{"id":2344,"date":"2016-07-15T11:14:50","date_gmt":"2016-07-15T11:14:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nayrb.org\/~blog\/?p=2344"},"modified":"2016-07-17T02:16:54","modified_gmt":"2016-07-17T02:16:54","slug":"burning-man-in-pictures-xxxviii-friendly-manta-ray-and-a-new-visitor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/nayrb.org\/~blog\/2016\/07\/15\/burning-man-in-pictures-xxxviii-friendly-manta-ray-and-a-new-visitor\/","title":{"rendered":"Burning Man in Pictures XXXVIII: Friendly Manta Ray and a New Visitor!"},"content":{"rendered":"

In our last post<\/a>, our hero went exploring, and found games and coyotes!<\/p>\n

Today, we follow him on his excursions, following his new friend, the Manta Ray. He had first met the Manta Ray a few days prior<\/a>, as his keeper was setting up. Here, you can see him, playfully following a bicyclist in the distance:<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A bicyclist and his new Manta Ray friend!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Manta was feeling somewhat parched, so they went for snow cones at the Contraptionists. The Contraptionists were able to adapt one of their manual[1] snow-shaving machines for Manta Ray, so all were able to contibute:<\/p>\n

\"Another<\/a>
Another stop at the Contraptionists for snow cones!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They then went to visit some of their shiny fish-like friends at the daily force-push demonstration. The Manta glided around in the distance, as he was wont to do.<\/p>\n

\"I<\/a>
I think she was doing some sort of force push. Also, shiny fishmobile as the Manta Ray glides around in the distance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

They then went off to the French Quarter to attempt to procure some baked goods:<\/p>\n

\"Esplanade,<\/a>
Esplanade, biking towards the French Quarter.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the way back, they stopped at a BLM information booth and got a sense of the scale of playa:<\/p>\n

\"If<\/a>
If you thought Burning Man was big…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As night fell, M joined our heroes, and communed with the Manta for a time, before he glided off into the night, for exploration and quiet contemplation:<\/p>\n

\"M<\/a>
M came with us to commune with the friendly Manta Ray.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Back at the Charnival, a party was brewing, ships were gathering, bikes were blinking:<\/p>\n

\"Ships<\/a>
Ships of the Tron.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And Ben was playing with fire (and 2piR), as he does:<\/p>\n

\"Ben,<\/a>
Ben, looking like he’s almost on fire, as usual.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n