Tammi (Abel’s daughter-in-law) cooked us a delicious dinner last night! However, Abel claims that Tammi has always starved him half to death and only made dinner because AJ showed up. Thanks for the great mango salsa and for the use of your laundering facilities. AJ was beginning to emit an odor reminiscent of already-been-worn underwear.

 

Abel’s granddaughter, Adrianna, provided the first half of last night’s entertainment: a 4 year old’s version of Madame Butterfly. It was way more entertaining than the real thing.

Aubrey, Abel’s other granddaughter, provided the second half of last night’s entertainment: How to Be a Top Model Wearing Hello Kitty Pajamas.

Prior to leaving Phoenix this morning, we visited the kids at Fremont Junior High School where Abel’s son, Eric, is the assistant principal. Abel, Doc, and AJ discussed safety, goals, and challenges as well as answered a ton of GREAT questions from the kids. Well, most of them were great questions. One question, in particular, was funny. The student asked, “How do you sleep?” AJ’s answer—“In a bed.” Everyone enjoyed a laugh and a good time was had by all. Thanks for having us back again this year Fremont Junior High!

Abel and his son Eric are having a heated argument about who is taller. After Doc settles that argument (Abel is obviously taller), Abel then begins berating AJ about where she has hidden his glasses AGAIN.

AJ gets her microphone ready and tests it out with a short version of “The Wheels On the Bike Go ‘Round and ‘Round,” which seems to be stuck in AJ’s head since Adrianna taught it to her yesterday. AJ begins belting out her song in her tonally challenged way and hopes that Abel didn’t notice her wiring his truck to her microphone via bluetooth.

Doc responds to AJ’s wretched singing by pedaling faster and singing out, “The other rider on the bike goes waah, waah, waah.”

Abel decides to finally get his behind in gear and get some long distance riding done. A mile and a half later, though, Abel looked up and saw Tucson on the top of the mountain and decided that this supposed downhill must be another one of Joe’s mean optical illusions and thought better of the whole deal. We arrived in Tucson in the 100-degree heat and headed straight indoors to “rehydrate” in the local pub.