We're headed back to Las Vegas this week for the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament. To set the stage I want to provide some pictures and info from our visit a month ago.
We went to Las Vegas in Feb. to see the Lobos game against UNLV, and also to see Heidi and Joseph. It turned out that Susie's sister-in-law, Joyce, and her husband, Jay, were also in Las Vegas. They had just visited us in Cedar Crest for Super Bowl weekend. They travel in (actually, they tow) their fifth-wheel RV doing Habitat for Humanity builds and had transited from projects in Las Cruces to Las Vegas via Albuquerque. Here's their picture at the campground they stayed in near Coronado State Park, just north of Albq.
When we re-rendezvoused in Las Vegas, Jay and I decided to drive out to Hoover Dam to see the dam and especially the new bridge being built over the Colorado River at that site. Joyce, Susie, and Mandi (who had flown out from Denver for the festivities) went shopping.
This project has been ongoing for several years. Because of construction and congestion RVs and semis had been routed from Kingman, AZ to Laughlin, NV to Las Vegas during this time. Last March when I went out to the Grand Canyon Skywalk (you remember that, don't you?) the construction was at this stage:
The two arms of the supporting arch were reaching out to each other. Now, they've met and the roadway and its supports are being added. Building materials - forms and cement - and construction workers are transported along those high wires.
The bridge will be about 2000 ft. long and 900 ft. above the river. It is scheduled to open the end of this year. Pedestrian access is part of the design. I can hardly wait (notice I did not say we). This picture gives you the big picture. Bungee-jumping, anyone?
Not to be forgotten, here's Mr. Hoover's dam:
Meanwhile, back in Las Vegas we visited Heidi's new work site, the Aria hotel and casino, and went to the ballgame. Exciting game and UNM got a narrow win. Here are some tourists at the Aria:
Somewhere along the way, Susie and I decided to continue the Lobos road trip from Vegas to Salt Lake City. The Lobos got another close, exciting, overtime win. This must have been one of the all-time great roadtrips for UNM and we were excited to have been along. It got even better when it turned out that we were on the same flight home as the team. Got to exchange high-fives and comments with several players and coaches. Susie was afraid I might embarrass her, but I think I maintained proper decorum. What happens in Salt Lake City, stays ... .
And, the Lobos just kept on winning. They won their last 14 conference games in a row, finished the regular season with a 28-3 record and a No. 8 national ranking. This week's tournament will determine their seeding in the NCAA tournament. We're hoping to travel to wherever they are assigned for first round games next week. We're hoping for San Jose or OK City. If it's the former, we'll just drive there from Las Vegas. We're making this trip by car, not Tuzigoot. Haven't had much chance to get Tuzi ready for travel this "spring" - still got snow in the driveway - and going by car gives us more speed and agility -- like a good basketball team.
Stay tuned.
Cheers,
Rob and Susie
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