Two questions from a new Prairie Burner...

BeBop Pony · Post by **BeBop Pony** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 7:21 pm

Howdy!

At the moment I was hoping if someone could direct me to information regarding two things:

- Hitchhiking to burning man.

and

- What is a Decompression?

Thanks for your time!

ragabashpup · Post by **ragabashpup** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:04 pm

How would you carry all of your stuff if you were hitching...
Decompression is an taste of home after you have been forced to leave the playa..

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:19 pm

Welcome, BeBop Pony!

Hitch hiking sounds like a "wrong" way to do it. You will need camping gear and food & water for a week. Now... it might work if you were to hitch hike to Reno with just clothes and essentials, buy your supplies in Reno, and catch a ride with other burners to the Playa. But even that would be difficult, as you would need to get to one of the spots where burners congregate in Reno. And you would need to find burners with room for you in their vehicle!

And all this would depend on getting to Reno in time in the first place. When you are hitch hiking, you are kind'a at the mercy of Luck, and you might not get to Reno before the Festival is over.

So I suggest you get together with others in your area and ride share. This forum is a good place to start making contacts.

Oh, and read the Survival Guide on the main web site.

Post by **Elderberry** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:43 pm

The playa will provide.

JK

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:50 pm

jkisha wrote:The playa will provide.

JK

One of the many stories about Burning Man is the one about a fellow who -- supposedly -- showed up at the gate with his ticket and nothing else. Stark naked. No nothing. By the end of the week, he was running a whole Theme Camp.

It's probably an "urban legend", Black Rock City style. In reality, I doubt the gate would have let him in, as that's one of their jobs at the gate -- to make sure everyone has adequate supplies. Very important. No kidding.

But yes, sometime the Playa provides -- what you least expect.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:34 pm

Don't hitchike...freight hoppings another incredibly dangerous way. Save up some cash and offer to pay gas for a burner in your area. Prepare the deal well before, and you should have a substantial amount of gear. The playa provides, but radical self reliance will get you further.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:19 am

The Naked Guy is not urban legend, he was an art project. He had friends on the inside, although I don't think he camped with them. Everything he had by the end of the week, and no, not a whole theme camp, was gifted to him. I talked to a person who was taking a vest from my gift rack for him. That means it was 2002 or 2003.

However, hitchhiking to the Burn is not a very good idea. As stated, how will you carry all your supplies? Plus anyone with room has likely already filled it up with either supplies or other burners who set up a rideshare with them. I know we have no room for spare people unless we preplan. We've even refused to carry supplies for friends because they waited until last minute to ask.

Post by **Elderberry** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 8:26 am

Elliot wrote:
jkisha wrote:The playa will provide.

JK
One of the many stories about Burning Man is the one about a fellow who -- supposedly -- showed up at the gate with his ticket and nothing else. Stark naked. No nothing. By the end of the week, he was running a whole Theme Camp.

It's probably an "urban legend", Black Rock City style. In reality, I doubt the gate would have let him in, as that's one of their jobs at the gate -- to make sure everyone has adequate supplies. Very important. No kidding.

But yes, sometime the Playa provides -- what you least expect.

Interesting story; though I was being facetious.

JK

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 10:03 am

... he was an art project.

Wondermuss! Then the story, as I heard it, has a core of truth.

In 2008, I heard of a couple whose pickup truck was stolen on the way to the burn -- full of all their supplies and art. They made their way to BRC and had a fine week. When I met them, they had acquired one bicycle, and I gave them an other. All their real needs had already been covered by others.

In 2009, they looked me up to thank me for the bike (they saw my big bus) and she was even riding the very bike I had given her the previous year. I got the impression she intends to keep that bike forever, no matter what.

I like to think, this is how we handle emergencies in BRC. But no-one should plan on spending the week on the charity of others!

I cannot say enough for the benefits of having a huge vehicle. My old school bus picked up three "strangers" and their supplies on the way to BRC last year, and could have carried more. So there's a suggestion for BeBop Pony; get together with some others and convert a school bus for travel and camping.

Decompressions are parties where burners get together in the weeks after the Event. The name comes from deep sea diving, where divers have to return to the surface gradually due to the change in water pressure. If they rise too quickly, they must immediately be placed in a pressurized room called a decompression chamber, to avoid "withdrawal symptoms".

BeBop Pony · Post by **BeBop Pony** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 4:45 pm

I would like to thank everyone for your precious help! I see very well that I am in good company :)

I had plans on hitting San Fransisco after the Burn, and it seems as though a lot of these Decompressions are happening there... any advice on where to start contacting about them, or does it more or less just happen while connecting with others at the festival?

Thanks!

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 9:38 pm

I have not been, but I believe the Decompression is scheduled well in advance and properly organized.

Sign up for the "Jack Rabbit Speaks" e-mail newsletter. They announce that sort of thing there -- and much other good info. It's on the BM web site.

SnowBlind · Post by **SnowBlind** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 3:06 pm

AntiM wrote:The Naked Guy is not urban legend, he was an art project. He had friends on the inside, although I don't think he camped with them. Everything he had by the end of the week, and no, not a whole theme camp, was gifted to him. I talked to a person who was taking a vest from my gift rack for him. That means it was 2002 or 2003.

It was in 2002. His name was Ted. He came with nothing, and by the end of the week he was trying to get rid of everything again. The Black Rock Gazette had an article about him:

Black Rock Gazette wrote: The Kindness of Strangers

BY FRED BROWN

We come into this world naked and with nothing. We leave the world the same way. Ted, who is camped in Center Camp next to Photo Zone, came to Burning Man this year to enact this drama in miniature. To arrive naked and with no possessions and to live off the generosity of fellow Burners, not only to survive, but to create art and inspiration for others.

He arrived at the Burning Man gate Monday at 11:00 a.m. with his friends and collaborators on his project, Barb and Mark. After registering their video equipment for the documentary they are making about the project, they went to the Man. With some trepidation, Ted walked naked from the Promenade to his campsite, the intense 2:00 Sun beating down on him. With no sign to explain his project, he called out to passers-by and gradually began to meet his needs. Within minutes, he had sunscreen. Soon, he had a book of poetry for shade. And within a few hours he had his first clothing: a scarf a woman was using for a top became a skirt for Ted.

Before nightfall, his basic needs for the night were met: a tent and a sleeping bag. It was clear the Burning Man gift economy would give Ted what he needed to survive.

What does Ted need? Well, he has his desires divided among needs, wants and dreams. His biggest dream? A visit from Larry Harvey. His needs? Food and water, of course. But also, a magic marker, knife and table. His wants? Tarp, cooking gear, games, toys. His other dreams? A log cabin and a campfire. A shrine to you.

The response from passers-by has been also universally positive and generous. Phil, his cook for the evening, appreciated the positive focus of the Tedâ€™s quest, a contrast to the camps that celebrate death, destruction and evil. Dennis said he drove from New Hampshire with way too much stuff, but part of him wishes he could do something like this.

Sheila, visiting from the nearby Black Rock Refinery, said: â€œThis is what Burning Man is supposed to be.â€

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 3:37 pm

Official San Francisco decompression is on the Sunday before Columbas/Indigenous People's Day.

CLARKcon · Post by **CLARKcon** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 5:32 am

Welcome BeBop Pony

! (quotes all the ePlayians posts preceeding this one)- Decompression venues (as well as it's usual forthcoming "ReCompression") are held for the pure joy before/after of the like minded group, usually in larger cities (theres ones in Boise,ID & Portland,OR closest to me). As well, they aide the pysche of the person to transiton out of/back into the default world. I usually take the most of my vacation after I get back just for that reason...mind n u m b e d

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