Preparing for Burning Man – the Thing in the Desert – consumes you. You sacrifice all your time to it, and much of your sanity. I’ve been too busy to even blog about this year’s preparations, which have included a slew of new instruments and a complete teardown/rebuild of the Arduino-controlled canopy-light system. As I’m probably overfond of saying, a mutant vehicle is a hole in the playa into which one pours money, blood and tears.
But it’s still a mutant vehicle. And I’ve got a schedule to keep.
So here, this’ll catch you up:
I’ve been BUSY.
I cut two new tank drums, to be mounted to the left side the van, fore and aft of the 2.5 octave keyboard.
New eyebolts in strut ends from which to hang the chandeliers. Also, set up the speakers for easy slip-on-and pin-it mount/dismount.
5 coats of clearcoat enamel and later a bungee wrap for the new tank drums.
Checked all the chandeliers and rewired some of the non-working ones.
Drilled and dipped in liquid vinyl a couple-dozen new mallets and sticks.
An experiment with a helium tank.
Took time out to enjoy the L.A. River.
Got smashed into by an inattentive driver, who stove in the iron framework of our tailgate – a critical piece of equipment for letting people mount to the roof deck during the burn.
Unbolted the damaged tailgate frame from the underside of the van.
Cobbled together the Helium Bongoes
Took a trip to Alaska.
ALASKA.
Alaska is ravishing.
Returned home to find the maximally awesome Matt Rogers had repaired the tailgate frame by cutting off the crushed third, and re-welding it from scratch (and the materials I picked up at IMS)
Bolted that mofo back onto the underside of the van. BUT GOOD.
Replaced and painted the plywood decking
Masked it off
Peel off the masking ,and voila – an exceptionally noticeable tailgate so that people can mount the ladder safely – and so inattentive drivers will be less likely to smash into it again/
Oh, and tonight, thanks to the unstoppable Shea Sullivan, who brought our Arduino lighting system back online. MUCH GRATITUDE AND RESPECT, SIR.
And I finished mounting the upper deck cage and hippie-proofing it with pool noodles and safety signs.
I might not be blogging again till after the Burn. Should be a doozy (see schedule below) Thanks for following!
2018 Scheduled Cruises:
Flag me down if you see me and I’ll give you a ride if there’s room!
If I’m not cruising the playa, abandoning XyloVan briefly to volunteer on GATE, enjoying the insanely inventive events at home at OKNOTOK at 3:00/A, I’ll be doing one of these things.
Tuesday 8/28
12 noon: BAIT route from 3:00/L to the Temple and back
2:30 pm: XyloVan Robøtik Perkussion Jam Cruise departs from OKNOTOK (3:00/A)
3 pm: BAIT route from 3:00/L to the Temple and back
Thursday
12 noon: BAIT route from 3:00/L to the Temple and back
2:30 pm: XyloVan Robøtik Perkussion Jam Cruise departs from OKNOTOK (3:00/A)
3 pm: BAIT route from 3:00/L to the Temple and back
10 pm: XyloVan plays the Sonic Runway in deep playa – Come bang on the van with us and make the Sonic Runway go wild!
