Scenes from Burning Man

Yes, we're back! Covered in dust, our skin cracking from the dry weather, and exhausted from all the work that goes into creating a home in the desert. We unloaded the truck just last night for all our personal things, but still today, 4 very generous and dedicated men of our camp have to put all our communal stuff in storage, return the mountain of water jugs we used, and wash our truck from top to bottom.

This year our camp rocked and a core group of people put in much time and energy. Thank you! We had quite a few newbies too and they were awesome in taking up dish duty, tidying up our "living room" and making sure our camp ran well.

I brought my cellphone, hoping I could moblog at least once from Black Rock City. Dav brought his laptop and we tried connecting to the wifi there, but were unsuccessful. So here are my cell phone pics.

They show a snippet of Dav and my huge tent (yes, it was definitely a bonus to have all our stuff in our tent and to be able to stand up inside) and parts of our communal camp (living room, newly added hammock, Dav's dome). Then there are pics of central camp. I find the message board quite fascinating and took some pics of examples too. Wonder what all those messages led to.

This year, Dav and I did some volunteering. We collated papers (in an air-conditioned trailer so that was actually more like a nice break for us) and we did the city's lamp lighting. We washed and prepped 100s of lamps, Dav carried the lamps, and I was a support person who relit lamps and passed lamps to be lifted to the super high wooden lamp posts. It was very dusty at the time, so I protected myself with my bug goggles and dust mask. And see my life-saving camel pack water pipe thingy sticking out by my neck?

Oh yeah, there are more pics from our other camp folks posted on our Campalicious site.

Comments

[sean@cheesebikini.com]

I couldn't make it this year (classes, parents in hurricane, etc.) so I'm living vicariously through your photos. It seems that this year you guys got the costumes down to a state of near perfection. I think you can build costumes now for movies and Broadway shows. Magnifique.

I carried the lamps Jesus-like during my first year, 4 years ago.. Man those photos brought it back with incredible clarity. It was a wild experience, hellish in a way but fantastic. This makes me want to do it again next year.

What's the story with that crazy living-garbage-can photo?

[Dav]

Lamp-lighting was so much fun I did it twice this year. The first time (with Mie) was the shortest route, around Center Camp, but it was during a bit of a dust storm. The second night was the night before the burn where a few guys from Campalicious did the long route from Center Camp past the Man towars the Temple. That was a lot more fun.

I think the trash can guy was supposed to be a lizard or something.

[jean]

welcome home, mie & dav! you are both so beautiful in your costumes!! it's good to have kokochi back & i'm sure the cats were glad to see you.
keep rocking - peace - jean

[Anne]

Welcome back Mie and Dav! I too am attempting to live vicariously through the photos! hopefully I will be able to make it next year.

[Chris]

Thanks Mie and Dav for posting all of these for those like me who only get to live this vicariously... for now...