Published in the August 16, 2017 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Mark Fenichel
Forty-eight years ago to the day I was one of four kids setting out for a weekend of camping and live music. It was more than a three-hour drive and we didn’t get on the road until late in the afternoon. The drive was smooth, traffic was moving most of the way until darkness set in as we got closer to our destination.
Traffic was building and we were only a few miles from the festival grounds when traffic suddenly came to a halt. No one moving in our direction, pure gridlock, people getting out of their cars socializing with one another. The aroma of marijuana wafting through the clean country air. No one getting back in their cars as small parties started popping up everywhere. The sounds of car radios blaring and people talking even shouting at one another with friendly yells.
We managed to pull off the road into a dirt field as others started following suit. We pitched our two tents next to the car and by then it was quite late and very dark with only our flashlights and a Coleman lantern to brighten the dark of night. We decided to turn in and get up early the next morning.
The blindingly bright sun rising over the surrounding mountains coupled with the heat, the humidity, and flies buzzing and landing on our faces woke us early. I recall coming out of the tent to see hundreds of cars turned every which way with tents and sleeping bags littering every empty space of this massive car lot. Our car was trapped and there was no chance of getting it back out on the road.
We figured we were only about two or at the most three miles from the music festival, so we packed up, putting much of our stuff on our shoulders as we began the trek up the road.
Of course, everyone else had the same idea. The cars on the road were moving very slowly and occasionally there was room on the back of a car to jump on or rest the heavy tents, poles, blankets and sleeping bags a little bit here and there. It was truly an adventure with so many interesting people to see along the way.
It was packed and hot and the road leading to the festival was hilly and very dry and thick with dust spreading from car tires rolling along that road.
At one point my friend and I stopped to rest and see if we could get anyone to share some of their water or fill our empty canteens in trade for some cigarettes.
As the cars were going by I noticed a familiar face in the back seat of a big dirty sedan. It was a girl from high school and her friend. I ran up to the car and pulled opened the door. They were so happy to see me as they quickly jumped out of the slow-moving vehicle, almost as if they were escaping from something. It wasn’t until 40 years later when we got back in touch that I learned the girls were actually abducted by the guys in the front seat. They had offered them a ride and were holding them against their will. To this day she calls me the angel who saved her life.
At that point we had lost the guy with the car and one of our other friends assuming they split together as my buddy and I were on our own to trudge up the road to find the front gates of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair laying on the ground as hoards of people were continuously stepping over the fallen barriers.
There were so many bizarre experiences that entire weekend and so much going on everywhere we turned. It is really difficult to comprehend how much we accomplished in those few short days thinking back on the multitude of events in that short time span and how much our lives would be changed because “we were there.”
On another note, If you are a fan of music, movies, and wine, mark your calendars for Aug. 19 at 6:30 p.m. and enjoy a free show. Music As Language provides you with some fine entertainment from many of their best performers at the 3rd annual Rock for a Reason concert benefiting the Morgan Hill Community Foundation. The event takes place at Miramar Vineyards on New Avenue in San Martin.
Another free music event presented by Orange Theory Fitness and The Coffee Guys takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 20 and 27 at the Third Street Plaza in front of the downtown parking garage. This acoustic music series has been going on throughout the summer and it is a nice place to sit and relax in the shade under the trees.
If you have a music tip send it to [email protected].
