and the Palace of the Governors -- the oldest continuously occupied building in the US -- I dropped by the capital building, known as the Roundhouse. As its name strongly implies, it is in fact the only circular capital building in the country.
Today's lunch was another chance to redeem a coupon, and today's choice was the Ranch House. Along with my green chile brisket sandwich -- not for the faint, or even woozy, of stomach -- I received a free plate of queso (their word for "cheese & nachos").
The next three hours passed by quickly -- at 75mph, to be precise -- before I came upon the only American town to name itself after a game show: Truth or Consequences. Formerly Hot Springs, T or C (as the natives call it) switched its name in 1950 to draw attention to Ralph Edwards, the radio show's host.
I finally made it into Las Cruces, the home of New Mexico State University. As the schedules worked out, the women's volleyball was playing across the street from my hotel at the Pan-American Center, where the PanAmaniacs live.
The Aggies took their record to 12-5 (6-1 WAC, a half-game behind league-leading Utah State) with a straight-set victory over Texas-San Antonio, 26-24/25-19/25-21. The attendance of 1,545 surprised me a bit, but then I still haven't been to a WVU volleyball match, either. Of note: one of the Aggies was named Bradley. Not Bradleigh -- Bradley. Parents, these days....
Upon arriving back at my hotel, I noticed a bus in the lot. Turns out, the Kansas State equestrian team is staying here for meets against NMSU and West Texas A&M this weekend. (If you think the 15-hour bus ride down from Manhattan was rough, imagine the horses....)