Black Rock City 2010
Prep . . . - Plans to have a
side-by-side bicycle surrey for Playa use took some work. Bus wasn't ready 'til two
weeks to go so time was short.
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Beginning of bike "stretch" |
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pedal parts |
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this is the "fragile" point, as it turns out |
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widening of the vehicle |
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rear view |
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Fri 8/27 – Wow! The day we leave is finally here. A noon
departure was planned but Noel couldn’t finish the bus work and get packed by
then but Diana came home from work at noon anyway and pitched in a very welcome
hand. Off by 4p was OK . . .
The first “surprise” came as we about 10miles up I25 when
the overheat claxon sounded. We needed to eat so got a quick bite as the engine
cools and then off again to Cheyenne’s Flying J for diesel. Because, as we
learn, the day was nearly 100*F the bus could only go about 50mph on the flats
and we ended up staggering over the highest point on I80 (Lincoln Head Rest Area
between Cheyenne and Laramie) at a robust 15mph.
We’d hoped to go to Evanston, WY that night, and almost
made it, but it was 1230a before we turned in. Cool night driving allows the bus
to roll at its max speed of 62mph on all but the steepest grades. Rained that
evening . . . a neat sound on the steel exterior of the bus.
Sat 8/28 – Up at 5a so to cross the Wasatch Mountains when
still cool, we made good progress and stopped at Lake Point (the southern point
of the Great Salt Lake) Flying J (no gas, though, this baby has a 100gal tank)
for a 3hr nap. Fixed lunch in the bus and headed across the salt flats in
another 100*F day. Though flat, we could only make 45mph regularly. Gotta do
something about the cooling. Arrived at a rest area outside Winnemucca about
930p. Very respectable.
Sun 8/29 – We get into Winnemucca’s Flying J about 10a,
fuel up diesel and gasoline for the generator and head to Fernley’s Walmart for
final supplies. Not much; pineapple, apples, some bolts for later, ice. Just the
basics . . .
On to our favorite oasis in the desert, the Desert Rose RV
Park for a shower and good nights rest. Lots of burners here getting ready for
the next day trip to BRC.
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bus interior packed |
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Fueling in Cheyenne (100gal tank so no fuel 'til return!) |
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Mon 8/30 – 5a again, shower for Noel, bagels in the bus and
then the 2h drive to BRC. Entry was backed up onto the pavement a bit. We start
our wait about 830a. Two hours late we make it to Will Call and stand in line
for about an hour. (No more Will Call). We finally get into the city, find a
nice location at Hanoi and 5 o’clock and have lunch. This is the coolest,
literally, day imaginable for BRC. High of 80*F but near 60*F soon as a light
rain hits. Very windy, cool and wet. The high point is a great, bright, double
rainbow that appears when the rain stops. Super! Early to bed, ready for a fun
day tomorrow.
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from the front door, looking back |
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Diana's view |
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looking down the road near BRC |
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Noel's view of the playa |
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dust of "the city" |
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entry road to BRC |
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in the entry line |
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beer! |
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cool bike in line |
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almost greeter station |
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looking back on the greeters |
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Diana with camp setup behind |
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double rainbow after Monday's rain |
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Diana and Noel with rainbow behind |
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another rainbow view |
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. . . and another |
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can't get enough of a double rainbow |
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Diana at edge our shade structure with rainbow |
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Diana and Noel and rainbow |
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camp after the rain |
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. . . from another angle |
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. . . and another |
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Tue 8/31 – The best laid plans of mice and men . . . The
surrey isn’t rideable L The steel
extension buckled and won’t hold our weight. In trying to fix Noel broke several
other parts. It does, however, convert to a trailer fine so we set it up to
display Diana’s beautiful gifts and the burner’s are eating ‘em up! Given out
several dozen and haven’t left camp with it yet . . . We’ve meet folks from
France, Japan, Netherlands, China and both coasts of Canada. From New England,
Pacific NW, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Michigan, and all over California.
Unbelievable weather for BRC. 80*F Clear and calm . . .
WOW!
Note to self: Need DC lighting for inside and out. Also,
solar powered path lights.
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as seen across the way |
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camp with trailer outfront |
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along the way . . . |
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mutant vehicle |
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Diana by the "Steampunk" vehicle |
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another Steampunk vehicle |
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Diana in the MV |
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Diana admiring the MV |
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MV |
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MV |
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cool geodesic wooden "tent" |
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Kids camp |
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a raised camp |
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how 'bout you? We didn't need one |
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a bus into art |
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Diana looking across an art project |
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another camp |
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Diana setting up gift giving |
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Diana hanging necklaces |
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making a sign |
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bike and trailer ready to go |
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Diana with admirers |
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More folks picking out the right gift |
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Sunset looking down our street |
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a camp along the way |
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a cool dance floor cover |
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MV |
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MV |
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Diana and map of Black Rock City - arrow show where we are camped |
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SwagMart camp - folks making stuff |
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Diana working a clay project (that was fired but she never got :( |
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MV |
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Wed 9/1 – The burners LOVE Diana’s art (and why not?
J We got the bike set up as a
trailer and headed for center camp and took about a third of her work to give
out along the way. More than 150 pieces. They were all gone by half way there!
Passers-by would yell, “You have a gift for me Santa?” and we’d stop and show
the display and tell about how “Mrs. Claus” works all winter on these gifts and
how and what they are made of. As more people gather, more people gather. Diana
and I talk and hook more and more pieces up for display as fast as they leave to
a new home. It holds about 50 pieces at one time so the restocking is a
continuous job.
Finally, all within eye-shot are satisfied. We see the old
theme camp we camped in years ago and stop in to visit with old
friends. However it takes about a half an hour before we can go in as the giftless hoards arrive and another wonderful time of visiting and gifting takes
place. We do have it set up to be self serve but the fun, for us, is in the
conversation and accolades.
We find Wildchild, and then Scotto and are able to spend a
pleasant few minutes with them. Good to see ‘em.
Back to the bus we lunch and nap. The A/C and gas generator
gives us over 3hrs of naptime at around 77*F (outside temp in mid-90’s). Ready
for the night, we release the trailer from the bike and ride to the deep playa.
Nighttime reveals a whole new world. We explore the “3 o’clock”
side of the Man this night . . .
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art |
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art |
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MV |
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under the edge of center camp looking to the Man |
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MV |
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MV |
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sky-jumpers |
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Metropolis camp |
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art |
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MV |
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MV |
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art in center camp |
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slam poet in center camp |
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coop art in center camp |
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spray art in center camp |
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stilt walker at an entry to center camp |
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dancer in center camp |
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another angle |
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bike along the road |
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MV |
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art |
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sunset over BRC |
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MV |
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art |
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MV |
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MV crossing in front of the Man |
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art - Human Ant Farm |
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MV |
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the Temple |
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inside the Temple |
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more inside |
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art |
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closer view |
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Yup - phone booth. call another 100yd away |
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MV |
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Bliss Dancer |
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hat on her toe . . . |
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and another |
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Diana and Noel with Bliss Dancer behind |
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block at base of the Man |
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looking up at the Man |
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gargole and the Man |
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looking from the Man down 6 o'clock Promenade |
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up to the Man |
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Ein Hammer |
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Ein Hammer winding up |
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base of Ein Hammer |
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Ein Hammer under full fire |
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art |
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art |
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MV |
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Thunderdome |
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people hanging over Thunderdome |
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MV |
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MV |
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MV |
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camp along Esplanade |
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Xmas tree camp |
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Thu 9/2 – We kicked around camp in the morning. Another
beautiful day though it promises to be hotter than the past few. Having the
mini-weatherstation is fun. We know the inside and outside temp and humidly and
the highs and lows for the day. Also is shown is moon phase and weather
prediction based on pressure change. Cool! Anyway, at 10a it is 80*F.
After a rejuvenating morning of cleanup, fixup, eatup and
napping we rode to the open playa again in search of Dragon Smelter. We believe
every art piece should include it’s name and address so we could find other
pieces in reference to them or, at least, know when we’ve found what is
described on the map or in the “Who, What, When” guide. Alas, no . . . We did
find it eventually, not quite as mapped. Along the way we saw many wonders and
talked with many very nice people, some for an extended time.
Dragon Smelter melts discarded aluminum cans and casts
large “coins” from them. Also presses smaller coins into flattened ingots of
aluminum. Pretty fun.
Back for dinner and lots of visitors for fixing of jewelry
and bringing of friends by to see and receive more of Diana’s gifts. We explore
again, via bikes and trailer, after sunset but never find the piece we were
looking for. However, as always, we find lots of other wild and amazing things.
One not pictured below was what had to be an RC airplane with red lights atop
and blue below flying all about the openness. A very difficult but entertaining
thing . . .
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Really. Soft serve. Choc/Van twist or Strawberry Yogurt. Waffle cones too on day one. |
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MV |
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MV |
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MV |
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near the Man |
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MV |
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MV |
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MV |
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Dragon Smelter |
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casting dies |
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casted aluminum |
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Honeycomb |
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along the comb |
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Diana resting |
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looking through the comb to another art project |
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MV |
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MV |
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readying large smelter |
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aluminum pouring |
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filling mold |
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slag from melted aluminum cans |
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ribbon behind skyjumper |
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Harveywood sign and the Man |
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pressed aluminum "coin" |
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MalMart camp |
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art |
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MV |
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MV |
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MV |
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art - Art Car Wash |
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another exposure |
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fire spinner performance |
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two spinners |
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another spinner |
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another . . . |
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another |
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another camp |
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Fri 9/3 - Santa and Mrs. Claus take to the streets a final
time to pass along the last of Diana's wonderful gifts. Wow what a reception as
Noel stands in line for ice and Diana talks and presents her art to the waiting
throng. After a nap and dinner we head a mile out into deep playa to watch the
implosion of "Megatropolis". Then the sand storm begins . . .
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portOjohn row near our camp |
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Back to SwagMart to try to pick up Diana's project |
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line for ice |
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Yearbook camp |
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MV |
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looking in center camp |
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MV |
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cool shoes |
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MV |
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MV |
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Segway pulling wagon of ice |
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MV |
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MV |
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Diana with new friends |
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we like the bike |
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"feeding" frozen blueberries down a tube |
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2yr old across from our camp with an Otter Pop (Santa gift) |
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camp next to ours |
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camp across from ours |
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marching band practice |
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bunch of skydivers |
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skyjumpers over BRC |
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MV |
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Sunset over art project |
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another |
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art near the Temple |
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glasses of girl waiting for Megalopolis to implode |
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MV like the DeathStar |
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changes colors |
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shooting "death ray" |
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fire spinner as we wait for Megalopolis burn |
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others waiting (we are in the front row :) |
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The show starts . . . |
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inferno |
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building one explodes |
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completely engulfed |
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extreme heat from 100yds |
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falling . . . |
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collapse continues |
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almost all down |
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. . . further |
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further . . . |
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all down |
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flames wane |
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Sat - Mon 9/4-9/6 - Storm continues into Saturday .
. . Planned camp tear-down goes well but slowly. We decide to head home
mid-afternoon as the burn looks to be as bad as last nights ugliness. We travel
mostly at night (cooler) and sleep daytime. Shower and dump the surrey and carpet
at Fernley's Loves. Home by Monday AM. Great week!
Finally . . . a gallery of
pics NOT taken by us but notable.
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Satelite of Black Rock City |
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Peace sign around the Man planned and taken at 11:14a Tuesday |
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sign on the playa |
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setting up of Bliss Dancer |
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dust storm on midnight promenade |
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balloon ride |
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pre-burn entertainment |
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fireworks as the burn begins |
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he BURNS! |
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