Long drive but so happy to come to my first burn.

elmozap · Post by **elmozap** » Fri May 07, 2010 8:55 pm

Hello - so excited to come to my first burn - have thought about it for years! Gonna be 59 and gray-haired, but still excited - I am driving from the east coast in NC, and plan on 5 to 6 days driving time. Figured I would need to stay overnight as close as I can get the night before - should I make a reservation in Reno? Need a hotel and obviously a grocery store. Coming by myself, female, not too used to camping but willing to give it a try.

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Fri May 07, 2010 9:00 pm

There's plenty of places to stay in Reno...prolly don't need a res...only if it'll make ya feel better. Reno's a BIG city...got everything you need.

..."not too used to camping..." Whoa Nellie! Are you in for a surprise! But no worries, you'll do OK... just make sure you have food, water and shelter...and ask for help, but don't be a moocher...no one likes a moocher...grrrrrr!

elmozap · Post by **elmozap** » Fri May 07, 2010 9:07 pm

Well, I have camped (in the Army) and am pretty self-reliant, but it has been years (many) - I will come well-supplied, have a mini-van that I plan to sleep in and a shade tarp that I can attach to the van although I am still practicing with that.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Fri May 07, 2010 9:08 pm

welcome Elmozap!!!

please,......no really......please, read and study the first timers and survival guides on the main site.......and, ask lots of questions......if......you can't find the answer on your own........
It's a great place, you'll have a great time......if your prepared......

good luck.

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Fri May 07, 2010 9:37 pm

WELCOME!!

Listen to what ygmir posted.
Since you're comming from North Carolina, you would come to Fernley before Reno. From Fernley you would go north on highway 447 to get to the playa. Obey all posted speed limits on 447 regardless of what you see others doing.
There are a few hotels in Fernley and would save you from driving 30 miles one way to Reno.
Unless you want to go to Reno.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Fri May 07, 2010 10:01 pm

Hi elmozap,

I LOVE the drive out west. Itâ€™s as much a part of the event for me as the event itself. The American west is just remarkable and the whole epic adventure of a cross-country trip makes it even more so.

Study the First-Timerâ€™s Guide and hang around here. Thereâ€™s a wealth of information to be gleaned.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri May 07, 2010 10:32 pm

I'll add that you can also sign up for the sporadic e-mail newsletter from Burning Man HQ. It is called Jack Rabbit Speaks, and you can find it on the main web site.

And what the others said!

Oh... and... do you by any chance play the piano?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri May 07, 2010 10:44 pm

You may want to go to Transformus in NC first.

There is no similarity to burning man.

shroom · Post by **shroom** » Sat May 08, 2010 4:19 am

Welcome! This is my first burn too! I'm driving from Georgia so we have about the same route I'm sure.

kingtom · Post by **kingtom** » Sat May 08, 2010 6:07 am

Hay, we could form a caravan. I'm starting in Arkansas? North Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas.Something to ponder.I've taken Hwy 40 several times and Hwy 80 and I have gray hair but so does my cat.No she is not going.

curiousgnate · Post by **curiousgnate** » Sat May 08, 2010 7:36 am

you may want more then just your van and a tarp. I would recommend having a shade structure like an easy up, and a tent to sleep in as your van will be really hot as soon as the sun comes up, if on the other hand you get up when the sun comes up this won't be a problem, but taking an afternoon nap will be. shade i have found is the most valuable resource on the playa, except for of course water.

Post by **Elderberry** » Sat May 08, 2010 8:49 am

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

JK

Post by **Sham** » Sat May 08, 2010 9:41 am

jkisha wrote:Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

JK

Just tell me this JK, do you have a button you push to add this message each time, or do you type it out? I guts ta know!

Welcome elmozap. You'll have the time of your life and you'll wonder what took you so long to do this. As far as your age goes, maybe you can help out some of the older folks there. There are many who are much older that you attending. See you there in just over 3 months!
Sham

C.f.M. · Post by **C.f.M.** » Sun May 09, 2010 6:17 am

gyre wrote:You may want to go to Transformus in NC first.

There is no similarity to burning man.

You've been?

In addition to Transformus, there's plenty of other burner activities, Meet and Greets, etc.

A shit ton of people drive out from the Southeast. I'm leaving out of Asheville - left from Atlanta, last year.

"Not to used to camping?"

Might want to test it out a few times, before you live it for a couple of weeks (drive time + Burning Man).

www.couchsurfing.org will cut down on camping whilst you travel

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sun May 09, 2010 7:39 am

Asheville is a very cool place

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun May 09, 2010 7:45 am

It warms up in the summer.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun May 09, 2010 7:53 am

C.f.M. wrote:
gyre wrote:You may want to go to Transformus in NC first.

There is no similarity to burning man.
You've been?

I have, and I'm certain I told you I went too.

It really is a good idea to camp at least once somewhere, and always set your tent up before you go camping, and prep it if needed.

Burning man is just ike regular camping, if you do it on a flatbed truck going down the freeway.
And there's some dust involved too.

C.f.M. · Post by **C.f.M.** » Sun May 09, 2010 8:11 am

Gyre: Come back! We miss you.

RE: BM & regular camping: and you sleep with your head on the running engine, with another 10,000 cars pulled up around you, playing their stereos...

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun May 09, 2010 9:04 am

C.f.M. wrote:Gyre: Come back! We miss you.

RE: BM & regular camping: and you sleep with your head on the running engine, with another 10,000 cars pulled up around you, playing their stereos...

They set the date too close to burning man.

And it's way louder than burning man.
I don't miss that part.
But I would like to go back.

You know, somebody there told me they went to burning man and it was too long for them!!!!!!

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Sun May 09, 2010 9:14 am

gyre wrote:
C.f.M. wrote:Gyre: Come back! We miss you.

RE: BM & regular camping: and you sleep with your head on the running engine, with another 10,000 cars pulled up around you, playing their stereos...

They set the date too close to burning man.

And it's way louder than burning man.
I don't miss that part.
But I would like to go back.

You know, somebody there told me they went to burning man and it was too long for them!!!!!![/quote]

CFM might take that comment out of context............

C.f.M. · Post by **C.f.M.** » Sun May 09, 2010 9:33 am

Yeah, I'd take it....repeatedly.

elmozap · Post by **elmozap** » Sun May 09, 2010 4:01 pm

Thanks for all the info. I have read the 1st timers guide a couple of times, printed it out and started making lists. I also bought 4 boxes of ziploc bags in various sizes as someone said it was the one thing they needed lots more of!
I am usually up with the sun or shortly after, but I know the van will be hot. I am testing attaching the shade tarp to the van roof-rack and then I have two very heavy flagpole stands that I plan to get poles for and attach. I am worried about winds though for that plan.
I have thought about bringing a tent - not made up my mind.
Bicycle shopping this week.

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Sun May 09, 2010 4:26 pm

If you're concerned about wind, which you should be, you can always take the tarp down. Try to make it simple so it won't be a hassle.
Even if the flagpoles withstands the wind, the tarp itself could end up in Utah, or at least the other side of the playa.

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Sun May 09, 2010 7:18 pm

elmozap wrote:Well, I have camped (in the Army) and am pretty self-reliant, but it has been years (many) - I will come well-supplied, have a mini-van that I plan to sleep in and a shade tarp that I can attach to the van although I am still practicing with that.

Good for you! self reliant solo off the bat! If you sleep at night (some do, I find it a hard habit to break) you can avoid the problem of having a too hot sleeping place. Guy lines and stakes, bring extra rope, poles, stakes, for your shade., and fix as needed. Look at photos, there are many basic ways to hang a tarp off a car, even as a lean to

elmozap · Post by **elmozap** » Mon May 10, 2010 7:41 am

I keep making different meal lists, trying to decide what to take from home and what to stop and buy. I have read lots of comments about pancakes and things that various theme camps cook and give away. Are there different kitchens that give away meals? What kind of food do you experienced burners bring with you?

Post by **Sham** » Mon May 10, 2010 8:08 am

There is every store imaginable in Reno or along the way. We tend to cook a nice dinner at our camp each night, but I always bring a few cans of ravioli or such just in case I miss a meal. I have prepackaged things from Costco like cheese and crackers. Basically, go though each meal in your head, breakfast, lunch and dinner and then figure the number of days you'll be there. Think about an cooler to keep things cold or frozen and don't forget the snacks in between. I always pick up lunch type things that are prepackaged to toss in my backpack as well as granola bars for quick energy. If you're driving, you can always bring some extra and take it home to eat on the ride back.

I wouldn't plan or depend on any other camp to offer food for you. If they do, consider it a nice little bonus.

I make my detailed list before I head out and then make my stop at Costco and punch out the list. I have it down where I am at the very end of the food by the end of the week. People tend to go crazy on the buying, but with a little fine tuning, you can get the quantity right.

Post by **AntiM** » Mon May 10, 2010 8:21 am

Good advice... we don't do meals in our camp, as we're all on different schedules. We have some food to cook, but not much. Don't want to deal with the clean up and resulting water, but that is a personal choice. We have food which is portable, and food which can be made single serving or feed the group. Since we're down to four main people, that's easy for us, any other campers do their own thing. Important, as our dietary needs/preferences vary wildly.

While planning, don't skimp, but don't stock up too much on perishables as appetites often dwindle in the desert.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Mon May 10, 2010 10:01 am

elmozap wrote:Thanks for all the info. I have read the 1st timers guide a couple of times, printed it out and started making lists. I also bought 4 boxes of ziploc bags in various sizes as someone said it was the one thing they needed lots more of!
I am usually up with the sun or shortly after, but I know the van will be hot. I am testing attaching the shade tarp to the van roof-rack and then I have two very heavy flagpole stands that I plan to get poles for and attach. I am worried about winds though for that plan.
I have thought about bringing a tent - not made up my mind.
Bicycle shopping this week.

There are two schools for shade & structures out there.
" Loose and Flowie " & " Sturdy and Ridgid "

I go the " Loose and Flowie " route as I too am a single female & don't want to "have" to rely on help from others & I also don't want build a perminant structure.

I camped in a VW Van last year & can say a van is awesome for one person. I also, pitched my shade using the entry side of the van to anchor. I went with a reflective silver woven tarp & pvc bent at an arch for support. Wind went right thru & the shade never failed once. It was real quiet too.

there is LOTS of discussion re: shade here on e-playa. I'm sure you will find whatever is perfect for you.

oh, & WAY to go on finally getting yer butt here !!

&& also, don't worry about your hair color. everyones hair is the SAME color after two days.

elmozap · Post by **elmozap** » Tue May 11, 2010 4:26 pm

I am thinking the loose and flowie will work best for me as well. I did think about a really large deck umbrella, but I checked out the price on those today - not going in that direction.
Did you like the area you camped in last year and about where was it? I have not quite figured out where Hushville is unless it is near 5:30, and I am kind of looking forward to some of the music.
I haven't found anything that says how much the coffee and ice cost - just that there are ice vendors in several places now.
I found some waterless shampoo that really works well and am bringing a couple of bottles of that.

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Tue May 11, 2010 5:07 pm

I am kind of looking forward to some of the music.

Elmozap, since we are about the same age, I ought to point out to you that there is very little music at the Burning Man Art Festival.

Burning Man is NOT a "music festival" as most people seem to understand that term.

The prevalent sound in Black Rock City is electronic dance rythms. There are many names for it, but "techno" seems to cover it. And it is LOUD. AND EVERYWHERE.

That said, you should be able to find all kinds of real music. An honest-to-Wagner opera singer just turned up here on E-playa, and I have a piano for her. But you will have to search for real music. And the techno may drown it out, somewhat.

Now.... I'm no great fan of techno. And I'm really peeved that the techno fans play it so loud. But I STILL enjoy every minute of Burning Man, every year. It's kind'a like the dust and the other minor nuicances -- it comes with the territory, and a week at Burning Man is still the best vacation on Earth.

But it is not a music festival at all.

Long drive but so happy to come to my first burn.

Long drive but so happy to come to my first burn.

Have camped sort of

Westward we go.

Re: Have camped sort of