from the Alternative Energy Zone crew
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Be prepared to be so overwhelmed with excitement that you forget something really important. Like you walked back from center camp and forgot that your bike was there, and now it’s gone. And when that happens, remember to relax and not beat yourself up over it; these things happen.
From Jolly Roger
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Make your bike so outrageous that everyone will know it’s yours…..and where it is if someone “borrows” it……………
From Michael (will it hover with only one hand on the handlebar?)
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Speaking of bikes, bring crappy ones that no-one in their right mind would want to steal.
From Laura
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I take three ice chests (for the 2 week stay) I try to keep them all in the shade.
1.Small one for the day of travel and the first day setting up: snacks, one light dinner and frozen water bottles to keep things cold and later drink
2. Medium one for the first two full days in camp
3. The large coffin (2′x6′) plywood box lined with 2″ Styrofoam, covered with 1 reflective fireblanket.
This is not opened until the third day when camp is set up and we can begin to enjoy our bounty. It’s packed with ~100# dry ice and about 2 dozen frozen liter bottles of light lemonade, in addition to 2 – 5 gallon plastic containers of frozen water (the ice melts and the water is contained and drinkable).

Labeled frozen food is placed on one end near the dry ice. Fresh food (vegetables, eggs, butter, salami, and a little milk and cheese) are in assorted Tupperware in the end furthest away from the dry ice. Cans of soda and V-8 fill in the spaces. Very important to me is that everything is contained. – I dislike to have to deal with partially decomposing food floating in dirty cold water.

We don’t need to buy ice and the last two years I have returned home with some ice still intact.

Lemonade recipe: 1//2 to 1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice to 1 liter bottle, with a pinch of salt and sweetened to taste (I have tried various sweeteners – sugar, honey, cactus juice, Stevia) Roger likes a little pomegranate juice added to some for variety.

Frozen meals: I usually prepare several for potlucks (I don’t like to cook on the playa): Chicken curry, Gyozas, Chili, rice medley, I have a Borsch for this year. Other food we take: Instant miso, nuts, dried figs and pears, the mayor’s chocolates – dark bars and coca almonds. And last but not least, Limes and Mangos for the Tuna Guys! I bring a bottle of olive oil, and one of soy sauce – salt and pepper. What more does one need? Egg cups and silver goblets, of course. So now you all know what you can come to borrow if you forgot.

Last year on the third day – we were going to have our honeymoon reception potluck for which I had prepared a large salmon loaf (about 2 feet long). Way after noon, I realized that I hadn’t even opened the big chest, let alone begun to defrost the fish. It was overcast so there was no help to be had from the weather. So we discovered a wonderful playa method for food defrosting under such conditions. The large foil wrapped loaf was folded in a large black trash bag and it was given to unsuspecting visitors. They could cool themselves off and help prepare the feast. Heidi proved to be the best at this work, she lay it on her body and invited others to lay on top. The proverbial hard work if you can get it. So if any of you enjoyed my salmon loaf, human warmth was one of the main and not so secret ingredients.
Love – Anna aka Mrs Jolly “keep the mayor happy” Roger
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Drink lots and lots of water.
Then, drink more water.
Then, drink more water.
Then, drink more water.
Then, drink more water.
Sound (and wet) advice from Lucia
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