Here are some memories for the Playa del Fuego held on Memorial Day weekend 2003.

Photography

• Playa del Fuego pictures by Declan McCullagh
• Playa del Fuego pictures by Liz Langston
• Playa del Fuego pictures by Peter Somers
• Playa del Fuego pictures by Dustin Smith
• Playa del Fuego pictures by Freefall
• Playa del Fuego pictures by Andy Wing
• Playa del Fuego pictures by Doug Sanford
• Playa del Fuego pictures by Cynthia Jones

Narratives

• got mud? by John Windmueller

  It took eight people to push my GTI (pictured earlier) out of the muddy parking area on Monday, which meant it only proper that I help push out eight cars myself. This ended up getting so muddy that, by the time I fell face-first into the mud on car #4, it didn't make any appreciable difference in my appearance. But as I made that flop and went splunk, I had a moment of zen satori: it wasn't the mud that was the problem, it was my attachment to dryness. And all was better.

• Impressions of the people that just don't get it on Digital Movement

  Doug, sorry things didn't work out the way you wanted them to, but I'm glad your cranked out threats and verbal abuse couldn't get you through the gate for free. I think it's telling that you had to come in here and spew all over the place. "Sell out"? We're sell outs because we didn't let in a big-name DJ who didn't want to be treated like everyone else? How exactly does that line of reasoning work?

• Wet, rainy weekend

  I'm also exhausted and muddy and worn-down from a rather lousy wet rainy muddy freezing weekend in the wet rainy freezing mud, so I'm super-emotional and I think I will just go to sleep and think about it later.

• tired and clean

  Solid ground. Dry clothes. A roof over my head. These things...these things are accepted every day as normal, as reality. Television shows, slipper socks, refrigerators, toilets that flush, showers and bathtubs, cars that move without getting pushed by 8 to 10 people yelling "rock! rock! rock!" These are things that we get used to, that we forget are luxuries.

• PDF Movement by Keith Engle

  Dingo: "We might need a black and blue dot at the front gate." Me: "I'll be right there." Lisa: "What's a black and blue dot... oh."

• Home from PDF by Knarph

  The thing I'm not too keen on is not being there any more.

• So tired by Amy LaPerle

  All my gear is soaked. It smells like a bait shop. My boots are ruined. I have mud ground into my feet. It was great. I highly advise anyone who has yet to do this to give it a try. OK, maybe when the weather is nicer.

• Thankful to be dry by Suzanne Henderson

  With cars burried in the mud, trucks unmoveable, and tents and camps turning into raging wetlands, I never saw someone complianing or fussing that the weather ruined their weekend.

• Post-PDF Dump by Phil Gregory

  I think I'll camp in the general camping area next PDF. While I liked the theme camps, it's a good hike to get out there. And they can be loud (especially the DJ who set up across the way from Psychedelic Shamans; I probably should have tried to talk to him, but I was far too tired, even if I couldn't actually sleep very well through the loudness). I also like hanging out in the pavilion, which is really the hub of PDF.

• May 23-26, 2003 by Andy Wing

  Rubber boots were our fashion statement and there was hardly a vehicle that did not get stuck at one point or another.  At the same time the folks who endured the extreme environment were the true hard core of our community.  We created a whole new vibe unlike any previous PDF.  While were were wet, shivering and dirty we were also more creative, open and hard working than ever.  At the same time the mud situation and a wonderful reading by JJ brought us closer to our hosts.

Interesting things

Jason Claiborne shares: "Saturday night, real late, one of the mares that Terry has on the farm next door gave birth! He named the colt Memorial del Fuego in our honor."

Andy Wing writes, "Mucho thanks to all the percussionists who kept up the grooveall weekend despite the weather. And thanks to Neal for providingthe drums. We hope to see you in the fall."

From Janet Lee comes the bus extrication report: "Knarph, Dead Ponies, Vic, Clay, Rachel, and thevets (esp Terry and Pineapple!!!), really outdid themselves with the mud, building a bridge and bailing ppl out. For those of you who missed it, look for the Camp New Day's Eve bus pics, esp those by Tigger.

Two rounds: Round 1: The bus vs red tractor - winner, the bus. Round 2: The bus vs John Deere - winner, JOHN FUCKING DEERE! (you should see the tires on this bad boy!)"

J.J. (the Viet Nam Veteran on stage on Sunday writes to us all, "I was glad to see that what I had to say got to so many of the PDF.The awe inspiring silence the whole group held for so long overwhelmed me. Maybe I'll try to do something next year."

Valerie Warner says, "It is a real treat when you meet a bunch a people that can turn a situation that can be potentially sucky into a fucking raging burn. I feel so lucky to spend time with all of you and look forward to making more memories:)"

From Dustin Hittel, the following: "Great times all around. Y'all are just so fun to hang with! I can't help but laugh at us - what a crazy group that still 'glamourized' on a rainy Saturday night, sequined eyebrows, painted fingernails, bright wigs, ever-so-ginger navigation as not to sully feather boas in porta potties."

Says Eli Lovin, "I want to thank everyone who made PDF so special, I guess that^?s everyone that was there in body and all of you that were there only in spirit. There really wereno spectators only participants . . . Special thanks to Splinter for being such a Tzadik. If it's about being selfishthan take the damn compliments."

Karl Isselhardt writes, "The indominatable spirit of everyone, the sharing, the love, the huge wave of positive energy had me floating above it all, even as my feet were trudging through mud, water and more mud!"

Michael Clayberg (of the Gold Bar fame) says, "For the fall we plan to rustle up fresh blood (i.e. new volunteers) and build an even bigger bar. We were damn happy everything we built worked and worked so well... especially since nearly the entire infrastructure was brand new and untested. We're thinking of building one big ass golden buddha."

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