The gods will respond to my prayers for nice weather.

Fuck it, you can't keep the Burners down!

Yeah, there have been a lot of reports about crazy wind and dust action this year, more than usual. If the playa didn't get much rain.snow melt, it could get ugly. Just hope the playa gods are good to us this year. Last year's weather was so nice. I'm bringing extra goggle action just in case.

I hear the strong winds are mostly from the same direction, so we can arrange camp to use the vans and cars to block the wind.

Also, Jon was worried that the parachute might not hold up in very strong winds. We should probably bring the linen as well. I have more grommets we can use. Are we going to pre-grommet the parachute? We could maybe do it tomorrow evening while painting the cart?

Another report:
Just got this email. Its really good information on what to be prepared for at Burning Man.

> Greetings from the playa where I am happy and well and holded up in my car.

> I dont want this to deter anyone from coming, as it's still a blast -

> but..batten down the hatches kids, cause the wind is the worst I've

> seen in the 12 years I have been coming here. For those of you around

> when the big wind hit last year and took our camp down, that is the

> way it has been the bulk of the time - really that windy, mostly non

> stop. The airstream is shaking and rocking and my tent is tied to

> every rack and bumper and hitch the truck & airstream have, and I'm

> still unsure if it's going to hold up (one pole already snapped). The

> white out's are lasting a long time, some well over 5 hours. I hear it

> has been like this for weeks, dont know if it will continue through

> the event. but the green man is about nature, so be prepared for the

> force of nature to remind us how small we are! The good news is that

> it's warm thus far, even in the middle of the night. However, the

> garage tents around here seem to be holding up when they have no walls

> & are tied down every few feet - who knows, maybe the wind will

> subside. in case it doesnt, i suggest that if you are debating between

> a tent or a van/suv, you pick the car. be sure to put everything in

> bins that have locking lids, and in ziplocks inside those. if your

> tent has any open netting areas that do not zip closed with a solid

> fabric, i suggest glue gunning a fabric onto them, closing them up

> permanently, before you come here (fabric on the outside of the tent,

> so it's between the tent & the rainfly).you can always cut it off

> later. mine has a few open ones and theres a good 1/8 inch layer of

> dust inside, on top of the bed, the floors, everywhere. had to sleep

> with dust mask last night. too much to keep up with & too late to

> close them off. the wind/dust is coming from the same direction as

> always so be sure to park your cars in a way that blocks it from

> anything you put up. and lots of bungees, ive been through 20 just for

> my tent. phil - great decision in sleeping in the rider truck. i think

> that is all to tell - just a whole lot of wind. will update you if it stops. am still having a total blast, the wind is part of the fun for sure, and look forward to seeing you'll in a week!

>

> PS - wind reminders -fully enclosed goggles for day & night (not only

> dark ones), things that light up so u can be seen, bungees, rope, 2 ft

> long reebar - more than you think you need, heavy lotion, lip stuff,

> babywipes, giant sheet or tarp or something to cover all the stuff in

> your tent (to stop dust from getting into your bed), and lots of soft

> towels - more than you think you need. xx



Just to keep you up to date.....

heh. I don't know *what* to believe anymore. This is from a friend of mine:

Funny how conflicting reports can be. Here is a
report from a very good friend of mine who has been
going out to burning man for 10+ years and has been on
playa for the past week:

I am sitting next to the Center Camp Cafe as I write.
Nice warm night tonight, and lots of stars.

The playa is not particularly soft or dusty. Yes,
there were some dust storms when that cold front moved
through, but I am surprised at the lack of dust when
the winds are in the 30 mph range. Many times over
the years we have had big dust storms that pretty much
shut the city down for a while, or even a whole day.
Rebar holds well in the ground, and the playa is not
noticeably softer than last year. There are some
small dunes of loose playa here and there, but not as
bad as a couple of years ago. Not hard to ride your
bike. Cars do not raise as much dust as in past
years.

So there is someone else's perception of the playa
conditions as of Monday.