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“Decompression & Healing” by N&J.
Pyramid Lake, Nevada (Sep 03/14) – N&J exited Burning Man (BM) earlier than planned (on Saturday evening before the burning of the man); N took ill with significant dehydration, nausea and vomiting, muscle pain and drop in blood pressure leading to an ambulance ride (yes Burning Man has everything!!!) to the ‘Rampart Medical Facility’ on the Playa. The ‘MASH-like hospital’ inside a maze of tents, air conditioned, a multitude of doctors & nurses (all volunteers working 12 hour shifts around the clock), the quality of care was excellent. No medical card required, no credit card, nothing… only place in the USA with free medical. N received 2 litres of intravenous…
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“We Got a Burning Desire” by N&J.
Black Rock City, Nevada (Sep 01/14) – Yes that time has rolled by again… Burning Man 2014 (BM). Last year was the first time for both N&J attending BM (as friends)… this time they are more than that, waaaay more than that, they are married!!! Preparations well under way, Hobbes has been readied for the journey, all systems go… BM clothing & costumes, tents, playa survival gear such as vinegar, eye drops, dust masks, and cases of baby wipes are stuffed into every nook & cranny. Thank goodness they have the small trailer (Calvin) to take on the extra load. The last trip to Black Rock City in Nevada was…
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“We Got the Cookie Monster Blues !!!” by N&J.
Badlands National Park in Wyoming (Oct 20/13) – N&J certainly didn’t waste anytime getting themselves back into the ‘on the road’ routine after the Habitat gig. Since leaving Fort Thompson they have already clocked quite a few kilometres on Gizmo. The first stop was Badlands National Park located in the south-west corner of South Dakota…. in fact just outside the eastern park gate where they stopped for the evening after driving across the state. A great place to sleep, very quiet except for the nearby dairy farm and the faint ‘mooing’ heard all night (HEY!!! Who is milking the cows tonight???). click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to…
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“Goodbyes” by N&J
BRC, Nevada (Sep 2/13) – After spending most of yesterday hanging out with ‘old friends’ around camp and saying goodbyes; it is time to tear down the Reverbia Camp and the camp around Gizmo… in preparation for the ‘great exodus’ (60,000+ leaving at the same time). The exit line-ups can be 8-10 hours!!! The Burning Man (BM) officials issued a warning that a substantial rain storm was to happen on Monday around noon. If that happened, nobody would be allowed to drive anywhere in Black Rock City… the water would make it a greasy, slippery quagmire. So the race was on to get the encampment down as soon as possible……
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“The Man Burns – WTF?” by N&J
BRC, Nevada (aug 31/13) – As the week wore on, some conditions in the camp deteriorated. On Saturday morning, awoken to no electricity to run Gizmo’s fridge (warm beer!?!); J (being part of the electrical team) investigated and found that the massive 85 kilowatt diesel generator which provided power to the Reverbia Camp and an adjacent camp had stopped… it was out of fuel. After scrounging up some extra diesel, the generator was restarted on a limited basis. Sufficient enough to quench the playa ‘beer cough’. The large water tank used to supply the kitchen, drinking & shower supply had also run dry… awaiting water delivery that never happened. This…
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“The Rhino, and the Meerkat” by N&J
BRC, Nevada (aug 30/13) – N&J attended a couple of presentations at TEDx ‘Black Rock City’ to hear what changes (or what could be changed) with the current status quo of our planet Earth. Some incredible presenters discussed the possibilities of extending human lifespan, shape shifting, embracing environmental challenges, inter-planetary travel, etc… along with an amazing outlook on what the common person can do to bring about change. Be the visionary or be the doer, the spokes of the wheel working as one. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery Off to explore more events, cycle over to the “Shamandome”. N&J are greeted with…
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“Re-balancing” by N&J
BRC, Nevada (aug 29/13) – N&J spent most of the past 3 days exploring the ‘Burn’. Thankfully they have bikes, it is huge & widespread. Aura (N) says it’s like ‘Disneyland on steroids’… except it is all for real. Everything you could possibly imagine, is here (Oh yeah… everything!!!). In the last few days have attended numerous ‘house’ parties and ‘nightclub’ venues. Kind of like back home except don’t know who the people who are hosting the party at their camp… but within minutes of being welcomed to their place as you ride past, they offer drink or food, everyone greets each other with warm hugs like they known each…
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“Camp Life” by N&J
BRC, Nevada (aug 26/13) – ‘Leave No Trace’ a term we often hear back home; but here it is for real, everyone lives it. Nothing… will be left behind. Whether it be waste water, garbage, recycling, or a ‘dry leaf’ that hitchhiked in the propane tanks, everything must be removed when leaving. It’s called MOOP (matter out of place). Wherever you go in Burning Man (BM) you will find no litter… none. And yet there are no trash bins anywhere to be found… you take back to your camp refuse bag what you bring along. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery In the…
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“Welcome Home” by N&J
BRC, Nevada (aug 26/13) – Finally after what seemed like eternity, traveling from Eugene OR to Black Rock City NV… N waiting in the line-up to get their Burning Man passes. The initiation by the ‘playa greeter’… dust angels in the sand and the ringing of the bell to enter into Utopia… N&J are now officially burners! click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery The life of comfort and cleanliness are left behind, but that doesn’t seem to matter… there is something very unique, almost magical happening here. Only after a few minutes on the playa there is a difference felt in the mind…
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“Dangly Bits” by N&J
Black Rock City (BRC), NV (aug 26/13) – Regarding the departure from Eugene… Left 5 hours late after the scheduled time (5pm). The 5 ton truck tasked to drive had been packed & repacked and was ready to leave. Problem was our fellow BM travelers had not completed loading the kitchen trailer (giant ice maker, convection oven, etc); and ‘Bucket’ (who’s truck would be towing that trailer) did not arrive until very late. Finally had enough hanging around, and pushed off to rendezvous with the others at the schedule stop. Drove to Summer Lake Hot Springs, arriving around 3am: greeted by a chap loosely dressed in a bath robe with…