Brewers Spring Training 2014

Lake Mead is the result of the damming of the Colorado River. After you exit the Hoover Dam you drive down out of the mountains and are greeted by a large body of water in the middle of the desert. I'm sure people go there for sport and recreation, but I didn't have the time to stop today. I had taken enough (necessary) time on the drive here, but I was ready to get all up in Las Vegas. She was calling me.

A drive from Phoenix to Las Vegas does take you to the Hoover Dam. There's really no avoiding it. I don't know why you would want to though because this place is a monumental feat in human progress, ingenuity and architecture. I had last visited here in 2007 when we were driving out to Las Vegas for the 2nd World Series of Beer Pong. The giant bridge you see in the background wasn't built yet, so you had to drive over the dam. Now it is an option if you want to. Of course I wanted to. The Sombrero demanded that I do it.

I operate a "Wearing a Sombrero" page on Facebook. I mainly use it to post pictures of us at the Milwaukee Brewers games, but every now and then a random sombrero picture ends up on there. I would be lying if I said that I didn't plan this moment. When I woke up this morning and planned a leisurely drive, a stop at The Hoover Dam was was on my mind for the picture alone. The Sombrero has been to some pretty memorable places (like Washington D.C.) and this would be another chapter in the sombrero's exciting story.

I've been here twice now but I have yet to take the tour and learn more about this majestic feat of engineering. Sure, I've seen documentaries on TV and I've read the Wikipedia page, but I want some firsthand knowledge. Maybe the 3rd time is the charm. I plan on coming out West again, and if I do, I will finally take the tour instead of looking at The Hoover Dam from afar. There's only so much that you can learn from a distance.

It was a little windy up here and I had the chin string tied tight. After all me and this sombrero have been through, I would hate to lose it now. Instead of parting ways we bonded together and soaked in the sights around us. This was simply wonderful.

The Colorado River separates Arizona and Nevada, and The Hoover Dam uses the river to generate electricity. I realize the importance of this, but I was having more fun getting cars to honk their horns at me. I am after all, a spectacle on display.

For some reason, I decided to talk about leftfielder Khris Davis for "25 Brewers in 25 Days" when I was on the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge overlooking the Hoover Dam. Maybe he was next on my list. Maybe there was some kind of connection between the two. Maybe God and Nature combined and placed the idea in my head. I don't know, but it lead to an interesting video.