Yes, I have located my local storage folder. It appears that google docs provides a pdf READER for browsers that might be lacking this feature. The actual pdf document, in my case, is not stored on google docs.

I'll continue to experiment and report back so that others will also learn more. My document is likely too large to be handed off to google docs for a preview and to be read.

From google docs Support I found this thread:

I would like to know the file size or page limit for viewing PDF files in Google Docs.

I'm trying to view a 35MB (about 500 pages) .pdf file through 'Google Docs' via a specific download link, but I get "The file cannot be previewed. The file is too large to display a preview." is displayed.

I would like to know the specifications for the file size or page limit that PDF files can be viewed in Google Docs.

https://support.google.com/drive/thread/167256653/i-would-like-to-know-the-file-size-or-page-limit-for-viewing-pdf-files-in-google-docs?hl=en