Today my back went out, very very cranky. I ended up getting sidelined for the whole day. I had gone out for my early walk, but then it decided enough. Sigh. Not what I had planned. I ended up taking ½ a muscle relaxant and it took me out. Between the van while it was cool enough and then on one of Kellie and Scott’s gravity chairs – the best – I was out on my back all day and mostly dozing and spacing. I’m not even sure what the others did. Rick did help put up the geodesic dome for the Lavender Lounge and wore himself out with the heat, but happily the wind had calmed down.
I finally rallied in time to help set up dinner. Kellie had prepped the dinner for that night in Boulder, freezing everything so we cleaned the place, set up the tables and the food in the camp kitchen and then it was great, let us get in with the group. But then after dinner they all settled down in the den to chat and hang and we….didn’t.
Instead, the four of us rode out on our bikes to see The Man and a few incredible art projects. The Octopus, was truly incredible. There was fun music, people dancing. And a Jack and the Beanstalk crazy sculpture that was 4 stories high. Scott and Rick climbed up, Kellie and I waited below and people watched. The best. Rick said totally good that I didn’t climb since there was such exposure at a couple of points.
Then we’re at the Octopus and Rick danced off – I loved it! I heard someone call my name and there was Dave and Kristen from Boulder. Crazy. The only two people I knew were going to be here and they found us. We chatted a while, got a few photos and that was a treat. They’re working with the emergency services, taking info and passing people to a nurse if they can’t address the need – water, bandage, advil, etc. They did this last year too and Dave had crazy stories. Last year, in one day, he had 6 people with broken legs come in. Black Rock City (the name for the city where everyone camps), actually has a field hospital and access to helicopter evacuation if it’s needed. Pretty sophisticated system for taking care of all the people.
Back to the camp, the shower was working, cold water which felt incredible and slept again!.
