The drive out of the playa to leave burning man was intense. Or not, depending on how I looked at it.
To get from our camp back to a paved road was approximately three miles. It took us more than four hours. We were caught in one of three major dust storms during the week. But also there were just too many vehicles leaving burning man and turning left onto one lane.
The week had been unbelievable, sometimes literally. A few times I wasn’t able to tell if I was really seeing what was in front of my eyes, even while not on drugs.
After dark it was finally our turn to turn left. I passed a bunch of cars. Even then though the traffic varied from over the speed limit to almost stopping, which Justin complained about.
I was so not there with him. After a week in the desert, I had a newfound appreciation for all things not sand blowing in my face. After spending four hours in traffic that left me wondering whether it was worse to turn off my engine or leave it idling, I had a newfound appreciation for all gears not neutral. Finally, after spending a week with so many kind people, I had a newfound appreciation, for newfound appreciation.
But I was tired.
Two hours later we made it to Reno. We stopped off at Iron Skillet for a late dinner. Running water. Mirrors. Perishable food that I didn’t have to cook myself.
After dinner I was still tired, but I wasn’t finished yet.
Finally, we made it to Oregon House. The time was 2:30 a.m. We had left camp at 4:00 p.m.
The next day we unpacked, and then I drove to Benicia to hang out with my parents and sister. I told them about my trip. Then I drove home. I decided to write about burning man, but backwards.
5 responses so far ↓
1 Allen // Sep 2, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Nice viewpoint. Enjoying the life that is being lived. Way to be.
You seem remarkably un-dirty considering this is the post-Burning Man you. Of course, this is not a picture of your mind.
2 Ally // Sep 2, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Glad that you had a good time (…and that you’re back). Now get rested!
3 Allen // Sep 2, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Oh, by the way, it seems like considering what the dust looks like in the photos, you have yet another great reason to have purchased a truck of this color.
4 Jon // Sep 2, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Oh man, its too bad I didn’t know you were in Reno. I was there over the weekend as well.
5 Ian Bowman // Sep 5, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Allen – Nothing is dirty compared to my mind.
Ally – Good to be back
Jon – What were you doing there? Attending a “shit happens (like accidentally sewing up someone with scissors inside of them): defense of non-frivolous medical lawsuits” seminar with your dad?
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