Burning Man rainout: RGJ videographer takes refuge in Gerlach

Editor's note: Liz Margerum, the staff videographer for the Reno Gazette-Journal, tried to get into Black Rock City this morning. Mother Nature had other plans. Here's how her day is going so far:

I left Reno this morning at 4 a.m. thinking I would be at my camp in Black Rock City by noon at the latest. The desert was dark and I could see light from the city in the distance.

Now, I'm sitting in the Gerlach Miners club, not knowing when any of us will be able to get in the gate.

"OK, who needs shots?" asks Flash the bartender.

My change of fortune started at dawn when I caught up to the car in front of me. The Burning Man playa entrance was about a mile away. I could see the lifts of the gate. I could see everyone in line. And then I was in the middle of an impressive thunderstorm.

And the dream of making it to Burning Man today died right then.

After waiting for three hours, we were told to turn around by the BLM police. So close and yet so far away.

This is my 13th burn and I have never seen anything like it before. Lucky number 13.

You can't argue with the cops so back to Gerlach I went with the other Burners.

As I pulled into town, I saw a gravel lot and I backed my trailer in, determined not to drive all the way back to Reno.

After making some new friends, I set off to the Miners Club hoping to see Flash. I had interviewed him earlier in the year about a story on the culture clash of Burning Man in rural Nevada. He is possibly the most interesting character I have ever met.

As luck would have it Flash was sick of the dust last night and came back to Gerlach just in time.

"I was saved!" he yells from behind the bar. Everyone cheers.

He is happy for the weather because the bar is full and making money.

"Who the hell knows what this crowd is going to look like tonight," Flash said.

Who the hell knows. But I plan on coming back tonight just to find out. I think it may be the place to be.