First time burner looking for potential ride from southeast US.

[Fearholdsusback]

Hey guys, this will be my first burn and I got a Limited Income ticket yesterday (YAH!). Im super excited and cant wait to go, unfortunately I dont have a ride to get there (my jeep will cost $700 plus for gas alone) and dont really have those funds since Im a full time student. I am willing to drive to pretty much anywhere in the southeast USA to meet you and can help with driving time and gas (excellent driver). I have looked on Rideshare, posted on Reddit, and somebody told me to come here.

Let me know if any of you guys would be willing, I am super chill and will pay for gas, and help with driving. Plus my LI package came with a vehicle pass so I guess I have that as well to offer( If all else fails I will play guitar for you on the way there). I am open-minded about everything and dont smoke.

Hope to see you guys on the Playa!

[Bless]

Where do you live?

[Ratty]

And when can you travel.

[Agaton]

(People, people... what happened to our manners?!)

Welcome to ePlaya, Fearholdsusback!

[Fearholdsusback]

I live on the east coast of Florida, And I can travel whenever. Thanks for the welcome guys.

[Fearholdsusback]

Hmm, nobody in the southeast huh.

[Bless]

There are lots of people in the southeast. You should try to connect with some local burner groups.

[Meat Hunter]

Time to recalculate: It cost me $1,100 in round trip gas from Mississippi last year and also the year before.

[Captain Goddammit]

Hell it cost me $900 in gas from only 700 miles away, in a gas truck carrying and pulling all the stuff.
Then I spent an undisclosed insane amount on a diesel pickup that uses half the fuel...

Make no mistake, Burning Man is no cheap vacation. The years we fly to Hawaii instead are cheaper! And usually better too.
If you can't shit the coin to fly to Hawaii, you might rethink Burning Man. I don't even want to think of the grand total I've "invested" into it over the years.

[Meat Hunter]

I suspect that even if you split the round trip gas with someone driving from Florida in a medium loaded vehicle and with with reasonable gas mileage - 1/2 the gas would cost you around $1,000 or more.

From Florida, (driving 8 hrs a day) I would plan on spending a minimum of 5 nights in a motel -- one way; 10 nights total at $70 - $90 per night (minimum)

And, that does not even cover such minor things as food, water, all the other equipage and expenses that goes along with a trip to the playa. Food and water alone, I would plan on $200 - $300.

So far, we are up to ~$2,000.00. Your personal equipage and other expenses, I would not even try to guess.

As the Captain suggested, the price of a ticket is minuscule compared to what the whole round trip will most probably cost you.

I truly hope that you can make it to the playa because it will be worth every cent (hundred dollar bill) that you spend. You will figure out a way. Keep working at it.

[Dr. Pyro]

<sheesh> The problem with "low income" burners is that they have no clue that to go cheap is expensive; to go expensive isn't that much more expensive. They would be better suited staying home, get a job and some responsibility, and go to TTITD when they can both afford it and not be a burden on everyone else. Get a clue. And a job.

[Fearholdsusback]

Thanks for the help guys. I think Im just going to take my jeep out there this year, its 2,880 miles so a full trip will be 5,760. My jeep gets close to 28 hwy so fully loaded will bring it down to around 26 or 25. Assuming its 25 and the average rate of gas is $2.12 across america the total cost would be $488 for gas round trip. Probably better once I put new spark plugs into it. So budget $550 for gas.

Sources for Gas: http://money.cnn.com/news/storysuppleme ... _by_state/

I already have budgeted out everything, hopefully with a meager budget of 1.2k I can enjoy the playa with all the rest of you.

[Fearholdsusback]

<sheesh> The problem with "low income" burners is that they have no clue that to go cheap is expensive; to go expensive isn't that much more expensive. They would be better suited staying home, get a job and some responsibility, and go to TTITD when they can both afford it and not be a burden on everyone else. Get a clue. And a job.

Normally I dont respond to remarks like this, but since you care so much as to express your opinion I will express mine. First thanks for the response, it shows how you follow the tenets of Burning man such as the first principle Radical Inclusion which states "Anyone may be a part of Burning Man. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community." Second, I wouldn't be a burden on anyone else as I am completely self reliant, just would like to be able to catch a ride with somebody and share the gas/driving. Third (and this is a very big one so pay attention), some people dont have the resources such as yourself to pick up and be able to do this and instead plan throughout the year to be able to attend something they themselves have been looking forward to and putting money aside for. Some people (such as students) make ends meet so we can experience burning man along with others like yourself. That is what makes this event so special, its all the people who go even the ones who sacrifice their entire bank account to make it.

But enough of this, I would love to debate the philosophical meaning of burning man with you on the play. Maybe I could even change your mind on those who need to "Get a clue, and a job"

[Captain Goddammit]

it shows how you follow the tenets of Burning man such as the first principle Radical Inclusion which states "Anyone may be a part of Burning Man. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community."

That's actually utter bullshit, nothing but glittering hippy hype.
That so-called tenet should have read "Anyone may be a part of Burning Man if they can afford tickets and if they can afford to get there and provide for themselves in the middle of Black Rock Desert"

"Radical Inclusion" is something you have to purchase with lots of money. Otherwise it quickly becomes Radical Exclusion.
Here would be a fun experiment: Write to BM HQ, tell them you have no money at all and see if you get included.

The overall cost to do this trip, without suffering on my goddamm vacation, is what's going to end it for me because there are extremely awesome other places to go for that kind of $$. Places with beautiful beaches, warm waves, and no dust storms.

I'm not being elitist, I'm a regular working stiff. The truth is Burning Man is expensive, more expensive the less you want to suffer while there.

Burning Man sees no color of skin, nationality, or walk of life... but it sees money. If it doesn't see it, you ain't included.

[Token]

An what The Cap'n is really sayin' ...

... He getting old as fuck and can't hack it no mo' like in the good ol' days.

And that my dear young'nz is how the Jaded old "burnier than thou" farts get to pasture.

Mahalo

[Meat Hunter]

I took a look at your state-by-state gas chart. That chart is average within the states.

Gas prices have risen a bit since that data was loaded. I suspect that you will be looking at $1.00+ more per gallon at the stations along the Interstate and remote highways that you will be driving -- Something in the ranges of $2.40 to $2.95 per gallon.

On some of those long stretches of desert Interstate through NM, AZ and and smaller desert highways in NV; gas stations can be spaced out a good bit. I have seen a number of folks out of gas and looking for a lift. Whenever my tank is down to 1/2 full, I start looking for the next gas station.

What about any mechanical problems with the vehicle that might drain the budget along the way?

Hope to be seeing you in the dust. Come by the Airport for a look-see and a bit of fun of a different nature.

Where will you be volunteering this year?

[Captain Goddammit]

An what The Cap'n is really sayin' ...

... He getting old as fuck and can't hack it no mo' like in the good ol' days.

And that my dear young'nz is how the Jaded old "burnier than thou" farts get to pasture.

Mahalo

Hahaha!! That wouldn't be nearly as funny if it weren't just about right!!!

[Token]

I'm so with you Cap'n

[Captain Goddammit]

Just to be clear on what I was talking about, almost no one goes to Burning Man for less than $1500 if you add everything up. Ticket, maybe VP, travel, camping supplies, etc.
I doubt many get by under $2000.
If you shop for it, you can get round trip to Hawaii for $600-$650. I've seen decent oceanfront rooms on Kauai that are basic but a hell of a lot better than a tent for $70 a day.

Like I said, I'm just an ordinary type. I wear a hardhat and reflector vest at work. My camper is 20 years old and cheap. I usually put Carolan's Irish cream in my coffee instead of real Baileys.

Hawaii is (or can be) literally cheaper than Burning Man, so when I say if you can't scrape up the $$ to fly to Hawaii you can't afford Burning Man I'm just being literal. BM isn't the cheaper option!


Hawaii has better fire spinners too.
And if you saw some of the rusted-out hoopties rolling around the islands, you'd just about call 'em mutant vehicles.

P.S. Oh yeah I'm an idiot, I'll be there on the playa...

[Luigi]

Hello Fear and Welcome to the eplaya boards, where all the info is.

I have to agree with the Captain, $1500 sounds about minimum. I am local and have most of the infrastructure so I figure this year it will be only $1000 to get food, tequila, and there and back.

Have you looked at flights? Flying usually makes sense for solo travel. Thats a helluva dive.....

Luigi