From Bermuda, we flew to San Diego, CA to join the ship for part of her tour up the west coast.  I wanted to play some of their famous golf courses and sail into San Francisco under the bridge.  Unfortunately, my game was so bad the golf was a bit of a workout, and the fog in San Fran was so bad you could hardly see the bridge.

But the surprise bonus for me was that I learned there was a 50^th Anniversary concert at the Monterey Fairgrounds the day we anchored there.  In June of 1967, Cass Elliot (Mamas and Papas) and Paul McCartney gathered an amazing collection of artists to perform for charity in what was arguably the first-ever rock festival.  Simon and Garfunkel, The Who, Janis Joplin, Greatful Dead, Steve Miller, Jefferson Airplane, Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix (his first real appearance) – it was a stunning collection of young artists, all playing for free.  The 1968 documentary “Monterey Pop,” made me a permanent fan of the era’s music. 

This concert was more a tribute than a major event, but it was a bit like going back in time.  Lots of new and aging hippies, peace and love, and a mellow mood.  A new, young band played “California Dreamin’” and Michelle Phillips (now 74) was a surprise guest.  The venue also housed a fascinating museum about the original concert.  I don’t know – call me crazy, but it was a moving experience for me.