Uranium Springs: Wheels of Fire -- April 10-13, 2014
As the sun is setting, our troupe travels across the wasteland. In the distance we spot the signs of gathered tribes. We turn our trusty vehicle towards the gathering, and arrive into camp with our triumphant anthem, which just happens to be the A-Team theme song, straining the speakers. As the dust of our arrival settles we are greeted by members of Legio I and Rev’Rend Lawless. We set up camp with the Legion as the last rays of the sun sink below the horizon. An unexpected surprise as we discover as we unpack, is that Nathan, one of the Legion members makes some truly delicious custom booze! The cinnamon whiskey and mead varieties in particular will get us into trouble throughout the weekend. But for now, the welcoming glow of a campfire is seen just up the hill. We join the other weary travelers around the fire, passing stories and bottles.
The next day even more travelers arrive. Survivors, scavengers, raiders, even a group of mutants. All have found refuge at Uranium Springs. Much of the day in the Legion camp is spent in preparation for the evening. All the groups are invited to revel as the Legion hosts a true bacchanal. The feast begins with the leader of the Legion, Sckitzo, giving a rousing speech welcoming the tribes and travelers while other members of the Legion come around and offer up bites from whole, freshly roasted cow hearts. Wine flows freely while meat, fruit and cheese are passed around. After the feasting has concluded, blasts of fire and music draw you in to a common area between the camps. DJ’s spin, fire blasts from the sides of the stage, people dance, drink, and gather around the huge central fire pit . The debauchery continues well into the night as the people gathered wander from the fire to the stage and back again.
The sun rises the next morning, and the wastelanders also rise, though slightly later and with less enthusiasm than the sun. A hearty breakfast from the fantastic camp cook Zach, sets us on our way. The activity we’re most looking forward to for this day is the death kart races. As the track and racers are gearing themselves up and checking over their machines, we spend our time relaxing in the sun, listening to the pop-pop sound of weapons fire coming from over the ridge at the weapons range, and wandering the hills outside of camp. Petrified wood is scattered throughout the area, and it seems every time you find a new piece, an even better one lies just ahead. Eventually the entire camp makes their way over to the ridge above the track. We range along the ledges and cheer on our selected drivers. As they disappear around the far corner, we wonder if they’ll make it back. Some do, some don’t. The races come to a close with Ghostline as the official winner, and we all congratulate the drivers, while secretly planning our distraction methods and attack strategies for the next year’s races.
The drivers come back and start to relax for the night, and the bombshells start to get ready. Once darkness falls, everyone once again heads to the common area. The DJ’s start up, and we set up. Our show starts off with Deuce the Atomic Ringleader as our MC and Gina Geronimo spinning her fire hoop! Between her intricate moves and her graceful dancing, Gina has the audience entirely entranced.
The roar of the crowd takes us into our 2nd act, Vegas Vic! He combines his dangerous, fiery torch wielding side, with his racy burlesque dancing side with an act that blows the ladies away. Truly a man to watch out for!
Up next is The Last Hope, with her intricate weaves and mind boggling moves, she spins her flaming poi and leaves the audience completely breathless!
Last but not least is Mitzy Mayhem who, despite unusually cold weather, performs a burlesque routine with plenty of heat!
Our show wraps up with an encore performance from both of our talented fire spinners, Gina and Hope.
The minute the show ends, Storm Crows are passing us bottles of Shame-gria and congratulations, others are passing around Apple Pie, the Mutants are sharing what I think was just called “Mutant Juice” and Nathan is sharing his amazing mead and cinnamon whiskey. The adrenaline from the show, the great company, and the energy of the crowd has us partying late into the night. Luckily the green radioactive glow of our camp lanterns lights our way home.
We wake in the morning and begin to strike camp. Each of the tribes to head their separate ways until we meet again, either at Wasteland, or at the next event at Uranium Springs. After 3 days, our car needs a jump, but we eventually make it on the road and begin to make our way back, stopping along the way to change a tire that is shockingly near a blowout. We spend the drive alternately napping and reminiscing already about the camaraderie and fun times we had.
Huge thanks to all the gathered tribes for being so welcoming to the Nuclear Bombshells! The Storm Crows, Turbulence, Hand Shooz & Horse Grin-Ades, Pirates of the Arid Seas, Wasteland Communication, you were all fantastic and we can’t wait to see you at the next event! Thank you to Legio I for letting us share your camp and your food (and your booze!), you all make fantastic camp mates and we couldn’t have asked for a better setup. Thank you to Rev’Rend Lawless and the big 3 (Turbulence, Legio I, and Storm Crows) for hosting us all out there and for giving us a place to get together as a wasteland family. Thanks to Zephyr for all the work you put in to help everyone out, with anything they might need! And to anyone else I missed, the bombshells extend our gratitude. We had a wonderful time and can’t wait to come back for the next event at Uranium Springs!
photos courtesy of Mike Darling Photography