When you’re in your 20s, you can feel the pressure to take advantage of everything the world has to offer within the following decade since, after that point, life will have changed too much for you to enjoy the same things. If what they say is true. The feared decade of the 30s is The point in your life at which all of your life’s expectations begin flipping in opposite directions simultaneously, converting your head into a never-ending washing machine of bewilderment. If what they say is true.
What exactly is the purpose of living has been explored by all of us quite a bit. Some people believe that pursuing happiness is crucial, while others regard it more as a duty to give back to their community. Contentment with the brief time we have left on earth is the ultimate goal, and everything points in that direction. It can also be used to get to the moon, if you choose.
However, stories like this one remind us that the thrill of discovery need not be limited to a certain period of time or place. Our curiosity, taste for adventure, and desire for new experiences do not simply last for the first thirty years of our existence. The 92-year-old grandmother and her grandson have made it their mission to visit all 63 of the nation’s national parks. They are the ideal illustrations of precisely that. Where did they acquire such an intriguing idea, one wonders? Let’s investigate!
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Joy Ryan, who is 92 years old, and her grandson Brad Ryan, who is 42 years old, decided to go on the vacation of a lifetime together and tour all 63 national parks in the United States.
Image credits: grandmajoysroadtrip
Together, Brad Ryan, age 42, and his grandmother, Joy Ryan, age 92, decided to embark on the trip of a lifetime and visit each one of the United States 63 national parks. Since October 2015, they have been steadily making progress toward their objective while bringing all sixty thousand of their followers, who are interested in seeing their travels, along with them. The two have evolved into quite a formidable team!
Joy and her late husband, Bob, whom she wed on January 23, 1949, are credited with having raised a lovely family together. Regrettably, he passed away some twenty years ago now. Joy appeared to derive more satisfaction from watching her children and grandkids grow up and live their lives than she did from living her life to the fullest. This was especially true as her children grew older. She’d only ever been to her little town; she’d never been to the mountains, the coast, or the desert.
The initial spark for the concept occurred in October 2015 when Brad was in the middle of his veterinary schooling and had a free three-day weekend. He asked Joy if she was interested in going on an adventure with him.
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The current level of intimacy between the two people did not always exist. The terrible breakup of his parent’s marriage was the impetus for him to give her a call for the first time in ten years. Following the death by suicide of a fellow student in the second year of his veterinary school, he found himself at a shallow point in his own life.
According to what Brad shared with FOX, “it was admittedly pretty awkward in the beginning.” “After ten years, you can’t just pick up where you left off as if nothing has changed. Instead, you are forced to make a decision, and I decided that the best course of action would be to produce something of greater aesthetic value.
“The notion that she would just continue to sit on that front porch and continue to take that nightly walk through a graveyard instead of being surrounded by some of the most amazing living things on Earth was what I couldn’t stomach,” Brad said. “It’s like she’s missing out on something.” “Therefore, that responsibility was mine to bear until the window of opportunity finally opened, and I could put her in the passenger seat and leave.”
Although Brad was concerned about his grandmother while they were on their first vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, his grandmother surpassed all of his expectations.
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When Brad pondered how he should spend a three-day weekend seven years ago, he came up with the idea that unintentionally kicked off the beginning of something quite remarkable. He invited his grandma on a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and she enthusiastically consented to come along on the adventure.
Even though Brad had the best intentions of doing something kind for his grandmother, he was concerned about the logistics of the situation and the potential challenges they would face due to his grandmother’s advanced age and lack of expertise. But the evidence contradicted his claims. “That was my misinterpretation of what age means and, more crucially, what her spirit would allow her to do,” he added. “I didn’t realize how much her spirit would allow her to do.”
“That was my misinterpretation of what age implies and, more importantly, what her spirit would allow her to do,” he added. “I thought that she could do anything at her age.”
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They went to a total of 21 national parks during only 28 days at one point. The only thing that could hold the two individuals back was the COVID-19 outbreak. They had visited 29 parks before the limitations were implemented.
All we could do, according to Brad, was hold out hope that things would turn around and that those chances would still be available. We also had to be thankful for what we had accomplished and witnessed up to that time. “All we could do was hold out hope that things will turn around and those possibilities would still be available.”
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Since Brad decided to begin chronicling their travels on social media, they have gradually built up a network of incredibly kind and encouraging followers.
“That was very unexpected,” Joy stated. “He just posted that on social media so that everyone in Duncan Falls could see what we were up to,” Not only did they win new followers, but strangers started volunteering the use of their homes as accommodations for them during their trips to national parks.
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Until this point, Joy had not ventured far from her home in a little town in Ohio. She had never been to the coast, the mountains, or the desert, and Brad was determined to alter that for her.
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In July 2021, they had one of the most exciting trips ever. They visited all eight of Alaska’s national parks throughout their trip. Joy crossed some items off her bucket list while there, including going white water rafting down class 3 rapids, trekking among glaciers and fjords, and witnessing a wild animal. “I’ve always wanted to watch the bears catch the salmon, and I finally got the chance to do so.” And I must-say, that was a lot of fun,” she stated.
Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, who works for the National Park Service, referred to the two individuals as “an inspiration to us all.” She explained that “national parks are best experienced with the people we love, and it is clear that Joy and Brad possess a special link, which has been deepened by the time they have spent traveling together.” In other words, “national parks are best enjoyed with the people we love.”
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Brad decided to begin documenting their travels on social media. As a result, they have progressively built up a highly supportive community of sixty thousand followers on Instagram.
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The two travelers have almost finished checking off all the national parks on their bucket lists. The National-Park of American-Samoa is the only one remaining, and it is located in a location that is over 6,700 miles away from the pair’s hometown of Duncan Falls.
Even though they look forward to the day they go to their last park, Brad mentioned on Good Morning America (GMA) that concluding their remarkable feat will be “bittersweet.” Grandma Joy remarked that “it has been a fantastic adventure,” which she meant. “This has truly been the most wonderful, wonderful moment. And even if I could, I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”
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The journey through Alaska’s national parks was undoubtedly one of the most exciting experiences they had ever had. “I’ve always wanted to see the bears grab the fish, and I finally got to see it,” Joy said. “I always wanted to see the bears get the fish.”
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Grandma Joy attributes her optimistic perspective on life and the fact that she has “always tried to be happy” to her success. She added, “I’m looking forward to everything,” and I couldn’t agree more.
“I have something exciting in store for the future. We still have one more to go, and because my health is in such terrific shape, I am confident we will make it. She bases her life on believing one should “not want to have to regret the next day that they didn’t do it.”
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The National-Park of American-Samoa, the final destination on the list and located more than 6,700 miles away from the pair’s hometown, will bring their journey to a successful conclusion.
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The two individuals continue encouraging everyone around them to look for new possibilities to travel. According to what Brad had to say, “We recognize that not everybody is going to be able to travel to every one of the United States National Parks.” “However, some element of excitement may be discovered in every region of the country, and it is our sincere wish that more people will go out and look for it.”
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“This has truly been the most wonderful, wonderful moment. “And I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Joy said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” They inspire everyone around them to go out and experience new things.
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Randy Olson has devised a plan that, if adhered to, would enable vacationers to tour all of the national parks in the 48 contiguous states in the shortest amount of time possible. This plan is intended for anyone interested in seeing the national parks.
This ultimate national park road trip spans 16,847 miles, and if you traveled “at a breakneck speed,” it would take you around two months to complete the loop. I’ll leave the link to it here.
We hope that Brad and Joy’s journey marking such a significant milestone will be one they will always treasure.
Image credits: grandmajoysroadtrip
One last question from Brad before I leave you: “If we’re fortunate enough to live to be 85 or 92, how do we want that to look?” I was hoping you could share-your-opinions with us in the comments section below, and I hope today is full of exciting new experiences for you!
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People admire this dynamic couple, and it is simple to understand why given how excellent and inspiring their relationship is. Post your ideas in the comments section!
