This was the second time I saw the Dead, my first being the previous set of Ventura shows. It was deep in the era of Ronald Reagan, and deep in the shit for Jerry as far as his drug addictions were concerned. The music was dark but fabulous, my all time favorite era for the Dead. 

Anyway, first day (7/21/84). Me and my cronies were walking around the campground with a homemade chemistry shop hookah we had constructed. A hippy looking dude asks us if we want to trade our bong water for some clean water. We said why and and he said I want to drink your bong water. "It's God's herb" said he. Well, OK man. So we traded and he drank it right there on the spot. 

Second day (7/22/84). There was a naked guy with a spear or some sort of staff of Ra sitting under some trees across the little stream that flowed next to the rodeo arena that served as the concert site. Him we did NOT speak to. During the second set my friend comes back to where we were sitting and said "It's a BAD TRIP!" Some guy had cut his throat in the portapotty and come stumbling out bleeding all over the place, much to the consternation of those around him. We had seen an ambulance pull up a few minutes before. Later we figured out that he did it during Ship of Fools. If you listen to the Terrapin>Drums>Space>Morning Dew from that show, and picture a cool, overcast beach day, with EVERYONE tripping (last show of the summer tour), you'll get the picture.

When I went back the next year, it was a completely different band and audience. The 83-84 era was too intense to last, for all involved. If you were there, you know what I mean. Peace.

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