20 year burner FAQ shaving on Playa. )’( BurningMan
Playa dust destroys razors, so I simply bring a dozen dull, spent razors to the burn and destroy one each morning
Thanks to alkali Playa dust I learned to
Hold onto my razors through the year, as I could use them one last final time in the desert
For the hearing impaired
Any razor you use on Playa will likely get destroyed in one use or at least dulled
These may be overstatements, but let’s say I can get several weeks worth of shaves up to even a month out of each disposable razor at home
Makes excellent economic sense, then to bring one dozen dull razors to the burn to get one more day out of each
Each morning I would pour water into a frisbee – add some drops of Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap, shave a few strokes, splash, the razor repeatedly in the dish of water, and continue until clean shaven
Then I would shampoo and shower
Shower
And take three or four showers per day in the desert
1 morning
2 midday remove sweat and dust
3 evening to step into new fresh clean costume
4 4 AM costume shower, clean, slip into one of 10 fresh clean sheets
Shower over plenty cardboard using gallon water containers on roof in sun all day
Plenty water at Donner pass rest stop Chevron, gas stations, Cabela’s sports, dog washing station, etc.
Always travel, uphill light through California HWY 80 save my engine and transmission
Minivan parachute
4x8’ cargo space remove seats down to carpet
Add cardboard insulite camp pads/thermarest
3” memory foam. Fitted sheet. 10 flat sheets. Comforter.
Each night at 4 AM after fourth shower, I would slip into a new clean sheet one layer down
Sleep 4am-10am or noon
Arrive Desert. ID North Star. Find spot with tall shade to East. ie: semi trailer or tall tent but NOT noisy RV generator
Toss all my banana boxes and chicken boxes of towels clothing toiletries and less heat sense food up on roof
soft fluffy costumes in pillow cases
Http://planttrees.org for more as FB cuts text here
Cover van with parachute
Tie down to wheels, frame etc or even other boxes or gear near van to form tent / canopy.
Sleep soundly with both sliding doors not latched
Such that if too warm at 10 am then could simply slide 2 unlatched doors full open return to sleep 2 hours 10am-12 under gently blowing breeze of 28’ parachute
4am Big Dipper as clock. Back to camp.
If you connect the dots at the big dipper from handle handle handle cup cup cup cup 2345 Northstar you can use the Ursa Major as a clock. that line is 45° at 10 PM vertical at 1 AM. 45° at 4 AM.
Now you have advanced warning at 4 AM before the sky starts to get light so you can get to camp get your head on a pillow and fall asleep before light
EAR PLUGS! Sleep mask for eyes wise I would add today though I seldom used there.
Dairy
Most yogurts last months without refrigeration, and just as any yogurt you buy fresh in the store you know when you open it if some employee broke the seal or rough handled. by visible black or green culture, liquid or change of taste.
Unlike Pork Poultry RW eggs and meat,
Most dairy is safe.
Milk
Non fat milk lasts for weeks after date but has little nutritional value.
Whole milk has far more nutritional value but less stable.
Clover Strauss TJs Safeway Berkeley Farms are hormone free.
Oranges last very well apples less so hard boiled eggs last very well for 1 week. and those are the items I keep cool in the lower center of the van. Avocados
Do not toss your pickle water! Insert your peeled hard boiled eggs into jar of pickle juice preserve can last a month or months.
Towels
I Would daily use one washcloth to shower and one hand towel to dry off
yesterday‘s hand towel, wraps around my bike seat with a rubber band
Fresh and clean
I would often suggest people Add two bottle holders to their bike. One for their coconut water, and one for their drank. But I would have three bottle holders on my bike no alcohol, just waters and coconut waters.
TAS coconut water of Hayward CA Thailand is pure and were one dollar each at golden veggie market
1475 Polk st SF at California St SW
Also new may wah market
707 Clement st SF @ 8th ave SW
I most always arrived when gate opened
I always mooped Monday often Tuna guys eve
Easy to avoid exodus when you leave Tues AM twilight because your van is turn key
Decompress
My fave was to soak at Essex Hot Tub Berkeley
Jump in ocean at Baker Beach SF
Swim at Pyramid lake. Get Native Permit.
Water bottles
Up Hwy 80 with empty 5 Gal clear blu water jugs and 1 gallon clear Crystal Geyser water bottles PET 1 PETE in their original box. As cardboard helps to catch spills. And keep water snug on rear floor of van over cardboard
Fill at donner or boom town tap water
I once bought 6 or 12 gallons of water at Empire Store and it attacked my teeth on contact.
Static electricity charged?
And my teeth were calcium or Fluoride stained afterwards BAD. Never again.
Cardboard boxes cases of 1 gallon plastic HDPE 2 aka milk jug type gallon bottles gross
Those leech too much plastic anyway.
Bike prefer Aluminum or lightweight
Cruiser 1 or more gears up to preference.
Mountain Bike s are cheap in June when students graduate. Bottle holders. Rear bike rack excellent
No front bike rack beware that weight affects ability to steer.
Unpack. Day 1 Turn bike upside down. Garden hose the heck out of of the chain and gears.
Day 2. Oil chain and cable sheaths.
Ok to drip remaining drops of motor oil from empty bottles onto chain as you crank pedal upside down. Use tiny bottle to send oil down your cables into their sheaths
Tiny bottle oil for derailleurs and brake hinges
Get the bike.
FB CL Nextdoor for specialized TREK cannondale GT are TOP SHELF A
a good used bike will last decades longer than a crappy Walmart huffy C next or schwinn B
Cruiser
Exception being Huffy Cranbrook 1 spd cruiser which you can leave on playa as BM )’( uses them solely as Green Bikes for free use as they have few moving parts to break.
Https://burningman.org for camp travel and safety tips and FAQs
But I share self generated content above because it works and served me well in my 20 consecutive years of playa fun adventure
Esplanade
I honestly would keep track of friends invites to camp but would often get to playa
Park close to center camp or A
Unload bike ride around meet people and sometimes accept an offer to camp if close to center and or Esplanade in my early years.
Bike Fast. Hyperspace.
Biking from 10:00 esplanade to 2:00 or any esplanade is Fast and easy to avoid obstacles . Hydrate. Beware Noon Sun.
Biking from H I J K L to center can take much time and slow you down. And collision s cars.
If your goal is more oriented towards esplanade 2:00 and 10:00 then you want to camp closest to Esplanade so you can bike Hyperspace.
Re 1995-2014 when attractions were such.
Having a rear rack on bike allowed me to shlep gear when need be but stay
Light fast nimble when desired
BM for me more fun when I can bounce around like a pinball
As an ADHD AuDHD Dyslexic Autistic Asperger Syndrome
Distractable kid in a sandbox full of delights. |