We’d had a plan to go out for a sunrise concert by a DJ that Scott really liked and set our alarms for 4:30. Scott and I got up and went out side and the wind was kicking up so we decided it wasn’t meant to be. I never really fell back asleep and neither did Rick, though we tried! We then got up at 6 because he had to be at the Temple by 6:45 for his first shift. He was staggering around because of lack of sleep and we couldn’t coordinate coffee that early and quickly. He rode off and I got our main solar battery charged so that we had the swamp cooler for the night, then I went off too.
I went to a coffee bar up 9th that has been open every day and luckily was open today too. I got him coffee in a thermos cup and took it to him. The wind was already pretty busy, but I was able to ride there and find Rick. I then walked around the Temple. So much grief. The images, words, photos were so evocative of love and loss and tribute. People were quiet, some crying, some stapling, hammering up their tributes. A wonderfully serene space.
I then said goodbye to Rick and rode against the wind to the Man. I could see that the dust swirls were up to the 1st floor, but not the upper floors. Thank goodness they’d built the stairs as solid wood stairs, no visuals between the treads and I was able to go all the way up. There weren’t many people because of the early hour and the wind so the few of us up there were chatting, looking out at the art and exchanging stories. There are so many casual, often interesting conversations that happen here.
I then went down and rode out 6, the artery that led to the Man from the Center Pavilion. I hadn’t seen the Center Pavilion and the wind and dust were ramping up. I wanted to get out of it for a bit. Turns out there are performances and talks there and a talk was coming up on the science of happiness – I’m always up for learning something about that! I found a comfy sofa seat, pulled out my water and my power balls and had breakfast while reading my book on my phone. It was perfect. Then someone else sat down so I put my phone away. It’s actually really cool here, people just don’t use a their electronics. You never see a group of people sitting and looking at their phones. It’s all conversation. That alone makes Burning Man a huge treat and a reminder that people used to talk all the time.
I enjoyed the lecture, he’s continuing tomorrow, but I have a Guardian shift tomorrow morning. I then rode down different streets that I hadn’t seen before, just exploring. Even when the playa is completely dust covered, it’s possible to do/see things in the city. I got back to the camp around 11:30 or 12. Perfect – then Rick and I were due to clean up after breakfast (yes, at 12:45). There actually wasn’t much to clean up, but Scott and Kellie had just come back and were hungry so we started making burgers on the grill. They got theirs done and I hopped on to finish the grilling so Scott could eat. Veggie, salmon and beef burgers and people kept coming for all three kinds, i loved it. Had something to do, people were happy, had random chats, it was perfect.
Then the usual hot afternoon chats in the shelter. Rick started getting restless so we all walked in a different direction and found a jam session space and they were really good. Kellie and Scott went back to get things ready for Lauren and TJ, who were coming in on the Burner Bus and Rick and I wandered a bit, but the wind/dust really got pretty crazy. You couldn’t see anything out on the playa so we went back to the jam session and saw a few more people.
I went back to the camp, just in time to see Lauren and TJ come in. They’d only walked a block and they looked like they’d been walking for 5 days with all the dust that had been deposited on them and their hair in full disarray. Pretty funny and great to have them come in. We had dinner with the whole camp. Ramen – pretty good! Then the wind calmed down and the rest all decided to go out riding to see the playa and whatever else they could find. Rick had continued walking after I’d come back and had gone to the Karioke bar and the Piano bar – so I think they might be going back to those places. I stayed back. The wind was kicking up again, I was tired, system pretty cranky and really really wanting some quiet time. Just to read!
I still have 5 more nights, I’ll get more visuals in and maybe the wind will calm.
