More Canadians coming to burning man

[smitty_24]

Greetings,

I just bought two tickets through the STEP program. Firstly, thank you (sincerely) to those persons who couldn't attend this year and had to give up their tickets, I hope next year you can, whoever you are.

So, my best bud and I will be, somehow, no Idea yet, making it to burning man. Backstory. I am South African born to English and German parents. Grew up there in sunny Durban. We then immigrated to Canada when I was 13. After university, I decided to leave family and friends behind to see some of the world. Working my way through South Korea, Thailand, Cambodia and China teaching English for more than 4 years. Currently I am still in China working for a big German engineering company as a project coordinator in the auto industry. I have been out of Canada for more than 6 years with short visits back home...So technically I am Canadian, but Im more of an Earthling with a Canadian passport. Anyways, my best friend who is coming with me, is enough Canadian for both of us. Im pretty sure he would eat nothing but Canadian bacon if it was humanly possible. So long story short, I just turned 30, quit my job in China and moving onto the next chapter in my life. Burning man will be part of that transistion, and all of you too.

Been looking through the forums for options....still no clue how to get there with all our equipment and enough water/food to survive. Too long to drive, if we fly we can't bring enough water. All RV's are pretty much sold out or cost more than an arm and a leg. Can't justify spending $4000 on an RV when the same amount of money paid for a 3 month trip through S.E. Asia.

What to do? what to do...? We will be coming from the other border-town of Windsor, Ontario...you know...as Steven Colbert called it, 'the asshole of the world'.

[Savannah]

Welcome!

. . . I suggest you rent a cargo van or a box truck. If it's a box truck, you have the world's best bedroom all ready to go.

If you get a cargo van, you shouldn't sleep two people in it unless you're a couple, but it's the perfect size to haul two people & their gear, including tents & bikes and a monkey hut, and when the Burn is over you can park it on an incline and hose it out.

Here's a thread about flying in. I don't envy the folks who fly . . . except on the way home, when I'm exhausted.

Costs & Logistics of Flying to Reno
http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic. ... 6&p=770401

[dragonpilot]

I thought the Earthling quota was filled. JUST KIDDING!

You've got a steep learning curve, my friend...but with effort and perseverance the logistics issues can be solved. Almost any question that comes to mind can be found in this forum. Read the First Timer's Guide and Survival Guide. Basically, you know that you need food, water, and shelter. I've seen people sitting naked under a canvass lean-to surrounded by water bottles and granola bars...and they didn't die. OK...that's not you, but my point is with just those things you can survive. All you have to do is raise the level from this up to whatever degree of comfort you wish to achieve within your budget.

If you're flying in you'll be flying in with about 15,000 others coming from all over the world. OK...RVs and caravans might not be available at this late date, but cargo vans or box trucks might be. If you land in Reno and are still lacking transportation, go by the Reno Airport Playa Info desk for orientation and a good chance of finding transportation from some good Burner Samaritan who will also run you buy various stores so you can buy your food, water, and shelter.

Check these folks out: http://www.greentortoise.com/adventures ... tival.html

Good luck! You'll be fine!

[Polka Dot Lola]

Hello Fellow Canadian Earthling. We are driving from Victoria, BC and yes, the amount of stuff you think you need can be mind boggling. You don't really need a truck just a bit of creativity. Rent a mid sized car- preferable with hatchback with roof-racks and you should be good to go.
About water- You can fill up on Water in Gerlatch if you have your own jugs. You can get 6 gallon jugs at the evil Walmart for about $10 each. Two jugs per person would get you through the week. Any large grocery store also sells water in 2-3 gallon containers.
Sleeping- Get a 4 season tent with the fly that comes all the way to the ground, and windows that can be zipped shut. You don't want a tent with a mesh ceiling as it will be dust hell. Add sleeping bags, air mattresses, and earplugs
Shade- get a large tarp, rope or parachute cord, 2 tent poles, 4, 12 to 18 inch sturdy stakes. Slash X holes all over the tarp so the wind will pass through. Secure it on one side to the roof racks on the car. Support the other end with the tent poles. Add a couple of camp chairs and you have a place to sip beer in the afternoon.
Get a simple one burner campstove that screws on the top of a 1 pound propane cylinder. bring 1 pot, 2 mugs, 2 water bottles, a knife and 2 sporks, a basin or bowl for washing up and a 5 gallon bucket with lid for gray water.
Food- my favourites are good canned chilli, ready made tuna salad in foil pouches, rice cakes and crackers as bread does not keep, citrus fruit, power bars, dried fruit and nuts, and light beer.
Lighting- headlamps, A second LED light to illuminate your backside when out at night, a few solar lights to illuminate the stakes around your camp.
Our camp is The Gods' Vending Inc. We are located at 6:15 and Desiderata. Look for the giant Tiki faced bamboo vending machine!
Cheers, Polka Dot Lola

[Savannah]

Great stuff, Lola.

I would like to add one thing: If you're cutting through Oregon on your way to the Burn, please allow me to recommend picking up your water in Klamath Falls, Oregon (there's a Fred Meyer store there) and filling up your tank in Alturas, CA. If you are coming from the Northwest like I am, you don't necessarily go through Gerlach at all--you just glimpse the small town off to your right. A side trip into Gerlach for gas or water can add a minimum of an hour to your trip, thanks to the traffic jam.

[Polka Dot Lola]

Ah yes... As we do cut through northern California we always make a reservation at the JnR motel in Cedarville. Last real bed and last real shower for a week. There are stores in Cedarville that let you fill up your water jugs if you purchase groceries. Its pretty much downhill from Cedarville so you're not hauling water over the mountains.

[Savannah]

I love Cedarville (we've gotten gas there too) but due to the time of night we tend to pass through, we patronize Alturas one stop before, just in case Cedarville's amenities are closed. During the day of course, this is not a risk.

I would love to try a bed and breakfast there . . . and their BBQ place. I love waving at the people there.

[Elderberry]

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

[dragonpilot]

Cedarville's got two gas stations now...one on the right just as you approach the town crossroads, and the one at the crossroads. I know the in-town gas station lets folks fill up their water bottles or RV tanks...the owner does not give the water away, but offers it at a fair price. Water is a scarce commodity in these parts.

And the gas station in town is open 24/7 during the Burn week...not sure about the one outside of town. These folks work hard to meet our needs so please, everyone, be courteous and patient when availing yourselves of their services...say "please" and "thank you."

[bluesbob]

I thought we already reached our quota on Canadians.

[lemur]

a canadian falls 100 feet straight down into a mine shaft *WHAM!!!*

they yell down to him "did ya break anything?!" ...he yells back up "NOPE! theres nothing down here"

[Turtleburp]

I thought we already reached our quota on Canadians.

Nope, that was Austrayans cobber