Last post before I leave for BM

Pulled out my tent a bit ago. Had been stuffed in the closet since I got it back in July. Its covered in leaves, dust, different grasses. I started coughing almost immediately. Damn it! I can't be getting sick, not NOW?! Oh...alergies. Ha! Water, water. water...some more water. I'm good. Brush my teeth, too. That always helps with just about anything, its pretty cool.
So between tomorrow & Sunday, around 2-3pm, I have to-
Buy a glue gun
Attach El wire to some article of clothes.
decorate the pieces that are my bike.
Buy rebar cut to 12" lengths.
get rope
make an accurate grocery list
budget for gas, water, ice, coffee
pack up my clothes, small stuff, organize gear.
pack up car
p/u Bob in Berkeley
Buy several bottles of water for road trip. Like 6. Use for tent stake covers later.
Buy 8-10* 2.5 gallon bottles of water for week.
Buy booze. decent canned beer...mount gay rum. cans of coke. pineapple juice.

Tomorrow is Thursday...

The Thursday before fucking Burning Man weekend. Okay, getting a bit more excited again, I have to say, being involved with Alicia and the drama of it all, the passion of it all, and now the calm afterward has allowed me the time to remember what I am going to go do in a few days...

Notes:

1. Bike got mangled in budget truck this morning-replacement back wheel costs $105-. Buddy said he'd pay 1/2.
   
2. Need several more items-
3. Bike rack/hitch mount
   
4. Groceries-WATER, food, bacon, beef jerky, eye drops, nasal drops, baby wipes, 1 ply TP, paper towels, large bags for storage, trash bags, vinegar, spray bottle..e.tc etc...

Planning...

I think I've done my research...goggles, duskmasks/bandanas, limp balm, etc. The kind of stuff I'd likely forget if I didn't make a list of it. Batteries, uhm...an innertube for my bike. Bike repair kit. lights!! Headlamp. I have a lot of shit to buy still...

First thing's first: The truck has to be checked up on. Its driving a bit wonky, I do need to know asap what is going on with it so I can check that off the list, or if my instincts were just magical thinking and its a pos, I can try and attend to fixing it enough to get it to the desert (AND BACK) reliably.

Secondarily, I want to buy another, smaller tent. With the prospect of Paul coming, I need to be able to set up a tent outside the truck (if not inside my larger tent), and have the bare minimum shelter. Thankfully, Stag Camp will be able to provide shelter, so that is less of a concern, yet I do want to know that if need be, I could camp entirely alone. That is the premise under which I am attending. To be entirely self-sufficient.

After those two expenses are dealt with, I will be acquiring the rest of the gear...Rebar stakes, large plastic ziplock bags, rope, gaff tape, lighting for myself + bike + camp. Costume stuff.

Once I have a large collection of stuff, the truck is fixed and ready, my tent situation is handled (oh, that means also, getting a cot or air mattress, and a rug or two maybe for dust control...) I can begin to pack it all up and gauge the feasibility of packing it all in my truck.

Of course, most important of all: REMEMBER TO BRING TICKET.

k, I'm done for the night. Time for bed...

As yet another Burning Man Gear List...

I really need to get a printer. Oh wait, then I'd be wasting trees instead of pixels/electrons. Anyway, here is another list of stuff to check off:

stolen from: http://eplaya.burningman.com/viewtopic.php?t=667

My list incorporates stuff from Helousise's list, as well as a few other sources... This, like everything else, is a work in progress...

Building your home for the week.

• Big tent
• Inflatable Mattrress. I found a Double Decker air mattress made by Ozark Trail, and it's like sleeping in your own bed.
• Sleeping Bags
• Shade Structure to cover the tent.
• Small piece of rug for outside your tent
• Ziplock bags for your clothes and all kinds of shit. Ones with actual zippers are best.
• Flags or something that glows in the dark to mark your stakes that hold your tent in place. Tennis balls for the larger staks are good as well
• Extra rebar stakes to secure your tent, in case it comes with those crappy little staks that simply arent good enough out there.
• Carpet to line whole tent, sounds ridiculous, but if you have some laying around, it does help keep the dust down.
• Tent repair kit, just in case.
• Extra Sheet or blanket. Cover your air mattress with it when you get up in the morning, and you will sleep in a dust free bed every night!

Personal Items

• Fanny pack, or small back pack. I like the camel back/back pack combo.
• Dust mask or rebreather for those VERY COMMON dust storms.
• Goggles for the same reason.
• Sunscreen, and lip balm.
• HAT, an absolute must, wide brim is best, something that protects your ears. .
• Aloe Gel for sun burns
• Work Gloves
• Flash Light
• Camera
• Clothes for both Hot days and COLD NIGHTS
• Camelback/Water bottle. When on my bike I carry 2 bottles and a camelback. You can never carry enough water.
• Stuff to put your dirty laundry in. Garbage bags work great.
• Ear Plugs if you are a light sleeper. It's never quiet on the playa.
• Something to hold your cigarette butts in - No tossing them on the playa!
• Sewing kit.
• Handy Wipes. Cant have too many.
• Spray Bottle or some sort of personal misting device. It's amazing how much it helps.
• Asprin! I actually prefer excedrin, it's great for hangovers.
• 1st Aid kit.
• Q tips
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Eye drops and/or saline especially for contact lense wearers
• Boots
• Nail File
• Nail Clippers
• Power bars for when you are hungry and don't want to trek back to camp.
• Note pad to add to list WHILE AT Burning Man.
• Lotion

Miscelaneous

• Duct tape
• Rope (We seem to never have enough)
• Bungees
• A mesh cargo net to cover loose items while traveling.
• Full length mirror
• Batteries, batteries and batteries.
• Pad Locks (Never needed them before, but you never know.)
• Tools including Sledge Hammer, regular hammer, screw drivers, wrenches)
• Cash for buying Coffee and Ice from center camp. This is also very important, especially the coffee part.
• Maps covering all parts of your trek to burning man.
• Walkie Talkies are great when travenling in a caravan.
• Pocket knife/leatherman. Very usefull for camp setup and tear down.

Bicycle associated items.

• A bicycle with fat tires and a really cushy seat is best
• Tire repair kit
• water bottles for the bike.
• Basket is a MUST for the ice runs and other things you may need to carry with you.
• Headlamp for the bike is great for those nights when you just don't feel like walking.

Perspective

A month ago- July 3rd, I was:

• Still debating whether I'd call D back.
• Driving my Honda
• Had yet to reconnect with: Paul, Rob or any of the SBC krew
• Uncertain I'd be able to afford Burning Man

In a month:

• Burning Man will be in my past.
  
• I'll be scrounging to find something new to put my energy into-thinking, maybe, just maybe getting a puppy...haven't been able to forget the Samoyed Paul and I saw when he came up the first time, a few weeks ago. Or School. Or new job. Or moving...
• RXV will be gearing up to be busy, busy busy, busy, busy, busy...!
  

For the time being, I am becoming increasingly more anxious about how prepared I am for a week in the dry, alkali lake bed in the desert in Nevada. I went to REI to look at tents. Overwhelming selection. Any 4 season tent will probably do, presuming its got a decent enough rain cover thing to keep out dust.







Tentatively:

• I have a tent. I have no clue how to erect it yet. I do have a few folks interested in assisting me. Of course, am not sure it has all of its pieces either. I've never seen it standing up. I need to buy a bunch of new rope. Some (probably 12) 12-15" rebar stakes, bent in candy cane shapes for securing whatever it becomes. Additionally, buy a smaller 1-2 person tent to put inside whatever I build...
• I have a ticket.
• I have transportation
• I have funds for gas, food/drink, and a few extras.
• I'll be able to pay September's rent
• I have a camp

Still need:

• To work on: Paul-he wants to go, but its waffling. His move to Berkeley may be enough to sustain him for awhile.
  
• DJ- There's no convincing here, she does want to go. She lacks the funds to do so. With her, its really just a matter of (I think) whether I'd be able to justify buying her ticket, how she'd get there, whether she'd have all her stuff and what our boundaries are. I am not interested in being baby sat, nor babysitting anyone. Of course, having companionship is nice. The big question still on my mind is: Would I be able to stomach the idea that either of us could/will hook up with anyone else out there.
• To contact Galen. According to Paul, he's going to go. He's psyched on it.