BajaNomad - Burning Man 2010

Burning Man 2010

Packoderm - 9-9-2010 at 09:47 AM

I went to the Burning Man art/pagan/hippie festival. I spent 8 days there. There were 52,000 attendees present. I joined a camp of about 20 people that joined together online. Nobody in our camp previously knew each other before arriving at the festival. We were completely free to be our quirky and carefree selves. Our group, called Orphan Camp, which members ranged from ages 22 to 63 years old, gelled together as the closest family imaginable. We had a really nice camp setup with each Orphan bringing various camping equipment, cooking supplies, booze, and whatnot. One Orphan, the professor, brought a beautiful, huge shade structure. Another brought a big piece of carpet. We were really comfortable.

On the way to Burning Man, I blew my clutch in my motorhome. The cops called a tow truck to tow me into the event. It took 8 1/2 hours to go the 15 miles from where I broke down due to line traffic. It's a good thing that they gave me a flat rate. The person who I bought my ticket from brought in a clutch kit in for me a few days later, and I installed it. It took about 10 hours to install due to the desert conditions. I was good to go again for a safe ride home.

We had several days of ideal weather that prompted a hearty party atmosphere. Later we had some sand storms that were adventurous to endure. The hardest part about the whole thing is adjusting back to the normal world. I am having trouble thinking about anything else.

I'm sure that any Nomad here could have a great time at Burning Man if he or she could put together some outrageous outfits together and not be afraid to wear them. This is important. If you go there with only tourist clothing, you'll be merely a spectator instead of a participant. The wilder the better. I was lucky that somebody warned me about that first, and a trip to the Goodwill clearance center for 30 dollars worth of clothes the day before the event fixed me up just fine. If you have an interest to attend next year, you might want to look at the Burning Man discussion website: http://eplaya.burningman.com/index.php

There was a smattering of nudity and no noticeable problems from drugs or alcohol. The partying is completely nonstop around the clock. You can get a camp in the outer areas for relatively quiet for sleep. I slept fine. The actual burning of the huge Burning Man effigy and structure on the second to last night was epic and filled with pageantry with loud drums, marching, and fire dancers. On the last night, there was the burning of the temple. This was a wooden structure where people are free to write on the structure about things close to the heart such as a recently deceased friend or somebody close who is suffering. A lot of people would cry as the wrote their messages and/or mill about. The burning of the structure was a quiet and somber event which brought the festival to a satisfying close.

Once a person is in the event, money can only be used for ice and coffee. There is a complete and total lack of any kind of commercial presence. If you want a beer or drink, you just walk up to a camp that looks like it has some kind of a bar and ask for one. The most you'll have to pay is to tell a story, sing a song, or maybe give some kind of small gift. The amount of infrastructure there is absolutely amazing considering that it is largely provided by ordinary, private citizens with nothing more to gain than perhaps bragging rights. One camp even put together a large disco roller rink with hundreds of pairs of skates for loan. The whole thing is just too big too much to describe, and I knew that pictures wouldn't do it justice, so I didn't take any photos. I met a lady, and we had fun together. It was the best week of my life.

-end of report

capt. mike - 9-9-2010 at 10:05 AM

i have aerials of it, BBP went there last year. the RW is huge.
the set up is a mind blower for sure considering 100% of it has to be GONE at the close like no one was there. cannot leave a toothpick behind.

at $300 for a ticket i don't go. but i would some day.

shari - 9-9-2010 at 10:05 AM

Oh amigo...I'm soooo glad you had the time of your life...grinning from ear to ear for your happy state. thanks for the cool report...tell little Lucy to cheer up....she'll be on another adventure soon.

Osprey - 9-9-2010 at 10:07 AM

Wow! I've never been but some of my friends have attended and I have never heard a bad report about anything that happened there. That many people, just drawn to one spot, getting along with just what they brought is a rare, unique thing in itself. Kinda like nature itself my Mexican neighbors would call Sin Motivo has got to have positive results. Anytime you wake up in the morning just wondering what the day will bring and doing not a lot to help it happen is living in a happy place. Great report Pack

wessongroup - 9-9-2010 at 10:16 AM

Cool report "Pac"... glad to see someone and/or many others still getting their "crazy on"...

dtbushpilot - 9-9-2010 at 10:17 AM

Thanks for the report pack, the Burning Man is on our bucket list for sure. We are planning an Alaskan road trip next summer and that would be the perfect ending to our trip......dt

dtbushpilot - 9-9-2010 at 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishabductor
The only bad thing I have ever heard about coming from Burning man was Scabbies, I had 2 freinds that both came back with them. One being a girlfriend, who gave the scabbies to me. :mad:

Are scabbies anything like chiggers? I had chiggers once.....it felt so good to scrach them it almost made you glad you got them :lol:

mulegemichael - 9-9-2010 at 10:22 AM

our daughter just returned from there and has attended many many years in a row...she LOVES it and echoes the report here

Mexitron - 9-9-2010 at 10:55 AM

Sounds like fun Pack---gotta go one of these years...

David K - 9-9-2010 at 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by capt. mike
i have aerials of it, BBP went there last year. the RW is huge.
the set up is a mind blower for sure considering 100% of it has to be GONE at the close like no one was there. cannot leave a toothpick behind.

at $300 for a ticket i don't go. but i would some day.

what is "the RW" ?

El Jefe - 9-9-2010 at 11:58 AM

I attended about 7 years ago, and echo Pac's sentiment. It was truly amazing. The kinetic art exhibits, the parading art vehicles, the wild costumes, what a hoot! Well, well worth the price of admission.

Now that we have a motor home stateside, I am thinking of going again next September. Last time we camped out of our pickup and all our Baja camping skills came into play out on the "playa." You are out in the middle of a big dry lake bed, surrounded by a temporary city. Don't forget your bicycle. Nothing like it.

dtbushpilot - 9-9-2010 at 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

what is "the RW" ?

And what the heck is BBP? You pilot guys....sheeeeesh :lol:

Sunman - 9-9-2010 at 01:34 PM

Nice description Pack, as well as you have described it no one could ever really know unless they went, absolute sensory overload. I've been twice and know what you mean about integrating back into normal society. You may need to attend one of the many decompression parties that will follow in the next couple of months. I know exactly how you feel right now. Good on ya for making the trek, a more kinder, caring group of people you will never find. A life changing experience no doubt.

capt. mike - 9-9-2010 at 01:36 PM

sorry, force of habit.
RW means runway as in pista.

dt - did you read the BBP report when jack took the group there? pretty cool schiess.

dtbushpilot - 9-9-2010 at 01:45 PM

dt - did you read the BBP report when jack took the group there? pretty cool schiess.

I think I did but I'll go back and read it again....one of the privilages of a club member......SOMEOME STOP ME!!!!!I can't stop doing it!!!.....dt

bajafreaks - 9-9-2010 at 02:14 PM

Glad you had a good time at Burning Man we watched thru out the weekend on a live feed via the Reno Gazette. We live about 3 hours from the blackrock desert but still haven't got up the nerve to go yet and spend $300.00+ as well, maybe some day. I'm a hippie at heart.

Cyanide41 - 9-10-2010 at 12:22 PM

Burning man is something I have always wanted to do, but never have.

[Edited on 9-10-2010 by Cyanide41]

willyAirstream - 9-10-2010 at 06:49 PM

Thanks for the great report. It is hard to describe the event, I went in 08, a cross between an art festival, concert, mini woodstock, - just a thrilling paryting community. Everyone should go, all ages and all types of people are there. You will have a great time sharing! I plan on going again next year.

mojo_norte - 9-10-2010 at 06:58 PM

Hippy wanna- be's with lots of cheddar - What's the point of this - 50,000 people X $300- - why not give the money to something positive- like homeless poor people or animals ..or cancer ... or kiteboarding lessons... or ...

Sorry !

woody with a view - 9-10-2010 at 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dtbushpilot

Quote:

Are scabbies anything like chiggers? I had chiggers once.....it felt so good to scrach them it almost made you glad you got them :lol:

you guys are sick! and why was your girlfriend there w/o you, getting scabbies?

bajaguy - 9-10-2010 at 09:17 PM

Soulpatch..........

If you have an EMT rating, you might be able to "work" for the Burning Man Organizational Group or REMSA (local Reno area Med/EMT/Ambulance company)

bajaguy - 9-10-2010 at 09:39 PM

If you even think of going, visit a 2nd hand store and buy everything you will be taking to BM with you, including a bicycle......then on the way home, put it all in a dumpster. You will NEVER get all of the Playa Dust out of it. Oh, and try and hitch a ride with someone......don't even think of taking your own car.

Worked that event (against my will, but the OT was great) for two years....would never go on my own....again or ever!!!

capt. mike - 9-11-2010 at 05:02 AM

as far as peoples watching - probably the BIGGEST gathering of knot heads and nincompoops you'll ever get to see. :rolleyes:

i am so glad i gave up sniffing glue and went to straight vodka....hahahahaha

Packoderm - 9-15-2010 at 05:22 PM

Our Orphan Camp:

Art car:

wessongroup - 9-15-2010 at 05:37 PM

Thanks for sharing Pac...

Packoderm - 9-15-2010 at 05:50 PM

These photos were taken by some of my camp members.

Me changing the clutch on my motorhome.

toneart - 9-15-2010 at 08:10 PM

Hey Pack!
Thanks for your report. I have lots of friends who go every year, including an MD with whom I play music. He, his daughter, her ex and also her current boyfriend all went went together. They were part of the flame twirlers group.

I am curious to know: were you able to clean out your RV and get all the sand out? Do you think the sand caused potential damage to your motor and transmission?

I recently bought a used motorhome and would like to take it. It is extremely clean, as in hardly used. Do you recommend that I take it next year? :?:

Packoderm - 9-16-2010 at 09:12 AM

I was surprised how easy it was to get my RV back clean. The dust washes right off with water. I placed a sprinkler under the RV and moved it around every few minutes. After about an hour of unpacking and vacuuming, the interior looks like it did before I left home - which isn't saying much. :lol:

But then again, they say that we had relatively mild weather for this year's Burning Man. The ideal vehicle to bring would have to be a rented box van full of fun stuff like maybe a dome shade structure, big tent, and so on. I didn't see any of the rental box vans getting towed out at the end of the event.

bajaguy - 9-16-2010 at 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Packoderm
I was surprised how easy it was to get my RV back clean.

You have not seen the end of it........playa dust is the gift that keeps on giving

willyAirstream - 9-16-2010 at 01:59 PM

Yes, playa dust will always be there, somewhere, reminding you of the great times. Blue painters tape helps if you want to seal a window or cabinet. I brought a small air tank to blow out the radiator before departure, as well as a new air filter. Take the MH, just allow some time and beer for a clean up, it is only dust

k-rico - 9-16-2010 at 03:31 PM

I'd really like to go but we have dogs and won't leave them. I've read that dogs are not welcome. Is that true?

Packoderm - 9-16-2010 at 03:56 PM

Dogs are not allowed at all.

k-rico - 9-16-2010 at 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Packoderm
Dogs are not allowed at all.

That's what I thought. Darn! But I understand.

dogs should be served hot!!

capt. mike - 9-16-2010 at 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico
I'd really like to go but we have dogs and won't leave them. I've read that dogs are not welcome. Is that true?

and with bacon wrapped y all the condiments on a cart.

peros caliente!!! the only way to have a dog!!
sorry pet lovers. i prefer to eat rather than own...hahahaha

Packoderm - 9-16-2010 at 08:44 PM

Speaking of hot dogs, there was a guy on the middle of the open playa with a hot dog stand, and he was giving away excellent hot dogs with all the trimmings. There was one camp that was giving away grilled cheese sandwiches that were cut diagonally by using a guillotine.

capt. mike - 9-17-2010 at 04:57 AM

grilled cheese sandwiches that were cut diagonally by using a guillotine.

now THAT i would have liked to see.
any pix packy?

Packoderm - 9-17-2010 at 05:57 AM

I didn't take a single photograph. I could tell it wouldn't show up as good in pictures.