Tips You May Not Think About on the Way to the Playa

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 11:25 am

1. Speed limit signs go into effect at the imaginary line that would go across the street.

2. If the sign says 25MPH, go 24

3. If things are tied to yer car, make sure no straps/rope/bungees are obscuring yer license plate

4. You've changed yer oil, got new tires, and new air filters..don't forget to check all of yer lights.

5. Anything that may be strapped to yer car/truck, check after driving 5 miles, 15 miles, 50 miles, and 100 miles. Check at gas/pit stops aswell. Make that shit TIGHT.

6. In case you don't know about the "alleged" kamikaze rabbits, run them over, DO NOT swerve to avoid them.

7. Taking a more popular route to BRC will give you multiple chances for savior if a car breaks down or something. Another burner will see you within an hour (YMMV)

EmilyD · Post by **EmilyD** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 11:39 am

Fire_Moose wrote:1. Speed limit signs go into effect at the imaginary line that would go across the street.

2. If the sign says 25MPH, go 24

3. If things are tied to yer car, make sure no straps/rope/bungees are obscuring yer license plate

4. You've changed yer oil, got new tires, and new air filters..don't forget to check all of yer lights.

5. Anything that may be strapped to yer car/truck, check after driving 5 miles, 15 miles, 50 miles, and 100 miles. Check at gas/pit stops aswell. Make that shit TIGHT.

6. In case you don't know about the "alleged" kamikaze rabbits, run them over, DO NOT swerve to avoid them.

7. Taking a more popular route to BRC will give you multiple chances for savior if a car breaks down or something. Another burner will see you within an hour (YMMV)

Thank you Fire_Moose! Invaluable tips.

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 1:22 pm

> 6. In case you don't know about the "alleged" kamikaze rabbits, run
> them over, DO NOT swerve to avoid them.

I'm sorry to say that one year a man was killed in a swerve to avoid a rabbit. His wife survived. They were on their way to the Burn, and she said a rabbit ran in front of them, he swerved, and their loaded SUV overturned, killing him.

Please drive carefully.

There are cows in the road, too. If you're driving at night, don't drive so fast you can't stop when a cow shows up in your headlamps. They stay on the blacktop at night because it's warmer than the dirt.

trystanthegypsy · Post by **trystanthegypsy** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 2:23 pm

oh man I saw one of those black cows in pieces all over the road on the way down last year.

7. If you can, AVOID driving at dusk. stop for an hour for dinner.

The animals love moving around when its juuussst dim enough that you can't see them. Last year in Oregon, I very nearly hit a deer, I definitely had to swerve into the 'oncoming' lane and if there had been a car coming I would have had to go off the road or hit the deer. Last weekend I very nearly hit a moose on the highway- I saw it from a ways off, slowed right down to 60 km/h (40 mph), and honked at it, and it still didn't get off the road.. there was a truck beside me so I would have probably hit the moose or the ditch... where, ironically, there was a freshly dead deer.

CANNIBAL MOOSE... luckily the stupid thing finally moved.

mudpuppy000 · Post by **mudpuppy000** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 2:50 pm

Yeah, definitely don't swerve to avoid anything, or even brake hard... Better to just take it out. I've had multiple rabbit encounters out in the desert that came out of nowhere. Seems like they come out at night more often than the daytime, but I've seen both.

LostinReno · Post by **LostinReno** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 2:57 pm

phil wrote: There are cows in the road, too. If you're driving at night, don't drive so fast you can't stop when a cow shows up in your headlamps. They stay on the blacktop at night because it's warmer than the dirt.

If you do happen to hit a cow on the res., not only is your car wrecked, the Paiutes will make you buy their nasty ass sage fed emaciated cow. (This happened to my Uncle, years ago

)

Jackass · Post by **Jackass** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:18 pm

Also don't think that because you're getting close that it's time to crack open a coolie or celebrate by lighting up that joint that's been calling ur name since Reno, because if you get pulled over for going one mile over the limit (or anything) and they have any reason to suspect ANYTHING out of the norm.....

They WILL bust out with their sniffing dogs and they WILL find ALL of your party favors!! This is mainly a warning to the first timers, but all should take heed. From Reno and closer the law enforcement is NOT fucking around!! I'm just saying, every year there's quite a few who don't know or don't care to listen. My drugs of choice, rockstar and marlboro

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 3:46 pm

Good thread idea.

Also (expanding on Jackass's post)

* Don't think that because you're off the blacktop and in the line to get into the gate that you can have a cold one either. LEOs sit and watch for people to do this. Even if it's only the passenger drinking, it's still open container and you're still in a moving vehicle. Just wait until you get to camp and then enjoy.

* If you're pulling a trailer, along with the previously mentioned cargo, keep a check on the wheels. Feel the rims now and then at fuel stops. If they are excessively hot, you may have bearing or trailer brake issues. After a just-under-the-wire fix in Denver one year, we now pack a bearing puller and set of inner and outer bearings with us in the trailer.

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:06 pm

The Love and Pilot truckstops in Fernley are not the playa. Put your underwear back on you skanky bitches. You can be beautiful playa sprites in just a few hours, but not in front of the locals, the truckers and the LEOs. Especially not the nice LEO with the drug dog refilling his coffee.

Fueling courtesy. Once you fill up, do not go in and loiter over potties and drinks and snacks and crap while others are waiting to fuel. Just like the big rigs, pull it forward or park it while you're inside.

Token · Post by **Token** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:03 pm

Stop and get indian tacos on the way in and out. They are awesome.

Don't try to pass that 1956 VW camper towing a huge trailer doing 42 mph followed by 17 overloaded RVs on 447. You will die.

Don't pull over on the soft shoulder to take a piss. Unless you have a big assed 4x4 monster truck, your ass is stuck.

Everyone tells you to hydrate and drink like a fish on the ride in. Don't. See above or piss in that empty Gatorade bottle.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:48 pm

See what above?

Token · Post by **Token** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 8:35 pm

Are thee of such intellectual stillborn that thoust cannot read the previous paragraph as to the reference of above?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Jun 24, 2010 9:44 pm

Obviously not.

Gage · Post by **Gage** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 12:04 am

AntiM wrote:Put your underwear back on you skanky bitches.

Thanks for the real LOL AntiM...

pizzamancer · Post by **pizzamancer** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 2:50 am

AntiM wrote:The Love and Pilot truckstops in Fernley are not the playa. Put your underwear back on you skanky bitches.

Back in 2008 on the way home we stopped in one of those truck stops, mostly dressed normal. I only realized later on that the reason why the waitress was staring at me was because of the big I (heart) PORN & EGGS temporary tattoo I had on my exposed bicep.

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:10 am

> LEO with the drug dog refilling his coffee.

Ugh. I had a drug dog refill my coffee once. I'll leave that for the cops to do. Yuck.

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 11:20 am

set a good example and do the speed limit on the playa which is usually 5mph, even though the water trucks, LEO's, JOT trucks etc exceed it by 25mph, or so it seems.

The ice trucks usually go the speed limit

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Jun 25, 2010 4:23 pm

phil wrote:> LEO with the drug dog refilling his coffee.

Ugh. I had a drug dog refill my coffee once. I'll leave that for the cops to do. Yuck.

Yeah, for some reason drug dogs are real fuzzy on the idea of creme.

Clar-i-ty · Post by **Clar-i-ty** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 12:25 pm

Honestly, one of the best things you can do is plan, and take your time. I know we are all anxious to get to the Playa, but you do want to get to the Playa. Driving bat shit crazy is stupid. The trip there is half the fun. I take my time, wave at other Burners on the road, rest appropriately and try not to overload on sugar.

Car munchies I think, are essential. As are NDN Tacos.

StevenGoodman · Post by **StevenGoodman** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 12:51 pm

Token wrote:Everyone tells you to hydrate and drink like a fish on the ride in. Don't. See above or piss in that empty Gatorade bottle.

I am a big fan of hydrating on the way in. But I do carry a piss bottle! Or stop at the Empire Store, get an ice cream, and use their potties (they bring in porto-potties just for Burning man.)

Martini Steve

sputnik · Post by **sputnik** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 1:01 pm

{too tired still - basically repeated an earlier post - move along}

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 3:54 pm

theCryptofishist wrote:
phil wrote:> LEO with the drug dog refilling his coffee.

Ugh. I had a drug dog refill my coffee once. I'll leave that for the cops to do. Yuck.
Yeah, for some reason drug dogs are real fuzzy on the idea of creme.

I read it as the dog was getting his own coffee. They work crazy hours during Burning Man.

dinks · Post by **dinks** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:15 pm

In the grand scheme of things, on the single lane roads, its not worth it to pass an RV that is going 5 to 10 mph slower than what you want to drive. Just sit tight, you will get there.

Triple A (AAA) memberships are cheap, get one.

Post by **Eric** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:17 pm

dinks wrote: 3) Before setting up camp, say hello to your closest neighbor.

4) Afternoon naps, take them.

Yes and yes.

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 5:06 pm

Loaned hammers make good neighbors.

-Badger

Post by **mdmf007** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:02 pm

Plan and more planning will make it a great burn. There is nothing wrong with bringing more than you need as well.

BM is certainly not an excursion around Africa on foot. But it is a one week time that can be a blast or totally suck it doesn't take much for a burn to get ruined.

My tip - Dont take your Car keys on playa anywhere, your more likely to lose them, than have someone find them in your camp... I find car keys every year on playa and on tuesday when we leave the locksmith is already rolling in the dough!

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 7:04 am

Don't bring ANYTHING that you can't stand losing or having break.

Jackass · Post by **Jackass** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 7:21 am

Fire_Moose wrote:Don't bring ANYTHING that you can't stand losing or having break.

Or burned.

Post by **Savannah** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:35 am

My tip - Dont take your Car keys on playa anywhere, your more likely to lose them, than have someone find them in your camp... I find car keys every year on playa and on tuesday when we leave the locksmith is already rolling in the dough!

Indeed. My campmate & I never let our car keys leave camp. We hid them in a (reasonably) secure spot we both knew about.

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:41 am

capjbadger wrote:Loaned hammers make good neighbors.

-Badger

Unfortunately, mine disappeared when I gifted a bunch of nice rebar stakes. Loaning 'em is one thing, getting them back, another.

Also, get the very large, 2 1/2 gallon ziplocks, with the slider top. Lots of them. Put your clothes, undies in one, t-shirts in another, and towels and toiletries, and everything in them. You can see what's in each bag and, until the factory seal is broken, everything is fresh and clean. I always use the heaviest, like freezer bags.

Tips You May Not Think About on the Way to the Playa

Tips You May Not Think About on the Way to the Playa

Re: Tips You May Not Think About on the Way to the Playa