BM2K8 Playa ROM 1 Playa ROM 2 Playa ROM 3
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Burning Man 2008 - Playa ROM, p. 3
| Sunday 6 July 2008 | | |
Waking up to a breakfast buffet is always a good thing. There was a lot of cooking in the kitchen under the shade structure, and contributions from many of the other camps. Apologies, but I can't remember all the Rangers who deserve thanks; you all rule!
Ranger Sir Bill, seen here with relaxing with a popsicle instead of his characteristic pose of cooking and sharing his peerless bacon and coffee.
A post-chow line moment with Rangers Genius and Borderline.
"I'm hungry." So daddy Ranger Painless provides for Little Painless, whose happy (and unmistakable) laugh echoes around the area. Precious; priceless.
Very reluctantly, and after much leave-taking, we head off-playa. Notice that the dust raised by the wheels is immediately falling back; you can see the mountain range just behind the cab. In normal years it would be airborne much longer.
Ranger Vichy Lobo explains that there's been no significant water on the playa since last year, although what that'll mean to event-goers is a matter of some contention. I think it can't be good, as it seems that water binds together the playa surface into chunks which resist turning into dust. Get 50,000 people to drive all over the city and I see lots of particulate ready to become a whiteout. Well, that's the way of all things on-playa. It will be enjoyed and savored.
Heading onto paved road, I take a quick picture of the Three Mile Playa Access sign. Oh, how many times I've seen you, in joy (arrival) and sorrow (departure). See you soon, in less than 45 days!
Three groups of Rangers arrive at the Empire Store for coffee (excellent) and to gaze at the logod merchandise. Burning Man certainly has been a stream of income for this far-away place. Good for them, and for their school and senior center. Leaving the reservation we see the solar cell system donated by the event in 2007.
As hot and dry as is the playa, and cool and moist the mountain-borne alpine lakes inbetween, heading down into the central valley is an eye-opener. Bakingly hot, trapped in a bowl of air and smoke, it's unbelievably oppressive.
It's become our tradition, Lefty and I, to stop off at Mike's Pizza in Angels Camp for a refreshing return to the Default World. These are huge pies; last year the two of us ordered a 20-inch pie and had no chance of devouring it. My kids had some grand leftovers.
Well, thanks for coming along on the 2008 Playa ROM! Planning for the event is next, and there's not a lot of time left.
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