Over 40,000 people will be making the trek to the remote northern Nevada desert next week and creating Black Rock City, home to the annual event known as Burning Man. Peggy and I will be there. We will begin reporting on our 2013 experience on September 2.

The clock is ticking. It is serious countdown time for Burning Man 2013. Peggy and I hit the road on Sunday, six days from now. And I haven’t done an ounce of planning or preparation. Nada. We were too busy driving up the Alaska Highway and back. When we should have been making our costumes, we were hanging out with the Kodiak Bears, or catching salmon, or dodging potholes in the Yukon Territory.

I should be nervous. Heck, Peggy should be nervous. Burning Man is my responsibility. Soon we will be in the midst of raging dust storms and stifling heat in the remote Black Rock Desert where a city of 40,000 people plus will appear and disappear in a week’s time. What will we eat, what will we wear, what will we drink?

One of numerous dust storms makes it way across the Black Rock Desert, engulfing people, a giant slide and a mutant vehicle. (Photo by Don Green)

Peggy ‘battens down the hatches’ in a valiant but hopeless attempt to keep out the dust from a storm that has invaded Center Camp. (Photo by Ken Lake)

Are we psychologically prepared for a week of port-a-potty toilets and baby-wipe baths? Or should this be the year we practice cleanliness by running naked behind the water truck? That’s always a sight. And speaking of sights, are we prepared for the very large, naked man who insists on riding his bike back and forth in front of our camp several times a day?

And noise, the 24/7 beat of heavy metal music, and drums, and mutant vehicles with mega loud speakers. Make a note: take noisemaker with extra batteries. No, make that two noisemakers with a box of 50 Costco batteries and earplugs.

Does any of this sound like fun? Actually it is. Or at least it’s unique. And it’s addictive. I’ve been ten times or so. I don’t remember anymore. Which may be another problem related to Burning Man. (grin) But I am a fan and once again I look forward to sharing the experience with you… the great art, the craziness, the people, the magic, the desert and all of the other factors that go into making Burning Man one of the greatest shows on earth.

Will this monster be awaiting us when we arrive at Burning Man?

Or how about this jolly looking fellow?

Or maybe, horror of horrors a big breasted giant bee awaits us.

Should I be anxious as this Burning Man street sign suggests and spend my week in worried preparation. Or should I lay back and trust my luck to chance?

NEXT BLOG: What’s with this year’s theme and what the heck is a Cargo Cult anyway?