The Tale of Two Passes

Nothing is simple – that has been one of my mantras for many years.

This past Thursday Jerry and I left for just one more fun trip. We headed down
to Red River Gorge for a couple days of camping with friends. We had been there
is April for our annual spring flower hunt weekend. At that time we got there
on a Wednesday, off season rates were still in effect until Friday night – off
season rates = $7.00. What a deal! And with my trusty Senior Citizen National
Park Pass the first two nights were only $3.50. On Friday the rates when up to
the in-season rate of $22. For a double site – but wait, with that same little
pass our rates (for being old) was $22./night. Yes!

This time we got there on Thursday, paid for three nights – same pass/same price
– total $33.– at least that is what you’d think. We were told by the campground
hosts that the pass wasn’t accepted there – mind you, the same campground,
actually the same site as the month before. We were told we could pick up a
Golden Age Card at the nearby information center at Gladie Creek. Well worth
our while- we’d still get ½ price. So, good friend, Karen and I head there
about a 40 minute drive through the Gorge. Nice scenery but I’m beginning to
dislike the narrow road in my old age. When we get to the Information Center we
were told in fact, that we did not need the Golden Age Card and that the NPP
(National Park Pass) card was accepted. A mistake had been made. Okay, that’s
cool. Saved myself $10. So when we get back to the camp site #1 campground
host stops by, apologizes and said that the #2 host had made a mistake. After a
very confusing conversation I wasn’t convinced that we had the right card so a
day later Jerry and I went back to the information center to get the Golden Age
Card which we were told could be used in places through the country where the
NPP was not accepted. When we get there for the 2nd time and after talking to 3
different people it was decided that the Golden Age Card no longer existed and
the program was absorbed into the NPP program. How totally crazy! Hopefully
our experienced help straighten things out a little so on one else will be as
confused as we were most of the weekend. But don’t get me wrong – the
campground hosts are really good, friendly and really hard working people. The
really do their best to make your stay an enjoyable one. Someday we want to be
campground host too!

The rest of the weekend looked something like: good friends & family, perfect
weather, good food, guy hike, girl walk/run, cold drinks, campfires, good fire
wood, marshmallows, nice neighbors, 2 very impressively large black snakes,
bees/wasps/ants in the camper, sunrises, stars at night, visit to the frog pond,
a few drops of rain one night, a couple of good hikes, mountain laurel, tulip
popular in bloom, lady slippers, clean outhouses, did I mention Good Friends?

Nothing is simple – but it’s all good!