A few things that worked REALLY well...

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Fri Sep 17, 2010 11:55 pm

T-posts, duct taped to your canopy legs...No guylnes
Needed

T-post puller and Hi-lift jack...

Duct Taping Tent pole joints...

Water..

junglesmacks · Post by **junglesmacks** » Sat Sep 18, 2010 7:54 am

This stuff.. right here.. is key. Picked some up off of CFM's suggestions, and yeah.. good stuff. All the electrolytes without all the crap sugar and junk of Gatorade. One tub from REI was like $14. Next time I'm bringing two. I would mix up an entire gallon of water at a time and then pour that out. One of these tubs makes about 6-7 gallons.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sat Sep 18, 2010 9:59 am

Took the Corolla instead of the pickup this time. No tracks for a roof rack, so I took a pair off an SUV at the junkyard, attached them to the roof with 1/4" blind threaded inserts (aka jacknuts) and round head hex screws. Thule has kits for fitting their bars to factory tracks. Used longer screws on the forward and rear, secured with locknuts and fender washers. Made it easy to carry three duffel bags and the folding chairs on top of the car, with the bike trailer cinched on top.

Post by **Elderberry** » Sat Sep 18, 2010 10:47 am

Token wrote:
C.f.M. wrote:
Token wrote:I never wait in line for anything.

I walk up to the front of the line, do some magic, and get served right away.

DMV, Pyro inspection, Ice, CC Coffee, Greeters, etc.

If there's a line, I work it.

Works like a charm every year.
A sealed flask (8 or 16 Oz) of whiskey will get you to the front of almost any line. Bring a half dozen of good stuff for ice or coffee runs.

For Thunderdome you need a fifth of good stuff.

Ice cold beer works too. (Don't know about Thunderdome, though.)

JK

robrob · Post by **robrob** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 4:12 am

thexmark wrote: Basket on bikes - then no need for Camelbaks

oh man, the basket is such a crucial piece. My basket cost about the same as my criaigslist bike, but was so worth it. Even on nights I was in no state to ride, i would walk it alongside me. The benefits of having a little mobile base camp were well worth the small costs and hassle.

Aside from the obvious additional carrying capacity (made sure i always had a spare container of water, and lighting, lock, and lidded cup clipped on at all times, as well as a spare scarf with a small roll of tp and handsanitizer tucked inside), it also served as a beacon/rallying point (my basket had el wire woven through it, it was fairly conspicuous on a bike rack) and was just all around easier to find.

as a bonus,campmates usually volunteered to run to get ice as long as they could use the bike with the basket, so double bonus points if you're lazy!

i'd definitely consider a bike basket as a mandatory addition.

Post by **Elderberry** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 8:45 am

Even better than a basket for your bike--panniers. I discovered this last year...I carry everything in them...water, plates, cups, pencil and paper, utility knife, mask and goggles, etc. They are locked to the bike and the zippers lock too. They are pricey, but worth every penny.

JK

Post by **Elderberry** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 8:46 am

junglesmacks wrote:

This stuff.. right here.. is key. Picked some up off of CFM's suggestions, and yeah.. good stuff. All the electrolytes without all the crap sugar and junk of Gatorade. One tub from REI was like $14. Next time I'm bringing two. I would mix up an entire gallon of water at a time and then pour that out. One of these tubs makes about 6-7 gallons.

I heard pedialyte is great too, though I have never tried it.

JK

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 9:10 am

Thunderdome? Try this:

Token · Post by **Token** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 11:42 am

That would be Hot Topic to you, sir.

MrMullen · Post by **MrMullen** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 11:14 pm

1) Monkey Hut! It was cheap and easy to make and it kept the rain, sun and wind out. Plus, I don't have a generic structure.

2) Cargo Van - It carried all of our stuff, plus some and then when you empty it out, you can blow up a big mattress in it and have a great place to sleep.

3) Our own Theme Camp - Did it our way, at our pace and had a great time with people we love.

4) Beach Cruisers - Big fat tires and a good gear ratio made navigating the Playa awesome.

5) Sit down meal at Sundown - We rotated who made the meal and we got to check in with everyone and find out what was going on. It was a kind of forced interaction with everyone else in the camp and it worked out really well.

6) Mostly full tank of gas when we hit the Playa - Took the same cargo van and ran the AC some mornings to get that extra hour of sleep. Nice!

kman · Post by **kman** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 11:29 am

Hexayurt (especially the raised 6' tall wall variety) was a big win. Need to improve the door for next year, however.

Elorrum, that trike kit is a great idea. I'll be looking into that for my wife, who learned how to ride in her 20s and is just plain bad at biking. Definitely need more comfy seats for next year, too.

Definitely need a basket (panniers, actually) for my next bike. Walking ice back on top of my head was very cooling, but still sucked.

Loved my CamelBak, as always. Never giving that up. My lidded cup from Ludo's worked out great, too, just dangled off the pack all week.

Walmart-brand Cherry Limeade is the BOMB. And sooo cheap. Just the thing to flavor your water when you've overloaded on ZipFizz and need to hydrate, but not get sick feeling from too damn much B12. (lesson learned)

Solar LED xmas lights are great. Need more next year... and need to buy in advance with time to test adequately before schlepping to the playa.

Hokey Spokes may be kinda spendy, but OMG are they ever great at making sure you're no darkwad on those late night bathroom runs! Highly recommended addition for your bike. Now I just have to buy a bunch more for the wife's bike next year...

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 12:40 pm

kman wrote:Hokey Spokes may be kinda spendy, but OMG are they ever great at making sure you're no darkwad on those late night bathroom runs!

Altho I heartily endorse being well lit at night, I don't make night time JOTS runs...getcha an empty container and pee in that at night...saves a whole lotta hassle (Just make sure you're aiming true!).

C.f.M. · Post by **C.f.M.** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 12:43 pm

junglesmacks wrote:

This stuff.. right here.. is key. Picked some up off of CFM's suggestions, and yeah.. good stuff. All the electrolytes without all the crap sugar and junk of Gatorade. One tub from REI was like $14. Next time I'm bringing two. I would mix up an entire gallon of water at a time and then pour that out. One of these tubs makes about 6-7 gallons.

Yes. I was VERY please with Vitalyte - stuck it in my kitchen for year-round use. Last year, I was physically thirsty (it was MADDENING) until about Thursday.

This year, I didn't feel thirsty once.

kman · Post by **kman** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 12:55 pm

dragonpilot wrote:
kman wrote:Hokey Spokes may be kinda spendy, but OMG are they ever great at making sure you're no darkwad on those late night bathroom runs!
Altho I heartily endorse being well lit at night, I don't make night time JOTS runs...getcha an empty container and pee in that at night...saves a whole lotta hassle (Just make sure you're aiming true!).

The pee bottle works swimmingly. Until it's full. Which, well-hydrated as I tend to be, happened more than once. Until I finally added a second. (I suppose I could upgrade from the 32oz gatorade bottle version, but I like the wide mouth for aim, and the small size for discrete storage!)

There's also those times when you have, err, "other needs" for the JOTS.

junglesmacks · Post by **junglesmacks** » Mon Sep 20, 2010 2:01 pm

C.f.M. wrote:
junglesmacks wrote:

This stuff.. right here.. is key. Picked some up off of CFM's suggestions, and yeah.. good stuff. All the electrolytes without all the crap sugar and junk of Gatorade. One tub from REI was like $14. Next time I'm bringing two. I would mix up an entire gallon of water at a time and then pour that out. One of these tubs makes about 6-7 gallons.
Yes. I was VERY please with Vitalyte - stuck it in my kitchen for year-round use. Last year, I was physically thirsty (it was MADDENING) until about Thursday.

This year, I didn't feel thirsty once.

Yeah you know, now that you mention it..

At first I forgot that I had it, and I was blowing through 2-3 gallons of water a day. Around Wed/Thurs, I remembered that I had it and I slowed to around 1-1.5 gallons a day. I actually had to remind myself to drink more. I'm a witness. This stuff rocks.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 6:43 am

I found that not going saved thousands of dollars!

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:01 am

My pee bottle story....

I bought a gallon of cranberry juice to drink then use as a pee bottle before i left for the burn. It was a gallon and had a nice handle on it, perfect right?!

Then i get to fernly (or possibly on the way) i remember that i forgot my pee bottle! So i get a big Gatorade bottle while getting last minute supplies.

well that bottle sat at my camp until wednesday night, when i finally decided to dump the rest of the gay-ade into my grey water, i finally had a pee bottle! I used it right after getting rid of the gator and that was my 3rd best pee of burning man.

burner von braun · Post by **burner von braun** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 9:44 am

I'm afraid to ask

caveatlector · Post by **caveatlector** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 10:01 am

I use this stuff on the insides of my thighs when I do long road trips on my bike. I decided to bring a tin down with me to my first burn on the odd chance I ended up suffering from chafing / heat rash and I am very glad I did.

Also, I used quite a bit of Moleskin to cover sore points where I was getting rubbed raw by my costume boots.

I'm never going to travel to the Playa again without either of these things.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 10:05 am

Fire Moose--
Rating your urinary expulsion experiences on-playa may bring you all sorts of joy.
Letting the eplayans know, um not so smart.

Post by **Elderberry** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 10:54 am

Captain Goddammit wrote:I found that not going saved thousands of dollars!

LOL

JK

So true. Though I have yet to realize the savings.

FaeTora · Post by **FaeTora** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:14 am

jkisha wrote:
Captain Goddammit wrote:I found that not going saved thousands of dollars!
LOL

JK

So true. Though I have yet to realize the savings.

Someone is still feeling smarted.

I could never imagine not going again. It saved me more than money.

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:22 am

theCryptofishist wrote:Fire Moose--
Rating your urinary expulsion experiences on-playa may bring you all sorts of joy.
Letting the eplayans know, um not so smart.

Whys not?

I had a total of 5 award winning pees with the last one being on Friday night.

the BEST one was on Tuesday.

FaeTora · Post by **FaeTora** » Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:23 pm

Why? did ou pee on a smirf?

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 7:11 am

my god, i WISH!

Smurf Piss recipe
serve in
Shot Glass

pineapple juice
1 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
1 oz Black HausÂ® blackberry schnapps
SpriteÂ® soda

Serve pre-chilled ingredients in a shot glass, and shoot.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 9:00 am

So, what's the name if you use 7-Up?

C.f.M. · Post by **C.f.M.** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 9:13 am

Oh, and I loved, loved, LOVED my Platypus water bottles.

Never going back to those stupid bladders and hoses again! I kept the Nalgene around the tent, for mixing up Vitalyte, but if I left camp I had at least one of these strapped to my hips, and it was great.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 9:31 am

theCryptofishist wrote:So, what's the name if you use 7-Up?

Whos ur daddy smurf?

saisai · Post by **saisai** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 2:35 pm

what a great thread! i'll have to come back to this when i make the transition from post-playa depression to pre-playa excitement....

here's what worked for me -

- i kept all my clothes in med/large zip lock bags. easy to throw them around and find what you want without making a big mess

- pita + hummus + tomatoes + cucumbers. these little sandwiches hit the spot!

- cucumbers and sugar snap peas were a great snack. never ate a single cliff bar i brought...

thanks for starting this thread. can't wait to put some of the tips on here to use next year!

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 3:56 pm

Renting our own port-o ROCKED & was worth every penny!