Got home tonight from the Playa. About 9 hours for me, door to door, 320 miles. approx 2.5 hours just from camp to Hwy 447, only a few miles. This was during Exodus, with lots and lots of people leaving. It was handled quite well, with pulsing of groups of vehicles, so you didn't sit idling, but turned the engine off, got out and met some neighbors, shared leftover drinks and foods. I actually met a woman I'd known years ago!!
Glad to see folks were able to check out the website. The weather varied wildly, including a white out on friday night, out on the Playa, but not in the city. We were way out past the Man and the Temple, and wearing goggles and face masks we followed the music and found our way back to the city area. Most days were hot and sunny, with occasional dust flurries.
Saturday afternoon was windy with intermittent duststorms, but then fabulously clear in the pre-burn festivities. That didn't last, and it was blowing during the burn, which fortunately was coming at my back, and only added to the amazing sky with the fireworks and flames. It was a good burn, entertaining, and not too lengthy!!
Cliff, as far as how to camp with your friends...it varies. The tickets are not for any particular spots, rather on a first come, first serve basis, unless you are a theme camp with an assigned area. I'm going to look into that as a possibility. The alternative is whoever arrives first (the earlier the better) snags an area, marking out a certain amount of property with vehicles, cones, tape, etc. You then register at center camp, or post on the message board, and those arriving later can check in there to find your "address". My friends arrived tuesday, found people we knew from previous camps, and joined them. When I arrived Wednesday I found a posted message and went and found them, at 5:15 and G. This all makes sense when you see how the city is laid out. Check out aerial photos of the city to see the layout.
I did see a couple of teardrops there. One was a 1959 something or other and he was a mead maker, named Tom. He offered mead tastings. Also saw a little guy, but nobody around at the time. Saw lots and lots of TTT's. As one of my campmates noted, this festival has breathed life into many old trailers!! Saw Chris, who was on here a couple of years ago, as TechNomad I think. He'd had a T@b at the time, has upgraded to an Oliver, I think, sort of like a Casita. He said if we form a Teardrop group for Burningman he will know people to send our way. He is still full-time on the road, along with his partner, Cherie.
Shaun, I did see one former RV rolled over and completely destroyed on the side of the road today, not too far north of Wadsworth I think. Some people treated the road like a one-way highway, passing everything in sight! (in their defense, some vehicles really needed passing!)
I'll try to get some pics posted and will post a link here, but I'm pretty lazy that way.
Tickets go on sale in January, but can be bought up until the event, just more expensive. I paid $240 last year, and friends buying at the gate paid $360. Same price for 1 day or all 7.
Well, I hope to get the ball rolling and gather some teardrops for 2011, so keep it in mind for Aug 28-Sept 5, 2011.
Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:09 am
Wow that was pretty cool! I've been checking out the Burningman web cam from time to time to see what was going on and what it was all about. I just happened to check in at the right time tonight to watch the burn. I got onto the site just before the fireworks started. That was pretty wild. I can't imagine what it must be like actually being on the Playa in the midst of it all. That has got to be one of those experiences that you have to be there for to understand it.