What day do you drive home?

Parakoos · Post by **Parakoos** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:17 pm

Hello,

I'm sure this info is out there but I searched and couldn't find it. :-( So here goes.

2009 is supposed to end on September 7. But is that the last day that 'something happens'? Do people generally drive home on the morning after or how does this normally work? I'm a burning virgin so please excuse the silly questions. Looking forward to seeing you all there! Whohoo!

Gustav

Artemis · Post by **Artemis** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:34 pm

welcome to e-playa parakoos

here's a thread all about the same thing that you've asked:
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... ght=exodus

People begin leaving as early as after the man burns Saturday night.

I left Sunday night last year and sat in a line for hours due to a blinding windstorm. I was surprised to see how many people were all ready packed up and leaving Sunday afternoon.

Artemis · Post by **Artemis** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:46 pm

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... ght=exodus

Post by **Sham** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 2:11 am

It sounds like you are trying to make plans for a flight and need help with the exit times. I have a long flight ahead of me, with a connection back to the east coast, so I want to be sure I don't get stuck in traffic on the way out.
I have always made my flight for early afternoon on Sunday and head out of Black Rock City early Sunday morning. This gives me plenty of time pack my gear, as well as extra time if come across an accident delay on the 2 hour drive back to Reno airport.
You also want to give yourself an hour or so to clean your rental car at either a car wash or one of the many community car washes set up along the way to Reno.
If you leave on Monday morning, expect several hours waiting in line to exit the event. This is ok for people who are driving back home, but much too scary for those catching a flight.
If getting home for work is not crutial, then you could plan on staying at a hotel in Reno on Monday night and flying out on Tuesday. This would give you a chance to clean up and rest as well as giving you all the extra time you need to get stuck in traffic.

poisenloaf · Post by **poisenloaf** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 5:58 pm

We left Sunday (day after burn) about lunch time and it was about 90 minute exodus to the main road. Make sure to add in a few hours to your return trip time to account for that. Your mileage may vary.. I've heard it taking upwards of 3 hours to get out.

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 8:36 pm

In 2006 I was camped at 3:29.59 and Guess. There were 4 or 6 cars on Guess in my block that were there for 4 hours. That was a horrible exodus and the wait time was up to 8 hours to leave. This last year was really good. I hear the longest wait time was 3 maybe 4 hours. I think the road didn't really start to back up on monday until 10am or so. I always leave on Tuesday am after a final zombie walk moop sweep of camp. I might leave later if I am wrangled in to a bit of clean up.

Post by **AntiM** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:06 am

Speculation has it that Monday of 2008 was better because so many people bailed out early that year.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 2:49 pm

AntiM wrote:Speculation has it that Monday of 2008 was better because so many people bailed out early that year.

I'll say, Monday sure worked for us

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:50 pm

AntiM wrote:Speculation has it that Monday of 2008 was better because so many people bailed out early that year.

Speculation. Can't you do better than that? I'm holding out for all out disinformation.

Antranik · Post by **Antranik** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:20 pm

I left on Sunday in 2008 and it was a terrible idea. I wish I had stayed that extra day. I remember being in that line for many HOURS.... like 4 hours? 5 hours? something crazy like that.

But also another thing I noticed was.... that sunday afternoon the air temperature was dropping like crazy and it was getting windier and windier. I'm sure sunday night was the coldest night of the week. Still... I wish I left on monday.

princesspisces · Post by **princesspisces** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:47 pm

In 2008 Monday night / Tuesday morning was freezing cold! I was a burner-cicle! I didn't bring a sleeping bag, lesson learned.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 5:54 am

we were wearing light jackets while we packed up Monday morning.

Major Mallet · Post by **Major Mallet** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 2:14 pm

I leave at 5:00 am on the Tuesday after the burn (I help teardown our camp). Done this twice and have had no problem at all driving to Reno, cleaning the car, showering at a truck stop and catching a noon flight to Philadelphia. Hope this helps.

dr.placebo · Post by **dr.placebo** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:25 pm

The last couple of years (07 & 08) I've worked Exodus on Monday morning, so I actually left on Tuesday morning. It was cold enough so that on Tuesday morning there was naturally frozen water outside of my tent. First time I've seen that on the playa (and I've gone since 1999).

The consensus among the Exodus crew was that 2008 was the best Exodus in years mostly due to more people leaving early and more people leaving at odd hours. There was a bit better execution, mostly due to heeding past years experience, but mostly it was due to better utilization of the road out.

dc383 · Post by **dc383** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:35 am

Did anyone else see that full bar making drinks on the exodus road on monday afternoon?

I would have stopped if it had been a week earlier when we were on our way in. Too burned out to stop.