Driving in on Sunday night

cheesestrawz · Post by **cheesestrawz** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:00 pm

Hey all, this will by our first BM this year. Some friends have told us that driving into the playa on Sunday night when it opens is worth it. We were just planning on driving in on Monday morning.

Cruising in on Sunday night with no set camp location.... GOOD or BAD for a bunch of virgins?

Thanks!

geospyder · Post by **geospyder** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:05 pm

If you reach the gate before midnight you'll no longer be a virgin - you'll be screwed and sent to purgatory for many hours.

On second thought - yes, go on Sunday - then I'll have one more camp site to choose from on Monday morning when I arrive.

Seriously - do not arrive before midnight when the gate opens!

Token · Post by **Token** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:07 pm

When going into a swimming pool, do you stick a toe in then gently and slowly go in or do you just dive into the deep end?

Use the same logic.

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:08 pm

Read up on when the gate opens. Don't arrive a minute earlier. Simple.

BTW, everyone else will have the same idea FYI...

-Badger

cheesestrawz · Post by **cheesestrawz** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:50 pm

cool thanks everyone. i definitely know not to show up before midnight, that's the one of the huge DONT'S we've been hearing from everyone. thanks again for your help.

StevenGoodman · Post by **StevenGoodman** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 7:16 pm

Stay Sunday night in Reno or Fernley. Get up nice and early, go get a real breakfast, fill up on gas. And then head in Monday morning.

Martini Steve

SnowBlind · Post by **SnowBlind** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 10:02 pm

There is definitely a huge line at midnight, so it will take you a while to get in. If you show up Monday morning, it will likely be faster.

On the other hand, it can be fun. There's a huge party at the greeters station, it's quite an experience. It's up to what you prefer.

Clar-i-ty · Post by **Clar-i-ty** » Tue Aug 17, 2010 10:49 pm

I was a midnight roller my virgin Burn, and it was pretty freakin' awesome. I try and do it as often as I can.

hollywallydoodle · Post by **hollywallydoodle** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 12:46 am

in 2008 i arrived on monday around 2am. i then spent the next 3-4 hours waiting in the most entertaining traffic of my life. i picked a camp spot just before dawn, watched the sunrise, and set up my camp in the cool morning air. it was the most serene and wonderful experience.

a few hours later a 12-hour whiteout hit and i thought i was gonna die...good times.

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 4:34 am

Don't get in early. They punish you, make you sit for maybe a long time.

I went early Monday morning, about 4 am. Probably two hour Entrance, maybe a little more. Sunrise over the playa was pretty good. I like it, I may do it again this year.

Token · Post by **Token** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:18 am

Arrive at night and behold a wonderland of lights sounds fire and energy that you will cherish for the rest of your days.

Or

Arrive during the day and behold the dusty shantitown we call home that rivals the slums of Calcutta and Mexico City.

Either one will give you a lasting memory, but the second one needs to grow on you a bit.

First impression anyone?

You're not going to spend your expensive vacation at Burning Man for the safty, convenience and comfort, are you?

C.f.M. · Post by **C.f.M.** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 9:18 am

Token wrote:Arrive at night and behold a wonderland of lights sounds fire and energy that you will cherish for the rest of your days.

Or

Arrive during the day and behold the dusty shantitown we call home that rivals the slums of Calcutta and Mexico City.

Either one will give you a lasting memory, but the second one needs to grow on you a bit.

First impression anyone?

You're not going to spend your expensive vacation at Burning Man for the safty, convenience and comfort, are you?

Hrm...still sure you want to do me such a favour?

Token · Post by **Token** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 9:42 am

portaplaya · Post by **portaplaya** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 1:49 pm

At midnight, the line stretches all the way down the eight miles of road to Gerlach.

If you look closely at this photo, you can see the string of faint lights on the highway:

Burning Man 2009-23 by thebesinc, on Flickr

hollywallydoodle · Post by **hollywallydoodle** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 6:56 pm

oooooâ€”thanks for that photo portaplaya!

here was my 2008 view from the line around 5am on mondayâ€¦

i had to pee SO BAD! will have a pee container in the car this year ; )

junglesmacks · Post by **junglesmacks** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:01 pm

OK.. so.. this all being said.

If there is an 8 mile long line at midnight, then wouldn't it make sense to time your arrival at like 9-10pm knowing that you will me in a line anyway?

Timezone LaFontaine · Post by **Timezone LaFontaine** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:20 pm

You can time your arrival in Gerlach for 8-10pm, and hang out there until midnight. But if you try to line up at the gate before midnight, you're gonna get sent to Lot D and wait there watching a bunch of the people who waited until midnight go by.

hollywallydoodle · Post by **hollywallydoodle** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:36 pm

junglesmacks wrote:OK.. so.. this all being said.

If there is an 8 mile long line at midnight, then wouldn't it make sense to time your arrival at like 9-10pm knowing that you will me in a line anyway?

i guess it depends on if you want to wait in line when it's hot or cool. i prefer the latter. this gave me just enough light to set up camp without all the mid-day heat. i like to ease into things the first day because my body is now acclimated to the 50-degree summers in sf.

Just_Joe · Post by **Just_Joe** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:41 pm

hollywallydoodle wrote: i had to pee SO BAD! will have a pee container in the car this year ; )

"Pee bottle for waiting in line" should be in the survival guide.

Nandobr · Post by **Nandobr** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 9:06 pm

[quote="junglesmacks"]OK.. so.. this all being said.

If there is an 8 mile long line at midnight, then wouldn't it make sense to time your arrival at like 9-10pm knowing that you will me in a line anyway?[/quote]

That was exactly my reasoning. At what point along the way do they put you in purgatory? Is it at the actual gate or right where you go from the road down the dirt road?

What I was thinking is to arrive in Gerlach by 10 pm. Anyone with past experience on the subject????

Thank you :-)

portaplaya · Post by **portaplaya** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:57 pm

junglesmacks wrote:OK.. so.. this all being said.

If there is an 8 mile long line at midnight, then wouldn't it make sense to time your arrival at like 9-10pm knowing that you will me in a line anyway?

Time it wrong and you are sent to D-Lot, which then starts merging slowing with the actual line at about 12:30am.

(In my photo, note the line merging from the center right. One D-lot line, 5 lines from the highway.)

Of course, D-Lot is apparently quite the party. Honestly, that's what I hear. But don't show up so ridiculously early that you offend the Gate. Or you drive to end of highway line.

teardropper · Post by **teardropper** » Thu Aug 19, 2010 1:19 am

Sunrise, last year. Just so you know it's the Burn, that's a dude in a kilt on top of the RV.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Aug 19, 2010 10:21 am

That's not a dude. That's a human sized chess piece.

portaplaya · Post by **portaplaya** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 2:55 pm

Oh, and by the way, I understand that Sunday night D-lot has a First-In, Last Out policy. Cars will be leaving in the reverse order that they enter by.

Apparently Gate really doesn't want people showing up early.

Driving in on Sunday night

Driving in on Sunday night

Arriving too early