David,
Thanks for the report on BM. I'm sorry I couldn't join you guys out there;
it sounds like we share similar attitudes about both creature comforts and
recreational activities.
You may have heard that I signed a contract to co-write a book. This one is
basically a rewriting and updating of some of my MYSTERIOUS CALIFORNIA
stuff. Barnes & Noble is publishing it as part of a series of books about
Weird Americana.
Anyway, if I had received my $1500 advance check from B&N just TWO WEEKS
earlier, I probably would have sprung for BM tix and supplies, and begged
quarter in your RV.
You might be interested in the fact that there's going to be a re-creation
of the original Burning Man festival this Saturday in San Francisco. It's
happening at Baker Beach, which witnessed the first BM eighteen years ago.
Since I can't attend the Nevada event, it looks like I'll be going to this
atavistic 'do. Which is fine with me, as it looks to be perfect beach
weather this long weekend.
Enjoy yourselves, and remember to send us all a full report when you return!
Mike
> Aloha from Black Rock Desert, the hub of the universe.
> This is definitely the kind of event you'd appreciate, Mike.
> You'd have your fill of scantily or skyclad ladies, but so
> so much more, like long fluorescent dragons snaking their
> way across the playa, sculptures of light, Camp Costco,
> spontaneous burning sculptures that turn into large campfires,
> elaborately decorated art cars ferrying people between sights,
> the formidably large temple at 12:00 (which will be torched on
> Sunday - see attached photo), and the Man himself - to be
> incinerated on Saturday in a mind blowing blend of flame,
> music and frolic.
>
> Carlye and I took along her friend Soren's girlfriend in the
> rented RV and camped out in Bishop on the way up. After a
> mad shopping spree for provisions like water in Reno, we
> checked into the 3:00 ranger camp around 9pm Monday. After
> the generator kicked the bucket, we moved to the other side
> of the camp and plugged into their mongo generator.. our
> version of roughing it. It's unbelievable some people just
> come in a small car and camp out in a tent. Carlye's working
> graveyard shift as a Ranger, and I'm just staying up late and
> sleeping 'till like 9am.
>
> No clothes required here either, except you'd want them on
> the cooler evenings like tonight. Most days and nights are
> quite warm, however, so all you really need is a bicycle and
> a water bottle. Today we had a naked tug-of-war with like
> 40 people!
>
> Tonight I'm probably the only one plugged into their narrow
> bandwidth internet connection, sitting in a dark lounge in
> center camp, where some guy just traded me a laser pointer
> for some time on my laptop to check his email.
>
> For more on this remarkable event, see:
> http://www.burningman.com
>
> dc
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> Yahoo! Groups Links
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Received on 2004-09-03 12:31:26