Bob Cooney (left) with the inventor of virtual reality technology, Tom Furness (center), discussing how to create a better future. (Photo courtesy of Jeris JC Miller.)

“Playa Dust gets everywhere,” Bob wrote of the dust from Black Rock City (where the Burning Man festival takes place). “You can’t avoid it. When you arrive at Burning Man, as a newbie they make you roll around in it so you quickly get over the fact it’s going to get everywhere.”

“My home for two weeks,” wrote Bob of his VW bus. (Pretty nice view, too.) He’s pared down his belongings to items needed for living in the bus and what fits in a backpack and small carry-on).

“Esalen is famous for its natural hot springs, which are suspended over the cliffs. Clothing is optional (not really).”

“The sunsets on the Playa at Black Rock City (where Burning Man takes place) are epic.”

“There’s no cell service within 10 miles of Esalen, so I had to conduct a conference call from a phone booth. #oldschool.”

“I picked up a couple of Russian hitchhiking coffee roasters in Reno on their way to Burning Man,” wrote Bob. “We consumed lots of borscht and too much vodka with a contingent from the Ukraine.”

“I think I was trying to stop my head from exploding from all the inspirational ideas being thrown around the room,” Bob said. (Photo courtesy of Jeris JC Miller.)