Hopkins 4K for Cancer

June 28, 2003

Goodbye and good riddance, Kansas!
What an absolutely great day. We finally got to leave Kansas, which many of us have come to hate for it’s HORRIBLE biking conditions: strong headwinds, annoying hills – though everyone swears that just west of whatever city we might be in is flat, and it never is. For once, we had a simply beautiful tailwind. Absolutely nothing could have been more perfect. The scenery was gorgeous, the weather just right, and we were flying down the roads. After lunch, we (being me, Meredith, John, Sam, Babak, and Sumeet) decided to stop at a small, quaint diner in Bird City, KS to get some milkshakes. Little did we know that history was in the making. We ordered what just might have been the tastiest milkshakes I’ve had this entire trip (pineapple, butterscotch, strawberry, and vanilla), and Babak starts asking the waitresses about the names of the burgers on the menu. We discover that one of the burgers, known as the “Matt Burger” is a burger with a one pound patty. Cooked. We also discover that you can get a double Matt Burger, and that only 2 people in the history of the diner have managed to clean their plate. Upon hearing this, Babak immediately challenges Sumeet to take on this double Matt Burger, and with a simple “Why not?”, Sumeet agrees. An hour and a half, and 2+ lbs of cooked meat plus chips and bun later, a very very sated Sumeet emerges victoriously from the ruins of his double Matt Burger. The owners of the diner good naturedly agree to name a hamburger in honor of Sumeet. Their specifications for the Sumeet Burger is for a single 2+ lb patty to be sandwiched between a giant hamburger bun, and for the hamburger to be eaten with a knife and fork, so if you’re ever in Bird City, KS, hit up the Bird House
Diner, and order a Sumeet Burger.



When we got to Benkelman, we all expected to have to camp in the city park. Everyone was kind of worried though, because we had all heard of thunderstorms coming. What happened next truly restored my faith in humanity. While Dan was at a nearby diner, ordering a milkshake, he was telling them about our trip, and they VERY generously offered us the shelter of their diner along with dinner and breakfast. The owners, Chris and Carolyn Crossett, were so incredibly trusting and kind, it was just amazing. Their pizza was amazing too, as was their diner. It was called Strikers because it was an old bowling alley that had been converted into a diner, and it had all sorts of games in it from mini golf, to a bouncy boxing ring, to bumper pool. I have to say, it was so great to have a night of just goofing around and having fun. Thank you, Carolyn and Chris for your hospitality! We owe a good time in Nebraska to you.