Episode 14: The Burger Quest King
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Summary
Drew and Doug return to the KVSH’s Jean Bosch Broadcast Studio for the November edition of Classic Rock and Beyond, riding the early gales of November with stormy tunes, strange news, and the usual mix of chaos and commentary.
Weird News
Kansas – The Museum of Odd in Lawrence, curated by artist Randy Walker, features a collection of bizarre celebrity memorabilia – from Elvis Presley’s underwear to Bob Barker’s toothbrush. The museum is open by appointment only (and possibly by courage).
Kentucky – A 34-year-old woman was arrested after trying to poison her former mother-in-law using her severe bell pepper allergy. Thanksgiving should be fun.
Vashon (Special Hometown Feature) – Drew and Doug welcome Reddit user friijoles (Neal), creator of the now-legendary Burger Quest – a 40-mile, two-ferry pilgrimage from Ballard to Tacoma that cuts right down the spine of Vashon. Fueled only by water, snacks, and an insatiable hunger for a burger, the quest ended triumphantly at Frisko Freeze. We learn all about the origins of Burger Quest, how many pairs of shoes he’s worn out, his favorite places on Vashon, and much, much more during our exclusive phone interview with Neal, The Burger Quest King.
Listen to the Burger Quest interview excerpt:
Burger Quest: The Full Digest
On a cloudless October Tuesday — the 14th of 2025 to be exact — one man set off from Ballard to Tacoma, deciding the only thing standing between him and a good burger was nearly forty miles of walking, two ferry rides, and an alarming amount of time alone with his thoughts.
Meet Reddit user friijoles, who embarked on what he calls Burger Quest — this year, his 4th annual pilgrimage, which starts at The Sloop Tavern in Ballard and ends all the way at Frisko Freeze in Tacoma. This year, he left Ballard on foot at six in the morning, hiked along the waterfront, crossed the Spokane Street Bridge, and caught the ferry from Fauntleroy over here to Vashon Island. He then walked 13.7 miles down the highway all the way from the north end, through town, and ending up at Tahlequah, where he caught the south end ferry to Tacoma. Once he got to Point Defiance, it was another 4.7 miles uphill to the promised land of burgers and fries.
He reached Frisko Freeze located just outside Tacoma's Stadium district around 10 p.m., after nearly 16 hours on the move, powered by what he listed as $7.45 for the ferry, three slices of Big Mario's pizza, three bottles of water, three pulparindos, a bubu lubu bar, and one lonely piece of mazapán.
He missed the 7 o'clock boat off the south end but made the 8 o'clock, and after filling up on what he remarked was a "great" burger and fries, made sure to grab a celebratory beer at The Parkway Tavern afterward. "Beer selection at The Parkway is always amazing," he added. He was even able to find himself a ride home after The Parkway closed at midnight. Normally, he says he catches a combination of bus and light rail to haul him back north.
Locals on Reddit chimed in with support and amazement — one noting "walking up Vashon is hardcore", another simply stating "This rules," and a third adding, "I think we can all agree that you've earned the XL fries and a shake."
Now, Voice of Vashon's Classic Rock and Beyond Weird News team is thrilled to bring you an exclusive interview with the legend himself, Reddit user friijoles, to learn more about his epic annual quest. Friijoles, welcome to the show.
Things That Make Doug Mad
Doug rants about unscheduled software updates – those random “improvements” that always appear when you’re mid-playlist and definitely didn’t ask for them.
Musically, the show’s centerpiece is a 35-minute maritime set, anchored by Riders on the Storm and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
It’s a stormy, strange, and distinctly Vashon-flavored episode of Classic Rock and Beyond.
Tune in, or don’t™
Tracklist
| # | Song | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intro | ||
| 2 | Burnin' For You | Blue Öyster Cult | Fire of Unknown Origin |
| 3 | Rearviewmirror | Pearl Jam | Vs. |
| 4 | Air Break | ||
| 5 | Riders on the Storm | The Doors | L.A. Woman |
| 6 | The Rain Song | Led Zeppelin | Houses of the Holy |
| 7 | I'm On A Boat (feat. T-Pain) | The Lonely Island | Incredibad |
| 8 | I'm Your Captain (Closer To Home) | Grand Funk Railroad | Closer To Home |
| 9 | The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald | Gordon Lightfoot | Summertime Dream |
| 10 | Air Break | ||
| 11 | No Time | The Guess Who | Canned Wheat |
| 12 | Fitzcarraldo (Live) | The Swell Season, Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová | Strict Joy (Deluxe Edition) |
| 13 | Unity | High Pulp | Mutual Attraction Vol. 3 |
| 14 | Air Break | ||
| 15 | Happy Jack | The Who | The Kids Are Alright |
| 16 | Intermission | Blur | Intermission - Single |
| 17 | Lithium | Nirvana | Nevermind |
| 18 | Air Break | ||
| 19 | Saturday Night Special | Lynyrd Skynyrd | Nuthin' Fancy |
| 20 | Midnight Rider | The Allman Brothers Band | Idlewild South |
| 21 | Air Break | ||
| 22 | Don't Run Wild | The Del Fuegos | Boston, Mass. |
| 23 | Outro |
Doug's corner
Kentucky
KENTUCKY
“YOU RUINED MY LIFE,” TIFFANY GREGORY ALLEGEDLY WROTE IN A BIRTHDAY CARD INSIDE A BAG OF CRUSHED PEPPERS. “ENJOY YOUR ALLERGIC REACTION.”
LOUISVILLE, KY. — A LOUISVILLE WOMAN IS FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES AFTER TRYING TO GIVE HER FORMER MOTHER-IN-LAW A SERIOUS ALLERGIC REACTION USING BELL PEPPERS.
LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE (LMPD) ARRESTED TIFFANY GREGORY, 34, ON MONDAY AFTER MONTHS OF ALLEGED STALKING AND HARASSMENT.
ACCORDING TO AN ARREST WARRANT, THE VICTIM TOLD POLICE SHE HAD RECEIVED MULTIPLE THREATENING MESSAGES FROM GREGORY.
THE WARRANT SAID GREGORY TOLD HER KIDS TO STOMP ON BELL PEPPERS AND PLACE THE CRUSHED PEPPERS INSIDE A BIRTHDAY BAG. GREGORY THEN WENT TO HER EX-MOTHER-IN-LAW’S HOUSE AND TOLD THE KIDS TO PUT THE BAG ON HER FRONT PORCH.
ACCORDING TO POLICE, GREGORY KNEW HER FORMER MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS SEVERELY ALLERGIC TO BELL PEPPERS AND CREATED A SUBSTANTIAL DANGER OF DEATH OR SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY.
THE CHILDREN REFUSED SO ONE OF GREGORY’S FRIENDS PLACED THE BAG ON THE VICTIM’S CAR. GREGORY ALSO LEFT A BIRTHDAY CARD THAT SAID: “YOU RUINED MY LIFE…ENJOY YOUR ALLERGIC REACTION.”
POLICE SAID THE VICTIM’S HUSBAND LATER FOUND THE BAG AND THE TWO CHILDREN REPORTED WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR MOTHER.
ACCORDING TO POLICE, ONE OF THE CHILDREN ALSO SAID THAT ON JUNE 14, GREGORY WENT TO HER EX-MOTHER-IN-LAW’S HOUSE TO “DROP OFF LEGAL PAPERWORK.” WHILE THERE, SHE RUBBED A PINK SUBSTANCE ON THE DRIVER’S SIDE DOOR OF HER CAR.
THE VICTIM TOLD POLICE SHE SAW THE SUBSTANCE AND USED A NAPKIN TO WIPE IT AWAY. SHE THEN WOKE UP IN THE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS BEING TREATED FOR AN ALLERGIC REACTION.
GREGORY IS CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE FELONIES.
SHE WAS ARRAIGNED WEDNESDAY MORNING WHERE A JUDGE SET HER BOND AT $25,000.
On the show Episode 14
kansas
Kansas
The Museum of Odd, maintained by artist Randy Walker in his home at 1012 New York in Lawrence, features celebrity memorabilia that includes Elvis Presley’s underwear and DNA, Charles Manson’s signature, Bob Barker’s toothbrush, a rock Helen Keller touched, and a piece of elephant poop painted to look like Adolph Hitler — and dubbed “Adolph Poopler.” Not really the name, but you can figure it out.
The museum is open by appointment only.
“Step inside and you’ll find shelves and tables packed with a bizarre blend of trinkets, including hundreds of sock monkeys, bottlecap people, aluminum cans turned into blossoming flowers, toothpick cabinets, and more,” said atlasobscura.com.
A sock monkey is a stuffed toy resembling a monkey, traditionally made from socks.
On the show Episode 14