Now THIS is a road trip

This is what I love about food, especially oversized food. It inspires people to write, plan, dream, and travel. Like these guys.

Tanker and Splash -- two regular joes from New Brusnwick, Canada -- have started a blog about their ongoing plan to drive 14 hours to attempt "Ye Old 96'er" at Denny's Beer Barrel Pub in Clearfield, Pennsylvania . (Most of you already know, that's the 6-pound burger -- 11 pounds dressed -- that catpulted Kate Stelnick to instant eating fame when she became the first person ever to finish it within the 3-hour time limit.)

They're hitting the road in the "Burgermobile" on Friday, September 14 and hope to be having a late lunch at Denny's the following day. Below is an excerpt from their blog and a picture of them at right.

"We're getting older now, Tanker and Splash, and it occurs to us that we may not have many more years to travel the roads around these parts. On a quick whim and with some hasty planning, it was decided, solidly, that Tanker and Splash will ride again. And we're going to find that burger if it kills us."

In recent posts, the pair announced the addition of two more Cannucks to their travelling party: Seamus O'Toole (please tell me that's his real name, because it is awesome!) and "Eager Al." According to Tanker and Splash, Seamus sweats a lot, but is "good at fixing engineered things," so he'll come in handy if the "Burgermobile" breaks down.

I really admire these guys' determination. I live two stinkin' hours from Denny's Beer Barrel Pub and my friends and I have been "talking about" going up there for about six months now and still nothing. Hats off to Tanker, Splash, Seamus and Eager Al for finally making it happen. Hell, if they'd let me (and if I weren't such a lazy schlub), I'd fly up to Saint John, New Brunswick just to make the 14-hour road trip with them.