I left camp about 2:30 AM.. and drove slowly around  the radial road “I” towards center camp.  (Black Rock City is set up like a clock with radial roads at the 30 (and  further out 15 ) minute intervals  we were at 9:15 and I) .. It was hard to see since there was a minor sandstorm going. I found the turn off to the access rode and followed the tattered flags to the greeters gate.. It was easy to loose the way as there really is no road to speak of., no other traffic and . and the blowing sand made it easy to loose the flags. Once past the gate  it got a little easier.. but the 5 miles ot the highway took me over 30 min. From there the road to Rneo was pretty empty.. I listened to podcasts (wait, wait dont tell me, this american life) to stay awake.

Aroudn 3:30 I got to a n all night carwash in reno.. I spent the next hour cleaning the car inside and out to avoid the mandatory $250 you-trashed-our-rental-car-on-the-desert fee.

By the time i was done it was after 4:30 am.. long after my hotel reservation had been forfeited.. Luckily the nice clerk made me a deal and for a few bucks they let me use a room to shower and get about 45 min of sleep before I had to leave for my 7 AM flight..

I got to the airport tired but clean and saw folks still leaving for the playa .. or lookign for ways to get there.

I got on the the first of 3 flights heading home.. and thats really the last thing I remember until getting  to Vermont.. I slept the whole way except for changing flights

 

 

diane picked me up just before midnight.. it was SO good to see her..   I really missed her this trip. she’s been such a part of the project.

she drove me home.. and I slept for 11 hours !

it’s so nice to  be home !

niote all, nite sam

-me