Today was great. Again, calm, cool, gorgeous riding. Rick and I had our usual early breakfast and then went for a walk. I realized I couldn’t walk very well, so we came back and got bikes. We explored and then went to the Temple Guardians headquarters for a training. To be Temple Guardians. We’re both psyched that we decided to do this and we each have 2 shifts over the week.
The Temple is where people bring mementos of loved ones as a memorial. It’s incredibly touching and profound for a lot of people. The Man burns on Saturday, the Temple on Sunday.
It’s a giant piece of architectural art. Scott had met and gave support to the artiest, James. On Sunday when we’d been out riding, we stopped by the Temple which wasn’t open yet and met the artist who took us through. The underlying thought process that drove the design was remarkable and touching. He’d been working on it for months and to see it come alive was still making him emotional. That night there was a ceremony where the Temple Guardians (old guard, no new people) walked through the line of the builders and officially took over. Then James will see his creation burnt on Sunday. Really, some of the rituals here are wonderful.
Rick and I then rode around the playa more and then came back around 12:30 to clean up after the camp breakfast. Kellie had already started, people helped and it was done early. Then – the heat which isn’t even that bad, never reached 100, but it takes me down. I just endure the afternoons. around 4:30-5, people start to come back to life.
We had our own dinner, then went out riding the playa – again seeing new things that had sprouted from the sand. This led to one of the best moments of the week. We rode up to a giant interactive red/pink sculpture. When we got there, we saw Instagrammers (really not seen much here) doing intense poses in the high up circle. There were photographers below, including a Black Rock City photographer standing next to me.
While we watched and admired (they really were beautiful), Scott and Rick went behind and waited their turn to climb up. Well, they got up there in pretty stark contrast and worked the crowed. People were laughing so hard, it was perfect. Kellie and I were having a great time watching and laughing and the BRC photographer asked if they were our husbands. Yes! “Well, thank goodness because this is what it’s about and brought it back to real after those Instagrammers.” So fun.
We came back around 7:30 to the Bumblepuss camp meeting – rules, expectations, warnings. Drugs are completely illegal and there are police and rangers everywhere – be safe. Don’t ever take anything that’s offered. Interesting talk given the utter reputation of the Burn being a drug fest.
Then Kellie and I took showers and went to bed – or at least to our vans to read. Rick gamely joined Scott for another night ride on the playa. The shower tonight was great – actual water pressure! And it doesn’t matter that it’s cold because it takes a long time for the temp to drop in the evening.
