I got to Reno around 10:30 pm, and I filled up the gas tank because I was a little paranoid about running low on fuel in the desert. Out of Reno, about half of the cars on the road appeared to be bound for burning man. Turning up the road towards Gerlach there was a thin caravan of cars, each headed North. This was exciting. I felt like part of a vast team. Arriving at the edge of a large plain, there were small booths and structures with lights.  I was asked if this was my first time. The greeters said there weren't many people who were new to burning man this year.  Suddenly the wife of my greeter realized she knew me. 

"Rob Cockerham! You are Rob Cockerham!"

She was very excited to see me. This was a fantastic way to be welcomed into a huge campground of artists! I was smiling for about an hour after that.

I couldn't find the Stars Upon Ours camp where Daniel's friends were staying and it was already 2:30 am, so I camped near Pantaloon around 638 on the map (anywhere I wanted). Setting up the tent was easy.

 There were rows of outhouses every so often.

I ventured out, looking for a little glimpse of the night life. I hit the center arts area where camping is not allowed. People trolled around on their bikes, there was a lot to see! I was most impressed by the giant iron flaming heart (12 feet tall) and Burning man (maybe 40 feet tall).

Slept at 3:40am
I was confounded by the clanking zippers and flapping tent, but eventually I found my earplugs & slept. 

I arose for real at 9am, wandering around on my bike and in my winged hat . Saw the giant goat with the red fabric anus. funny. Fiberglas.

Daytime at burning man consists of many, many groups of people sitting in  shade structures.

I got coffee at center camp and wandered around amongst the sights for hours. It was windy but I decided to try to wear the silver wings anyway. It didn't work out.  Within 300 yards of my tent, the strong wind broke them.  I was beginning to fear for my upcoming enjoyment of this event. I had to withstand some Icarus jokes on the walk home.

I made a silver sun shade out of the rest of the plastic/foil panels. It was kind of cool to at least be making something neat out in the desert.  

I was beginning to feel that the back of my legs were sunburned.  A sunburn appeared to be the worse possible thing that could happen to you at burning man, because there is nowhere to hide from the environment.

When I was tired of working on my tent, I visited with a guy with a remote control car near my tent. I quickly drove my car over & we had some little races.  I was beginning to suspect that every single person out here was outgoing and friendly. 

Near center camp I stumbled upon the supersnail tent & met Julian again and Jackie. Julian gave me a gift! A poster of photos from previous burning man costumes. Made plans to return with full wings for this fine photo opportunity.

I left a note for Daniel at center camp & soon after tracked down the Stars upon Ours camp and Daniel!

Walked around giving away ice with Pirate Daniel.

Met Janus, he was talking up cockeyed.com. I glowed.

Got asked about the "rest of my costume" was a little saddened to think of my poor broken wings at my tent. I vowed to fix them if the wind ever let up.

Went to a barbeque with Daniel's friends, sat listening to music. It was strange to see entire computer setup in the desert. I got ready to go to a dance tent with a group from SUO camp & took a ride out to the furthest edge of the city. Danced for about an hour and lost my enthusiasm. My chapped lips were starting to really bother me, so I started to make my way home. It was very dusty and uncomfortable outside.

Dark.
windy & dusty. Neat stuff to see on the playa

About half of the costumes were thrown together with glow sticks and glitter, the rest were great.

About an hour after I left the dance party, I went home to my tent. My silver sun shade had blown down. I secured it and went to sleep. Dust dust dust.

I got dressed and went to get coffee. Saw the world's oldest naked man. 

Came home, worked on the sun shade, determined to block the morning sun tomorrow. A man rode up on his bicycle offering to trade mushrooms for whatever I had of value. I enjoyed his offer, but didn't want any mushrooms. I gave him a pack of American Spirit Cigarettes. I had brought them along to trade.

The back of my calves were Ok, but I was keeping my eye on them. It is strange to rub suntan lotion onto skin that is dirty. Pretty icky. I ate a dusty meal of Vienna sausages, cheese and crackers. I drank lots of juice. Is this coming out as glamorous as you thought it would be?

Went out with the bike and winged hat to check out more art on the playa. Helped pull the Styrofoam lion. Delays hurt the crowd dynamics.
Got ice cream.

Climbed a four-story scaffolding tower, scary, but once on top I realized that the wind was calm enough to try & repair the wings. 

Biked home in mushy dusty streets & tried to fix the wings. I stood up and the wings broke, re-repaired them. Got to Daniels, and got called a "giant silver eagle" by a kid. 3 kids tried to pull down Daniel's skirt. Heh heh. He was losing patience. My wings broke again, & dragged them home. It was a twisting PVC problem that demanded a drill. I was worried. 

I finally fixed them but night was falling. I had two big tenuous wings, ready to take on the crowds on the streets of burning man.

I locked up my bike in preparation to leave it behind, the key was too dusty to work, so I had to clean it.

Walking amongst the prowling masses, I enjoyed 3 offers of rum from Clowns, a pill bottle party guy & a guy that interviewed me about my wings.  A kid gave me beads. At last I felt like I fit in! Hoorah!

My wings broke twice in the desert, but I was able to fix them "in the field" instead of walking back to my tent. The wings were too large to bring into a party shade-structure.

 Eventually I got bored of just walking around & decided to head home, and then go out with the remote control flare car. (see ketchup packet bear for photos). 

When I got home I decided that this was my last night at burning man. It was midnight. I went out with the remote-control car and 12 flares. 

I went to a community burn platform & drove around for about an hour chasing people with the flare car. Fun. Very dusty. I packed up and went to bed around 1.30am

I woke up around 10am, it was windy, hot, but the shade structure was finally working. Terrific dust storm made me feel helpless and bored. Wanted to leave. I felt trapped.

Packed inside tent, took down shade structure in high-wind with goggles, dust-mask and hat. Threw everything into the car. Tent was saturated with dust.

One guy tried to get me to stay for the burning man. He encouraged me to stay at the center camp, but I was not convinced. I felt like one of the people that leave the basketball game before it is over.

I drove out, didn't even wait to get coffee, just wanted to get home.

About 20 minutes out I saw a massive traffic accident aftermath, with a triple-trailer truck on the side of the road.

I stopped at an Indian taco hut on the side of the road. Cold grape soda tasted great!

Got a speeding ticket before I got out of Nevada, 70 in a 55. Lame. I was being very careful too!

At the agriculture stop, my car was totally covered in dust, he said, "is this from that burning man thing"?  I said "yeah". He said, "go ahead".