Diary: Seen during a brief sojourn

My brief sojourn at Burning Man is finished, and I’m back in Reno, having passed a half dozen Burners pulled over on Nevada highways by state patrol. Is displaying “Destination: Burning Man” probable cause to search? It shouldn’t be; I actually saw far less illicit/unhealthy behavior than any concert or festival I’ve been to.

So, what did I see?

• I saw a giant birthday cake moving across the desert, with the voice of what sounded like Amy Goodman of “Democracy Now” talking about the imperatives of peace.
• I saw a double decker bus with giant mushrooms atop it, which occasionally spit fire.
• I saw a lunar eclipse, several cars that look like boats, two semi-trucks stacked vertically and curved into a sculpture, inexplicably perched on the one truck’s front tires.
• I saw furry hats, furry cars, furry bikes, furry loin cloths.
• I saw a naked bike ride.
• I saw fire-throwing and fire-dancing. A lot of fire dancing.
• I saw a man painted in all silver, like the Tin Man, on roller skates.
• I saw video art, art installations, and a lot of performance art, even though the performers weren’t always aware they were performing.
• I saw a perfect approximation of a Land Speeder from “Star Wars.”
• I saw a 30-foot, red, papier mache insect, though I’m unsure of the material.
• I saw four women from Australia on their way to Burning Man get pulled over in Fallon, Nev.; it was the second time they’d been pulled over, likely there were no ramifications.
• I saw men in ’60s era space suits playing a version of “Dance Dance Revolution,” except when they didn’t dance well, they were shot with fire (the suits apparently protected them from the flames — at least I hope.)
• I saw men swinging from a geodesic dome, hitting each other with what one hopes were foam bats; people had climbed the dome to watch. It was called the Death Guild Thunderdome, or something.
• I saw dust fall like light snow.