Dust & tidbits from Burning Man 2010

[openscarf]

 

I don’t know how to begin. I’ve heard it takes about 3 weeks to fully return. I believe it.

 

I scribbled words and thoughts while I was there but they’re simply bookmarks or postits to remind me, maybe, of something. This is the beginning, but I’m going to write mostly non-chronologically. This is the record, but I’m sure I’ll be writing about it for months.

 

I drove the whole way, happily. The first highlight was before we even got there, we took a slight detour , rounded a bend and saw magnificent Pyramid Lake. It's absolutely one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. I was enthralled. We drove around it one way then the other, a sensual and gorgeous thrill. These pictures are off the internet. I’ve never seen water this blue, these pictures are true.

      

 

In Gerlach, the town closest to the desert, it rained. We just started laughing. We had not prepared for rain and we no longer cared what happened while we were there, we just wanted to be there and we had almost done it. It had seemed formidable and almost impossible. We (and everyone on the playa, we later learned) were treated to a magnificent double rainbow and could see the beginning and end.

 

We turned “off the asphalt” at about 8:30pm on Monday. I’m still not clear if this next part was 4 or 8 miles, but it was 4 lanes of vehicles waiting to get in. Far off to the right we could see what literally looked like Oz. We could make out the Man.

 

I’ve always thought that driving west on highway 24 at night, through the Caldecott Tunnel, then bursting through the other side and seeing San Francisco on a clear night was like seeing Oz.  I have to think of another comparison now.

 

We waited in line for about 3 hours but at the time, we had no idea how long we'd be in line or what to expect at the 'end.'  Cars, campers, and RV’s stretched as far as the eye could see; people walked around, stretching their legs.  We considered we may sleep there and greet sunrise in the car, which was fine, we had all our food, water and our pee funnels and containers. Every 40 minutes or so, there’d be a burst of activity and we’d move.  We people watched, made jokes about every car and person and laughed a lot.

 

I all ready felt some freedom in what I was wearing. An old gold knit sparkly camisole that had a hole in the hem, so I trimmed it, capri yoga pants and my boots. It was cold. At sunset I put on my sweater.

 

We finally reached K. on our walkie talkie and he gave us the camp address, E and 7:30.  And then we got to the head of the line! The car got searched, and then we got hugged, encouraged, made sand angels and rang a big bell proclaiming the loss of our virginity. Then we drove in. We were giddy.

 

Surreal doesn’t begin to describe it; dark streets, people and camps everywhere; music thumping from every direction. We found our camp.  K. was exhausted from setting up his huge camp that he was generously sharing with us and others, we told him to sleep and we’d set up our tent. It was about 35 degrees. I was freezing, exhausted, overwhelmed, but got through it. We got it up, got the sleeping bags and pillows in, dragged in some needed stuff, put on our sweats, smoked a few bowls and lay our weary heads down.

 

We met a lot of people in the morning, our campmates, figured out how to clean up and get out and got on our bikes. The dream I’d had in my head for 10 months was a reality. I was riding my bike in the playa.

                                                                                    

Comments

[dadadadio.livejournal.com]

Sleeping in a tent at 35' is no picnic. I've done it, tenting in the snow.

What's the distance from the bay area to the playa?

Looking forward to hearing about the cast of characters.

[openscarf.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the first night was the coldest. Setting up by headlamp is hard, you never find everything. I found my hat which was great, I pulled it over my face, I couldn't get my bag zipped up all the way until later and I was too tired to blow up my pad thingy, I just put my bag over it, which didn't do much to warm me. In a few hours though, the sun rose.

Normally, it's only about about 5-6 hours to Black Rock Desert from here. We started driving about 10:30ish, made a few stops along the way for fruit and restroom breaks. You drive 80 east almost the whole way and it's fun identifying who else is going.

Then we took a long break in Reno, P.had to work on her story for a bit. It felt nice to sit in a cafe. I pounded a coffee and then about 10 glasses of water which helped prepare me I think. Took another last break in Gerlach then joined the throngs.

[yummydeb.livejournal.com]

Such a lovely beginning! Thank you for taking us along for the ride :) I love the photo, you look ready for anything!

[openscarf.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That's a perfect compliment, because you carry everything in your pack you'd need if you get stuck in a dust storm (white-out), get lost or whatever. My camel back holds 70 ounces of water, I had snacks-cliff bars, dust mask, goggles, potty supplies, tire pump for the bike, gifts I was giving out, my journal, chapstick, etc. So yeah, ready for anything is the goal and the key to participating in everything!

[sharpchick.livejournal.com]

Can't wait for the next installments...

Keep it coming!

[panicalert.livejournal.com]

I am really looking forward to the next installment!