Les , a colleague at the time John and I, had to go on a trip to California to "bring" over to the UK a new wine concept - namely the much loved wine we know today called Blossom Hill. Yes, that was really us.
We stayed in San Francisco on their Independence day, traveled around Napa valley and other wine areas of California doing our work ,and had some great experiences only 3 men travelling together could have.
Les and I often talked and reminisced about that trip, and I genuinely wouldn't have wanted to have any other person to travel with.
It made us " good mates".
The title reference does have connotations to the song and the album by Supertramp, but as Les and I always said ...." you had to be there...".
rest in peace mate
Lee