First burn, trés excited - London, UK

[rudefruit]

Hello to all. My name is Dave but people call me a lot of things - I’m just one of those people that seems to attract nicknames.
Burning Man has been on my mind for the last 7+ years - pretty much since I became aware of its existence and this year it is finally happening. It’s a big tick off the bucket list for me – excited doesn’t quite cover it.
A couple of us had tickets in 2013 but we unfortunately had to sell them due to unforeseen circumstances at the time.
This year, we’ll be a group of 10 in total – 8 heading over from London, UK and 2 from LA, California – staying in 2 RVs. We managed to secure 8 tickets and 1 vehicle pass and are quietly confident (fingers and toes crossed looking like pretzels) we’ll get the remaining ones we need to complete our group over the summer.

I am (was) a ginge and will be amazed if by some miracle I last the week without the sun turning me into a real life burning man. I’m the only person I know that has caught a sunburn at 11am on a cool October morning in the UK.
If someone could invent some kind of protective layer - a breathable (or even cooling), anti-sun morph-suit of some sort – I’d be interested in testing it out on the playa.
Also, hats are the order of the day as I have more hair on my face than on my head.

This is going to be fun. Not wanting to wish away the summer but I cannot wait to get out there.

[Sham]

Dave, welcome to eplaya. I hope things work out for the last two tickets. Things have a way of working out like that!
Be sure to read all you can as far as preparation.
Looking forward to seeing you on the dusty playa.


Sham....

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

[Savannah]

Welcome, Dave!

[graidawg]

hi Dave fellow Londoner here, also sort of ginger.
I found the baggy pants and long shirt you see a lot of on the streets of london work perfectly for sun protection and being cool. though last year i actually ended up wearing my labcoat almost constantly - it seemed to be a fierce sun last year, the labcoat is great as the pockets hold pretty much everything i need for the day

My major suggestion is only bring things you can't buy easily - booze is stupid cheap in NV. (xcept malt whisky and champagne, so bring a good malt if you want to be popular) and socks. Get brand new socks for every day on playa your feet will thank you.

10 people in 2 rvs is a bit crowded be sure to have a tent as well.


oh yes if you smoke bring more than you need, every year i have had people almost crying with joy when they see a cigarette in my hand.

[rudefruit]

Hello everyone - thanks for the warm welcome.

Hello fellow sort of ginge Londoner graidawg.
Thank you very much for all that valuable information. I think the loose shirt route is where I'm heading - got some thin cotton bits from India that worked nicely out there.

10 people in 2 rvs is a bit crowded be sure to have a tent as well.

This is useful - thanks. Is that extra tent for sleeping in? Or for storing stuff?

Yes, I smoke - rollies. I plan to bring way more than I intend to smoke - thanks for the heads up.

[Savannah]

The "extra tent" wisdom is in regards to the fact that 5 people per RV is rather a lot, no matter how many the manufacturer claims can sleep there. If anyone gets cranky, or just wants to get away from the chaos, having a spare tent means they can.

Even if everyone is miraculously nice to one another @ all times, and the RVs are especially large models, the extra tent can be lovely for extra storage because it's not just 5 people per address . . . it's 5 people and their stuff.

[theCryptofishist]

Once, just once, I'd like to see german, or even spanish, used as the gratuitous adverb. Sehr excited, muy excited... Even "First burn, Prego!--London, UK...
Prego's a great word, it works for every thing.

I hope you realize that every time I read that word, I pronounce it "trez" in my head.

[graidawg]

Hello everyone - thanks for the warm welcome.

Hello fellow sort of ginge Londoner graidawg.
Thank you very much for all that valuable information. I think the loose shirt route is where I'm heading - got some thin cotton bits from India that worked nicely out there.

10 people in 2 rvs is a bit crowded be sure to have a tent as well.

This is useful - thanks. Is that extra tent for sleeping in? Or for storing stuff?

Yes, I smoke - rollies. I plan to bring way more than I intend to smoke - thanks for the heads up.

Yes the extra tent is for whatever its needed for, a 6 berth rv usually has a double and two singles and a make up bed, so with your numbers someone is sharing and someone is sleeping where the table is... thats going to get old pretty quickly.
read the threads on here about suggested rv rules - or its going to get expensive. anyway enough sage advice have fun take some tailer made ciggies from duty free and stop by my camp at some point.

it

Once, just once, I'd like to see german, or even spanish, used as the gratuitous adverb. Sehr excited, muy excited... Even "First burn, Prego!--London, UK...
Prego's a great word, it works for every thing.

I hope you realize that every time I read that word, I pronounce it "trez" in my head.

it is pronounced trez isn't it?

[rudefruit]

Remaining tickets acquired. Our group is now complete.
Very happy.

[Savannah]

Congratulations!

[-l-l-l-]

well done !

[Wigwam]

Dude, love your hair. Stop by The Wanderers camp and say hello.

[pink]

Once you get here pick up some SPF 50 sunblock. I'm pretty pale and have never burned at the burn. The dust acts like sunblock and sticks to the sunblock you've put on. I've used SPF 50, 30, 15 and once a really old bottle of 15 that must have been 10 years old when I ran out and found that in the bottom on one of my drawers in my van. Barely get a tan line!

And welcome, plus read a lot of the preparation threads. RV Campers Survival Guide is a good one.