| Subject: Watkins Glen Summer '73 |
Author:
Connie
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Date Posted: 15:03:14 01/05/07 Fri
I was only 17 when I attended the Watkins Glen concert. To this day I can hardly believe my NY State Trooper father agreed to drop me off at a home-town gas station at dusk, where I was to meet two schoolmates, Ralph and Tony. The three of us hitchhiked on Route 17 from Goshen and we hopped in a car soon after sticking out our thumbs, because this route was already packed with traffic heading upstate to the concert. The three hour drive turned into an all night journey because as we neared Watkins Glenn area, indeed, the traffic was nearly at a standstill. On the way, I remember falling asleep on Ralph's shoulder. I rode in his lap in the front seat and I was embarassed, because when I woke up I realized I had drooled all over him. Oh well, it doesn't matter because earlier we had been making out. I used to think he was sexy.
At daylight, we were at a standstill in traffic right outside of the town. I remember being totally amazed and impressed how this hippie, standing on a car, had taken it upon himself to direct the traffic, car-by-car, until he got everybody out of the grid block.
On foot we hiked through residential streets of Watkins Glen and I remember people sitting on their porches and watching the continuous flow of hippies go by. We made it to That Hill that is the entrance to the place and it was a very long, hot hike. I was carrying my Dad's army surplus feather down sleeping bag in an army pack. I was a little embarassed again when we went by a pond where bunches of folks had stripped and were jumping in naked. I was so hot I remember wishing I had the courage to join them. Also, folks were peddling drugs along that hike, but we didn't want any, even though my friends and I weren't exactly having a great time, due to our tiredness and the heat.
When we reached the field. WOW! A sea of people covering the ground. We tried to strategically determine where we wanted to be, and carefully, step-by-step, so we didn't walk on anybody, we finally found a little patch of free space to get settled.
I was actually mortified by the crowded conditions and the whole scene. I got it in my head that I would telephone my father who had a rich acquaintance that owned a helicopter. I left my friends to go find a pay phone so my Dad could send that guy to come and get me the Hell out of there. When I got to the phone there was a waiting line. I lay down on the ground and fell asleep, again. When I woke up there was a dude laying next to me and he smiled at me real cutely and said "Hi". And "Wanna buy a hit of THC?" I said "Okay."
I ditched my get away plan and made my way back to my friends only to discover they had left. I was really grateful I'd thought to put my little stash of money in my jeans pocket before I'd gone to the phone. Trouble was, I was only wearing a terry cloth halter top that attached with two strings and very low rider jeans. I found out many days after the concert that one or both of my friends were sick and running fevers, and they figured if they were leaving they'd better not leave my stuff there. I forgave them. It was all part of a teenaged adventure.
I have another segment I can write about as to what I saw and what happend after that, if anyone is interested. This really is one of my greatest memories from the true hippie era.
Connie
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