Burning?

OK, here's the deal. I'm going to Burning Man, this year. My dad will be coming with (well, it was his idea, so I guess really I'm going with him). The plan seems to be to fly out to San Fransisco on the weekend before it starts (26th or 27th of August), drive to the festival (possibly stopping at Yosemite Park on the way), stay there all week, and return to San Fran (as I believe it is never actually called) on the following Monday (4th Sept.) Now, my Dad's quite happy to bring anyone else who's up for this (within reason actually, knowing him, no matter how outside reason), and I'm going to need a protective ring of real people to shield me from the goddamn hippies. Currently all I've got for definite is mr_snips who's not going to be much help on that score.

Correction: 'Burning Man is a hippie festival' is a myth, apparently

Correction erratum: The FAQ says 'Burning Man is an annual experiment in temporary community dedicated to radical self-expression and radical self-reliance.' i.e. Burning Man is a hippie festival. Seriously.

Anyway, if you're interested in joining me, speak up. Also, if you have any experience of the festival itself and feel there are things that I need to know (about hippies or otherwise), your advice would be most welcome. Frankly, I've read as much of the official website as I can bear, and I still have next to no idea what the fuck it actually is. Other than pretentious, obviously.

Parties interested in this, or just in beer, might wish to join me, my dad and mr_snips at The Isis from 19:30 this Sunday.