Flying in and a bit nervous

Prospero's Ghost · Post by **Prospero's Ghost** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:09 pm

This is my first time coming and I am so excited! 2 of my friends and I are planning on flying in from New York to be there in time for the festivities. We are all a bit nervous because it seems as if there is so much preparation that is needed in terms of supplies (rental car that will rent to burners, acquiring bikes, shade structure, etc...) that we aren't sure exactly how to proceed. I know that many have done this before, but we are at a bit of a loss. How do out of towners do it if they aren't driving? I have searched through the other threads and I haven't found an answer. I apologize if this has already been discussed somewhere. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:31 pm

It's been discussed a ton of times, and it will be discussed a ton more times. :-> Things change every year, so it's always a timely topic.

For first timers, I suggest BMOrg's materials at
http://www.burningman.com/first_timers/
See the menu on the right side of that page after you've read the guide and follow the links to the survival guide, the FAQ, and such. BMOrg's preparation page at
http://www.burningman.com/preparation/
still has links to 2007, but read all the menu items on that page, too.

Then check out Louise's and my pages at
http://www.cieux.com/bm/bmtoc.html#perennialGuides
and Louise's pages at
http://civilizedexplorer.pbwiki.com/CivExReno
These pages provide links to what you need at the Burn and where in Reno to get them. Louise links to maps and provides information on shopping by exit on the freeways for your shopping convenience. She has links to rentals, too, so check those out.

For first timers, I really recommend not trying to do too much. If you're flying in, you may not be able to get bikes. There are people who provide them at the playa, and someone will post links to whoever those people are. Bikes are highly recommended, but if you can't get them, you can't get them.

Twin City Surplus
http://www.twincitysurplus.com/
at one time provided a kit of everything you need for people flying in. I don't know if they still do; email them and ask what they can do for you.

As an aside, let me assure you that you'll find you've forgotten something (our first year, someone came buy asking if we had a garlic press she could borrow - her group had forgotten theirs). Someone will be able to lend or give you whatever you need (she came back by five minutes later waving a press at us - "Found one!"). Burning Man is a group of special, generous people.

Drop me a mesage in August - Louise and I give away clothes on the Friday before the Burn, so you'll have some playa wear for the Burn:
http://civex.smugmug.com/gallery/3434855_UKJ6C
http://civex.smugmug.com/gallery/1089945_zcEdk
http://civex.smugmug.com/gallery/1867757_ZSETM

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:54 pm

I love flying but I hate landings. There's always a sharp BUMP as the landing gear touch down. Helluva way to wake up. Fly safely.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:31 pm

Ugly Dougly wrote:I love flying but I hate landings. There's always a sharp BUMP as the landing gear touch down. Helluva way to wake up. Fly safely.

Remember the year the guy flew in to the Playa and was SO excited that he forgot to lower his landing gear.. Yep he slid in safe and somewhat sane....

skeetsh00ter · Post by **skeetsh00ter** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:23 pm

You can definitely do it. A friend and I did the same last year from Atlanta (also both as virgins) and didn't have trouble at all. We looked like crazies going through the airport with as much stuff as we did, but we managed to get everything important we needed out there.

I checked two coolers when we flew that were both stuffed to the brim (clothes, pots, pans, anything that would fit) and carried on the biggest size bag allowable. My friend packed two huge duffels and also had a big carry-on. Once we got to SF all we had to do was get the rental car, and then shop for our shade structure material (we purchased all the pvc out there, but brought our own tarps w/ us) and groceries.

Piece of cake. As everyone will tell you though, you'd better make damn sure that rental car is spotless when you bring it back.

Let me know is you have any logistics type questions and goodluck!

roamer · Post by **roamer** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 8:55 pm

I reckon flying in from afar only adds to the fun and you'll look back fondly at the challenge of it all.

Prospero's Ghost · Post by **Prospero's Ghost** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 5:30 pm

This is great! I didn't know that you could check coolers when flying! Thanks for all the responses. I already feel better! Thanks and see you out there!

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:31 pm

Not only can you check stuff on the airlines, but you can stop by kinkos on your way to the airport and ship your golf clubs (for example) and they will be waiting at your hotel when you arrive. Same idea applies to shipping stuff to be used at black rock city. And you can ship to Bruno's, pay him $10.00 for the use and pick up your shit in fucking Gerlach.. (we have had things to pick up both at the Gerlach BM office and the Gerlach post office.)

Badger · Post by **Badger** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 3:26 pm

I didn't know that you could check coolers when flying!

Yep. Maximize the utility of things. Use coolers to pack your clothes, shoes, blankets, etc. to get to the playa. Arrive there, unpack, set up your tent, empty the clothes and go into town for shopping needs.

Oh, and use the coolers for ice storage.

oFZo · Post by **oFZo** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:06 am

Try flying in from Amsterdam, like me

(luckily I have relatives in CA)

skeetsh00ter · Post by **skeetsh00ter** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 3:28 pm

flying in is flying in no matter how far you come from....not to cheapen your journey or anything oFZo.

blyslv · Post by **blyslv** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 3:43 pm

Buy twice as much water as you think you need and half as much of everything else.

If you want to "consume" BM, bring a bike and you can ride frenetically all over the playa checking things off your "To see" list. Or instead of dropping $100 on a bike you'll use a week, go about on foot and meet many people randomly.

skeetsh00ter · Post by **skeetsh00ter** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:44 pm

i agree w/ blyslv about bikes and walking. I had a bike last year and walked very little. I came home and realized that some of the most fun i had was meeting people while walking...its really hard to carry on a conversation on a bike.

This year i'm going to bring my bike, but i'll use it only when i need to go somewhere really far.

ragabashpup · Post by **ragabashpup** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:55 pm

the other problem with bikes is you can't hop on most art cars with them.

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:06 am

Having a bike is almost a must. You "can" walk the whole time but it's farther than you'd think to most things. My crew, for the most part, walks around all night instead of biking but when it comes to just simple things like "I want to go to a bar" or "I want to go to the Big Rig Jig" it is very nice to have a bike. Also, if you have any intention of going to the fence, you probably want a bike. It's a long walk...

If you cant bring a bike, there is always Yellow bike (assuming they are doing that again this year).

Prospero's Ghost · Post by **Prospero's Ghost** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:21 am

We are going to definitely try for bikes if possible. If we can't swing them then it's no big deal. We want to try and take in as much as we can while we are there. I suppose this is all part of being a virgin. You plan on one thing and see things as an absolute must and then laugh about it next year after the experience.

I really appreciate all of the comments and suggestions. I am feeling better about the packing and flying. Our next focus is the rental car and shade structure.

Here's a question: Everyone has said that returning the rental car in spotless condition is a must obviously. Has anyone ever tried using a "car cover" of some sort while there? I had a thought that if we store things in a secondary tent we may not need "easy" access to the car once we get there. It may not be completely successful but I thought it would at least help. Any thoughts?

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:33 am

Has anyone ever tried using a "car cover" of some sort while there?

I have not tried it but I would not suggest it and here's why. The playa dust will still get under the cover unless you can vacuum-seal it to the car. This being the case there will be dust between the cover and paint. Couple that with the persistent winds and by the end of the week you'll probably have some nice spots where the paint has worn completely off. Frankly, it's not the outside of the car that you have to worry about. Playa will wash off rather easily. It's the inside that you must take extra care to clean before returning the car. No matter what the car will smell like playa for the next 6 months (but you can mask this from the rental agency by spraying some air freshener down the AC vents (the one's on the outside).

- When you get to Gerlach or Empire, get out of the car and tape dust filters over the air ducts (the one's on the OUTSIDE of the car). Do NOT run the A/C or vents from here until you leave the playa. Of course, this means that you'll have to arrive at night or roll down the windows in order to get relief from the heat.
- Once you have unpacked the car, close it up and do not open it again until you are ready to pack it back up. The more you open the doors, the more dust will get in.

No matter what there will be dust everywhere but the steps above will make it easier to clean and not have to worry as much about playa in the ventilation system (the car that I borrowed last year STILL smells like playa when you turn on the AC).

cocoa_rageous · Post by **cocoa_rageous** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:50 pm

Have any veteran burners had to deal with extra security when flying. It seems to me as though they might look a little closer when your bringing all your crazy accoutrements. Also, just because of the festival it seems like things might be a little tighter on the Reno end. I wont get into why. What are your experiences?

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:01 pm

First of all, don't smuggle any drugs. That's a good way to end up prison. Getting high at BM is not worth prison, no matter how good your drugs are. Secondly, do NOT wear your playa costumes on the plane nor the airport. You are just asking for a body cavity search if you do that. Also, don't carry ANYTHING on the plane with you (just check all your luggage) as they might feel the need to search your stuff just because you look like a burner. And depending on where you coming from, you might not have to deal with Reno security at all. Unless you are coming from out country you won't have to go through security to leave the airport.

cocoa_rageous · Post by **cocoa_rageous** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:55 pm

Thats what my sane self been telling me.

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:31 am

ragabashpup wrote:the other problem with bikes is you can't hop on most art cars with them.

Here's the bike we all _need_:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Beachcruiser-Beach- ... QQihZ002QQ

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:05 am

LOL, I love the bike. However, I wouldn't pay the $2000 that the person is asking for it. Give me a break. It's no wonder that there are NO bids for it...

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 7:53 pm

On that note, Dan

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:59 pm

If you can't bring bikes, don't worry about it.
There are thousands of free bikes parked outside
of Center Camp.

Prospero's Ghost · Post by **Prospero's Ghost** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:49 am

Are there really that many bikes available for everyone to use?
How does it all work exactly?
If that's the case it would save us a HUGE hassle!
Thanks,

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:53 am

Gizmo is being facetious.

While there are "some" bikes that are free for anyone to use (it's called Yellow Bike even though last year they were green) but you should not be nabbing just any bike. You are best off bringing your own but if you absolutely cannot then you can hope to nab a yellow bike when you need one (don't count on it though and they are not meant for you to stash away and use as your own bike, they are community bikes). Also, expect that if you leave your Yellow Bike anywhere for 10 minutes, it will be gone when you get back.

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:02 pm

Sorry Prospero,
Just having a little fun. Some at Burning Man DO have the attitude that unattended bikes are there for the taking. If you bring a bike, bring a bike lock. If you want to keep the bike all week. People have had their bikes stolen while in the portapotty taking a piss. Sad but true. And not just good bikes. I had a real piece-o-shit bike stolen one year.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:16 pm

We need to start booby trapping bikes so that they jab into the testicles of theives.

I'm a bit low blood sugar, can you tell?

BitterDan · Post by **BitterDan** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:21 pm

I've never had a problem but I lock my bike every time I leave it. You don't have to lock it to anything, just lock it to itself. As long as no one can just get on and ride off you shouldn't have any trouble. The thieves won't bother to steal your piece of shit playa bike if it's locked up. Most of the thieves aren't actually looking to keep your bike, they just want to ride it back to camp. That being the case, they'd rather steal one of the hundred other bikes that are not locked up.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 3:44 pm

Things are desparate whe n you're the voice of reason, Dan.

Flying in and a bit nervous

Flying in and a bit nervous

Thanks!

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