Boat mutant vehicles at Burning Man

Mutants from the Deep… 11 Years of Burning Man

/ Curt Mekemson / 17 Comments
Octopus mutant vehicle at Burning Man.
I doubt that there has ever been a mutant vehicle at Burning Man more known and loved than El Pulpo Mechanico, the steam punk octopus. El pulpo was born in a junk yard in Eureka, California.

As noted in my last post, I’ve been sorting through and categorizing my Burning Man photos from the 11 years I have attended the event: 2004-5-6-7-9-10-12-13-14-15 and 17. I’ve created 15 categories and will do posts on several of my favorites from each category over the next several weeks.

Burning Man’s home, the Black Rock Desert, wasn’t always a desert. 15,000 years ago it was part of the huge, 500 foot deep Lake Lahontan. Given this, it isn’t surprising that many mutant vehicles take on an appearance of having once swum in its murky waters, or boated across them. Creatures range from an octopus to a hermit crab; Boats from a sailing ship to a yacht. Today’s post features some of the more fishy things about Burning Man.

Brown fish mutant vehicle at Burning Man.
Big teeth seem to be a requirement of the fish that swim across the Playa on wheels. This one resembles an angler fish that dangles what appears to be a tasty morsel right in front of its mouth.
Mutant vehicle fish at Burning Man with large teeth.
This one has great chompers. Is that blood on its teeth? (Photo by Tom Lovering.)
Another perspective of the fish showing its scales. (Photo by Tom Lovering.)
Large angler fish mutant vehicle at Burning Man.
Another angler fish. This one seems to know what Burners want, a disco ball, and appears to have been successful at attracting dinner. Is a little pole dancing in order?
A fish eating fish mutant vehicle at Burning Man.
No people on the menu? How about another fish? The tongue seems to promise an interesting ride.
Shark mutant vehicle at Burning Man.
Not surprisingly, a shark was roaming the Playa at night. Should we break out in a Jimmy Buffet song?
Crocodile mutant vehicle at Burning Man.
More like a crocodile. But it has the large teeth.
Big city people will be familiar with articulated busses. This is a Burning Man equivalent: an articulated fish.
Pin eyed mutant vehicle at Burning Man.
Small teeth, perhaps, but a fancy pink eye.
A guppy mutant vehicle at Burning Man.
A guppy, perhaps?
Squid mutant vehicle at Burning Man.
I decided that this might be a streamlined squid, but I could be wrong. Land speed records, BTW, have been set on the Black Rock Desert.
Narwhal mutant vehicle at Burning Man.
Do you know what this is? It’s a narwhal.
A closer look. A narwhal’s tusk is made of ivory. I like the eye.
Here’s the long view.
Hermit crab mutant vehicle at Burning Man.
No question about this fellow. It’s a hermit crab.
Sailing ship mutant vehicle at Burning Man.
I never expected to find a full scale sailing ship at Burning Man.
The yacht Christina mutant vehicle at Burning Man.
Or a yacht. This is the Christina.
River boat mutant vehicle at Burning Man.
How about a river boat plus mermaid? (Photo by Tom Lovering.)
Another sailing ship of yore. Nevada Burners created this ship.
Reed boat mutant vehicle at Burning Man.
Ready to float down the Nile, perhaps.
I’ll finish this post off with a couple more photos of El Pulpo.
At night.

NEXT POST: Peggy provides her perspective on our hike down the Pacific Crest Trail last summer.