Nor-Cal 2014 first timer

lilkuu · Post by **lilkuu** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 11:00 am

I am hoping that I'm able to make it to Burning Man 2014! I want to buy a ticket for a friend, but I am not sure any of my friends are where I am at in life. My New Year's resolution is to do anything that is life changing every year. I try to accomplish that through my philosophy, but also enjoy making things become a reality. I am looking to join a camp and donate my services and meet friendly people!

TT120 · Post by **TT120** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 12:11 pm

Welcome to ePlaya!

Don't go with any expectations, especially life changing ones. You may or may not have a life changing experience.

It will be a kickass camping trip in the desert. It will be dry and dusty.

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 12:19 pm

Lilkuu, might I respectfully suggest you tell us at least a little bit more about you. Certainly "...to do something that is life changing every year..." is, in and of itself, a notable goal but not particularly useful when deciding if a camp would welcome you as a member. I'm sure Charlie Manson had plenty of life changing goals. For example, where in NorCal are you from? Those of us in Placer Country are certainly a breed apart than those in Humboldt County. Some camps are only looking for a certain gender (yours is undetermined at best), orientation, or philosophy. Others are more wide open. Some camps insist you help with set up/tear down, so in that regard do you have any marketable skills that might prove useful somehow? Can you afford the camp dues (if any) that can range from $75 (like at Barbie Death Camp & Wine Bistro) to north of $400. Are you under 21? Many camps would exclude you just for that. Are you a sparkle pony or dead head? So many questions, so few answers.

forty_eight · Post by **forty_eight** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 12:29 pm

Dr. Pyro wrote:
Those of us in Placer Country are certainly a breed apart than those in Humboldt County.

would love to see this taxonomy writ large for teh entire state, lol

like, can you all even interbreed?

cosmic-honey · Post by **cosmic-honey** » Mon Dec 30, 2013 3:10 pm

Hi there! 2014 will be my first burn as well. Definitely recommend reading the Survival Guide and First Timers Guide available on the main site, if you have yet to do so. Maybe check out any regional groups in your area. After you've done that, you can really determine what kind of contribution you're ready to give at Burning Man 2014, and then you'll want to join in the life-changing snark that eplaya has to offer. Welcome

lilkuu · Post by **lilkuu** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 1:36 am

I see. I just wanted to give a good impression in my first post. I'm asian, 24 years old, I am a very open-minded individual. I majored in Chemistry from UC Santa Cruz. I would probably be willing to donate some $. I don't plan to bring much. I plan to bring only what I need to survive. I drive a 2001 gold Toyota Camry. I am really just hoping to be able to check out all the different art structures around the playa and play around. I am not going in with any big expectations. I've been homeless before so I have a pretty good idea about how to survive in the real world. I guess when you're born into a family where you're given everything from an early age, you kind of want to experience everything, good and bad. One of my biggest dreams in life is to move to somewhere in the South or a small town of 100k people or less and buy a cute puppy to raise by myself. Obviously I will need a job and a place to stay, but I am not worried about that yet. I am just hoping to get a lot accomplished in life before I turn 30.

TheJoker · Post by **TheJoker** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 2:28 am

I can not agree more to the "don't expect a life-changing experience" advice. It's so much better when you're taken by surprise... It takes some effort not to expect anything, because, let's face it, it is a pretty exciting adventure, and all the prepping and documenting just rises the excitment and the expectations

Have fun for your first burn !
I hope everything will work out for you. Happy new year (a few hours in advance)

lilkuu · Post by **lilkuu** » Tue Dec 31, 2013 2:42 am

Definitely! Happy New Years Eve hehe ^^

Post by **Elderberry** » Thu Jan 02, 2014 10:47 pm

Hey there, welcome to eplaya!

Bjorn Hona · Post by **Bjorn Hona** » Mon Jan 13, 2014 8:06 am

I'm also a first-timer from NorCal...whereabouts, if you don't mind me asking?

lilkuu · Post by **lilkuu** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 12:00 pm

I'm from the Bay Area originally and somehow made my way back here after chasing my dreams ^^

Bjorn Hona · Post by **Bjorn Hona** » Tue Jan 14, 2014 1:23 pm

That's awesome to hear. n_n

Well if you are interested and nearby, I am from Redding. I am joining a couple of groups on Facebook to help get connected. I'm totally new to Burning Man, too. If you wanted to keep in touch and are near by that would be cool by me.

What inspired you to take the plunge to go this year?

lilkuu · Post by **lilkuu** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 3:00 am

Yeah for sure, sounds good. I am definitely thinking about backpacking there with a bike, not trying to take my car there. Not sure if that will work out, but I heard the dust storms get pretty violent out there.

Thinking about just using the BRC bus or Amtrak to get there, just not sure how I will get back home o_O.

Bjorn Hona · Post by **Bjorn Hona** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 9:21 am

It might be good for you to get plugged in to a camp that's pre-established; they might have more food/water and such, or capability of carrying all that you need. :]
I'm doing a lot of marketing and preparation myself, and I am trying to get into a group. The more people I've talked to in Redding, the more that want to go it seems, lol!

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Thu Jan 16, 2014 9:45 am

lilkuu wrote:Yeah for sure, sounds good. I am definitely thinking about backpacking there with a bike, not trying to take my car there. Not sure if that will work out, but I heard the dust storms get pretty violent out there.

Thinking about just using the BRC bus or Amtrak to get there, just not sure how I will get back home o_O.

Whoa! Hold it right there, Grasshopper! Please take no offense, but you just started our annual discussion on "Why NOT to bicycle to BM".

I'll save everybody a lot of time and typing, and cut straight to the bottom line: Please do NOT attempt to bicycle from I-80 to Black Rock City. It's not that it's almost 100 miles and uphill, and you will need to carry 100 pounds of water on top of everything else. It's that this highway is narrow, winding, has no shoulders, and is trafficked by countless 18-wheelers -- to say nothing of 35,000 old school buses, clapped-out motor homes, overloaded trailers and so forth going to BRC.

Bicycling on that road, and specially around the time of BM, is simply Way Too Effin Dangerous.

Over the years there have been a few private fly-by-night bus services hauling people to and from BM, and all have failed from lack of professionalism. (The exception is Green Tortoise, which is a rather unique package tour service.) Then last year the BM organization itself started a bus service called Burner Express, by contracting with a professional tour bus company. This was a roaring success, and I understand it is being expanded. Burner Express will take you back from BM also, of course. So please look into this.

PlayaPatrol · Post by **PlayaPatrol** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:19 am

I've met several people that have bike rode to burning man. They all did fine. Sure it's dangerous. It's also a personal choice.

Elliot wrote:
lilkuu wrote:Please do NOT attempt to bicycle from I-80 to Black Rock City. It's not that it's almost 100 miles and uphill, and you will need to carry 100 pounds of water on top of everything else. It's that this highway is narrow, winding, has no shoulders, and is trafficked by countless 18-wheelers -- to say nothing of 35,000 old school buses, clapped-out motor homes, overloaded trailers and so forth going to BRC.
Bicycling on that road, and specially around the time of BM, is simply Way Too Effin Dangerous.

TT120 · Post by **TT120** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:28 am

Elliot · Post by **Elliot** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 12:02 pm

PlayaPatrol wrote:I've met several people that have bike rode to burning man. They all did fine. Sure it's dangerous. It's also a personal choice.

Last year, Perimeter encountered a lady on a bicycle coming in on Jungo Road... from Ontario, Canada. She came over the hill and saw BRC, and figured it was Gerlach -- or some such. I didn't see her personally, but word on the radio was she was impressive.
She was a couple days early, so they sent her on to Gerlach. (Still on the east side; NOT on 34.) If it had been up to me personally....

Now, to satisfy the guy with the popcorn....
PlayaPatrol, I bet you did not meet any of the ones who bit the dust along the way.

Seriously, of course it is a personal choice. That's why I said "Please do not....", instead of "Thou shalt not...."

What else can we pick apart or otherwise have fun with? PP's quote snipping skills?

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