Hearing that the Hoover Dam has a dress code, AJ had to dig in her dirty clothes bag and get out her best black tie t-shirt in order to be let in the gate. Take notes, Joe, Abel went out of his way to let us see one of America’s greatest landmarks unlike some people we know *hint, hint*.

Enjoying the view at the Hoover Dam—there aren’t many words to describe what an awesome sight it is so we’ll let it stand on its own.

Abel wonders where he put his glasses. Doc and AJ snicker but never clue him in.

The tiny little Colorado River that caused such great wonders!

After being cyclists AND tourists, we were all famished. We stopped in at Rosie’s Den in Arizona for a little lunch (or in Doc’s case, breakfast) with some LARGE local flavor. Being the trusting soul that he is, Doc asks AJ to order him a stack of pancakes and two eggs over-easy while he visits the restroom. The waitress takes Abel and AJ’s order but says that she’ll have to talk to Doc before she’ll let him get the pancakes. Curious about the pancakes, Abel asked the waitress why she wouldn’t just let us order them for Doc. She explained that the 2 pancakes are HUGE and that in the last 14 months, only 16 people have accomplished the task of eating both the pancakes with no assistance (those that have earned a free meal and a t-shirt). AJ, in her infinite wisdom and devious spirit, convinces the waitress that we REALLY need to order him the pancakes. She reluctantly agrees.  Doc returns to the table shortly thereafter and didn’t see the waitress coming with an order of two 12-inch pancakes (both 1 inch thick) and eggs over-easy. The locals at the bar (along with AJ and Abel) all smiled in wide-eyed anticipation as the waitress dropped the plate on the table in front of our slightly built, Dunkin’ Donuts coffee drinking friend. The expression on Doc’s face was priceless and will never be duplicated, we’re sure. His jaw dropped to the floor and his eyes bugged out as the entire establishment erupted in laughter. Our good-natured waitress told Doc that leaving anything on his plate would be wasteful and Abel sweetly suggested that he’d be a big old sissy if he couldn’t do it. AJ, in between fits of snorting laughter, commented that the pancakes probably weigh more than Doc soaking wet with clothes on. Doc tore into the pancakes like a man on fire but began slowing down after 3 bites. Our littlest warrior managed to finish his two tiny eggs, 183 cups of coffee, and about 1/3 of the pancakes before he threw in the towel and patted his bloated abdomen. As he wobbled out to the truck, syrup leaked out of his ears and he was overheard moaning in Thanksgiving-dinner-like agony. He promptly fell asleep in the truck as AJ and Abel continued replaying the eventful lunch over and over again. As Doc dozed, he was overheard mumbling, “I can’t believe I tried to eat the whole thing.”