Building BRC

Closer and closer

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7 comments

It was a bitch and a bear on Thursday. Wednesday night might have been one of the most beautiful nights in the history of the playa (and yeah, given that this desert lakebed has been virtually unchanged for hundreds of thousands of years, that’s quite a statement), but Mother Nature and Mr. Blowhard Wind reminded us the next day that no, it’s really not all that hospitable here.

Thursday afternoon, the dust was blowing so hard it hurt. Movement was impossible. The tents of a lot of veteran burners, people who’ve been doing this awhile and know the drill, got shredded. (Which made for interesting improvised sleeping arrangements, but that’s another story entirely.)

Theme camps are moving onto the playa in force, and artists are busting hump to finish their installations before the event begins. There’s activity all over the playa, and it’s filling up fast.

There’s lot’s to report, and we’ll be back in a bit with more.

About the author: John Curley

John Curley (that's me) has been Burning since the relatively late date of 2004, and in 2008 I spent the better part of a month on the playa, documenting the building and burning of Black Rock City in words and pictures. I loved it, and I've been doing it ever since. I was a newspaper person in a previous life, and I spent many years at the San Francisco Chronicle. At the time I left, in 2007, I was the deputy managing editor in charge of Page One and the news sections of the paper. Since then, I've turned a passion for photography into a second career. I shoot for editorial, commercial and private clients. I've also taught a little bit, including two years at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism and a year at San Francisco State University. I live on the San Mateo coast, just south of San Francisco in California.

7 Comments on “Closer and closer”

  • Swede12 says:
    August 27, 2010 at 11:13 am

    Oh my! I cannot wait to endure it all for another glorious week on the playa. Thank you so much for these wonderful contributions. Thank you for keeping us all out on the playa a little bit more…

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  • Bruce Greenspon says:
    August 27, 2010 at 2:05 pm

    J.
    Beautiful work, as always — both written and visual and I thank you.

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  • Cheryl Chaudron says:
    August 27, 2010 at 10:52 pm

    Hey John ! thank you for the great stories. Your insight into the pre-burn activities on the playa have given me a new found respect for the folks that work so hard so that we can play!

    On a completely unrelated note, the Reno Police Dept. , Washoe Co. sheriff and Nevada Highway patrol have rolled out a real warm welcome for any Burners who happen to venture off the highway in the area of Robb Dr. or McCarran Blvd in West Reno. I’m sorry to post this message here but I was unsure where to send this information. Ya’ll be careful out there !!

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  • okinawaboy says:
    August 28, 2010 at 1:09 pm

    Cheryl or anyone, can you provide more info on the Reno police, are they stopping burners for some reason?

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  • Ahk says:
    August 31, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    John Curley…Dude, just wanted to thank you for the blogs and posts you’ve been putting up!! For those of us not there, your contributions are incredible. You give us the flavor of the place, the comings and goings, and make us a little more nostalgic to get back to the playa asap. Again, muchas gracias for all you’re doing. Keep up the good work!!

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  • john curley says:
    August 31, 2010 at 3:19 pm

    thanks so much, it’s greatly appreciated.

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  • Taariq says:
    August 31, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    Absolutely beautiful. Keep it up the good work I am a fan! Did you see the Burning Man rainbow? Burning man rainbow

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