Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Look What I Got - Finally!

I have been looking forward to, and talking about, this day for almost 20 years! At the earliest moment I could, I hurried over to the local Forest Ranger station, and forked over the best $10 I ever spent.


And I got a little plastic card in return. What is it? Let's zoom in and enhance it like they do on TV...


(Well, maybe they do it better...) But here it is - my very own Senior Pass!!!!! I can now go to any National Park, National Monument, or any other National Area for FREE! I can also get half price camping in most of those areas with campgrounds.


After all that excitement, Max led us on a back country trip through Bulldog Canyon north of Mesa. It's an Off Highway Vehicle area and requires a permit, which I got for FREE!!!


The scenery was great.


We looked a little lost with the kayaks on top of the cars - no water around here.


While we were stopped, Judy saw this butterfly or moth, and we were all running around trying to get a picture. I should have taken a movie of that instead! There aren't very many flowers out yet, in spite of the rain we've had, but this little fellow managed to find one.


They try to keep you on the road, but there were a few places where you could be a daredevil if you were so inclined.


I loved the outfit on this spectator. Not the kind of thing I'd ever think of wearing to go 4-wheeling! (Looks like the car has seen better days...)


Ooooh! A cowboy! Or maybe a wanna be.


And another one!


This looked like a tourist ride - 2 mules pulling a "surrey with no fringe on top." All in all, a great day! Thanks, Max.

26 comments:

  1. As always,you do a great tour! I got my pass a couple weeks ago and I can't wait to use the heck out of it!

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  2. The advantages of being slightly older than us...

    Our America The Beautiful pass was $80. And that's for one year!

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  3. congrats on your 'new pass'!!..good for you!!

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  4. Congrats on earning your park pass! I can't wait! And yay for March birthdays. :)

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  5. Congratulations! Well earned and deserved! I know you will enjoy every opportunity you have to use it.

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  6. I was so tickled to get mine...it's great!!

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  7. Happy Birthday and congratulations! You'll be able to save on camping even more! You lucky stiff. One of these years soon I hope to be out there, too, then I can get a cheap pass for my very own. In the meantime I'll enjoy it vicariously through you and all the others I read about. Have fun.

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  8. Welcome to the club. I am trying to wear mine out.

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  9. We envy all those folks with their senior passes. Makes getting older not seem so bad!

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  10. Happy Birthday, a couple of days late.

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  11. A belated "Happy Birthday"! Congrats on obtaining your pass, I know it's been a long time comin'. My Linda just got hers last month, we haven't used it yet but I hope to start wearin' the plastic off it soon.

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  12. Happy Birthday. We got our pass a few years back at Joshua Tree Nat'l Park. What a deal. Yesterday we showed that pass at our local county parks office and got an annual county parks pass for half price. There are some advantages to getting old(er)!! Great pictures.

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  13. NOT just you but whoever is in the car with you!! Its a great deal and you will save a bundle--i cant wait to get mine--(I always tell everyone I cant wait to be 62, when they say they wish they were 30 again)

    HEY I was in that very same ranger office in Mesa last yr in May--went there to get my camping permits for Canyon Lake in the Tonto NF--where my friend and I spent a couple of days together...that SAME man helped us and he gave me a free map--he was so nice!!
    ---what a great 4 wheel road--

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  14. I'm sure you'll make good use of your pass. Even though we still have to pay $80 for an annual pass, I think it's a great value.

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  15. Congratulations on the "Geezer Pass". Mine has saved me a lot of money and I have had it less then one year.

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  16. Congratulations on your seniors pass. I am sure you will give it quite the workout. Enjoy all those parks, etc....

    Kevin and Ruth
    www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

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  17. A Senior Pass???!!! No way! You look like you still need to be carded when you buy beer!

    I'm sure you'll be getting alot of value out of that $10 card! Nice to ge some kind of return after all those tax dollars you've paid. :c)

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  18. CONGRATULATIONS...we were excited too when Paul could get his pass. Love the pictures.

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  19. Really? A senior pass? Good work!

    I need the discount for "50 But Look Much Older."

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  20. Congrats, I am sure you are going to make the most of it!

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  21. Happy Birthday! We love our pass - and use it as much as we can. Helps on admittances to some things also. If you ever get to Louisiana - they honor the pass in their state parks. Great pictures.

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  22. Great post and Happy birthday. I also got my card this week although I became legal two years ago.

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  23. Happy Belated Birthday and CONGRATULATIONS on getting your Pass!

    John
    relaxedrush.blogspot.com

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  24. Welcome to the 'over the hill gang,' Diana! Glad you're having such a great life on the road.

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  25. Ooh, what fun. Mine is bare bones looking next to yours tho.

    What a beautiful place to travel tho. Thank you.

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