When you’re in your 20s, you can feel the pressure to take advantage of all the world has to offer within the following decade, since beyond that point, life will have changed too much for you to enjoy the same things. If what they claim is true. The feared decade of the 30s The point in your life at when all of your life’s expectations begin flipping in opposite directions at the same moment, converting your head into a never-ending washing machine of bewilderment. If what they claim is true.
This is a subject that has been discussed quite a few times by all of us: what exactly is the point of living? The pursuit of pleasure is important to some people, while others see it more as a responsibility to serve their society. Everything points in the direction of the same destination, which is contentment with the limited amount of time we have to spend on this earth. You also have the option of using it to go to the moon.
On the other hand, accounts such as this one serve to bring to our attention the fact that the excitement of discovery need not be confined to a certain time frame or location. The first thirty years of our lives are not the only years in which we retain our childhood curiosity and appetite for excitement and new experiences. This granny, who is 92 years old, and her grandson have set a goal to visit each of the 63 national parks in the United States. They are the ideal examples of precisely that. The question is, where did they get such an exciting notion from? Let’s find out!
Together, Brad Ryan, age 42, and his grandmother, Joy Ryan, age 92, made the decision to go on the journey of a lifetime and visit each and every one of the United States’ 63 national parks. Since October of 2015, they have been steadily making progress toward their objective while bringing all sixty thousand of their fans, who are interested in seeing their travels, along with them. The two have evolved into quite the formidable team!
Joy and her late husband, Bob, whom she wed on January 23, 1949, are credited with having produced a lovely family together. Regrettably, he died away some twenty years ago now. Joy seemed to get more pleasure from seeing her children and grandkids grow up and live their own lives than she did from living her own life to the fullest. This was especially true as her children grew older. She’d only ever been to her own tiny town; she’d never been to the mountains, the coast, or the desert.
The first spark for the concept occurred in October of 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.
The current level of intimacy between the two people did not always exist. The terrible breakup of his parents’ 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 very low point in his own life.
According to what Brad shared with FOX, “it was obviously pretty uncomfortable at the beginning.” “After 10 years, you can’t simply continue 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 simply produce something of more aesthetic value.
“The notion that she would simply continue to sit on that front porch and continue to take that nightly stroll through a graveyard instead of being surrounded by some of the most amazing living creatures 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 eventually opened up and I was able to put her in the passenger seat and go.”
Although Brad was concerned about his grandmother when they were on their first vacation to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, his grandmother surpassed all of his expectations.
When Brad was pondering how he should spend a three-day weekend seven years ago, he came up with an idea that unintentionally kicked off the beginning of something quite remarkable. He invited his grandma on a vacation 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 practicalities of the situation as well as the possible challenges that they would encounter owing to his grandmother’s advanced age and lack of expertise. But the evidence contradicted his claims. “That was my misinterpretation of what age meant and, more crucially, what her spirit would enable her to achieve,” he added. “I didn’t realize how much her spirit would allow her to do.”
He said, “That was my misunderstanding of what age implies and, more significantly, what her spirit would enable her to accomplish.”
They went to a total of 21 national parks during the span of just 28 days at one point. The only thing that was able to hold the two individuals back was the widespread COVID-19 outbreak. They had visited 29 parks before the limitations were implemented.
“All that we could do was hope that things would change and that those opportunities would still be there, and then be grateful for everything that we had been able to do and see up until that point,” Brad said. “The only thing we could do was hope that things would change and that those opportunities would still be there.”
Since Brad made the decision 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 said. “He simply posted it on social media so that everyone in Duncan Falls could see what we were up to,” Not only did they get new followers, but complete strangers began volunteering the use of their houses as accommodations for them on their trips to national parks.
Up until this point, Joy had not been very 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.
In July of 2021, they had one of the most exciting trips they had ever had. They visited all eight of Alaska’s national parks throughout their trip. Joy was able to cross several items off her bucket list while she was there, like going white water rafting down class 3 rapids, trekking among glaciers and fjords, and witnessing a wild animal. “I’ve always wanted to see the bears catch the salmon, and I finally had the chance to do so.” And I must say, that was a lot of fun,” is what she stated.
Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, who works for the National Park Service, referred to the two individuals as “an inspiration to us all.” She went on to explain that “national parks are best experienced with the people we love, and it is easy to see that Joy and Brad possess a particular 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.”
The decision was made by Brad to begin chronicling their travels on social media, and as a result, they have progressively built up a highly supportive community of sixty thousand followers on Instagram.
The two travelers have almost finished checking off all of the national parks that are on their bucket list. The National Park of American Samoa is the only one remaining, and it is located in a location that is almost 6,700 miles away from the pair’s hometown of Duncan Falls.
Even though they are looking forward to the day when they go to their last park, Brad said on Good Morning America (GMA) that concluding their remarkable achievement would be “bittersweet.” Grandma Joy said that “it truly has been a fantastic journey,” which is what she meant. “This has really been the most wonderful, wonderful moment. And even if I could, I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”
The journey through Alaska’s national parks was undoubtedly one of the most exciting experiences they had ever had. “I’ve always wanted to watch the bears grab the fish, and I finally got to witness it,” Joy said. “I always wanted to see the bears get the fish.”
Grandma Joy attributes her upbeat perspective on life and the fact that she has “always tried to be happy” as the reasons for 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 since my health is in such terrific shape, I am certain that we will make it. She bases her life on the belief that one should “not want to have to regret the following day that they didn’t do it.”
The National Park of American Samoa, which is the last destination on the list and is located more than 6,700 miles away from the pair’s homeland, will bring their journey to a successful conclusion.
The two individuals continue to urge everyone around them to look for new possibilities to travel. Brad acknowledged that they are aware that not everyone would be able to visit each and every national park in the United States. “However, some element of excitement may be discovered in each and every region of the nation, and it is our sincere wish that more people would go out and look for it.”
“This has really been the most wonderful, wonderful moment. “And I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Joy added. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” They inspire everyone around them to get out and experience new things.
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 who are interested in seeing the national parks.
This ultimate national park road trip spans 16,847 miles, and if you traveled “at a breakneck pace,” it would take you around two months to complete the circle. I am going to keep this link to it here.
We hope that Brad and Joy’s journey marking such a significant milestone will be one that they will always treasure.
One more 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?” Share your opinions with us in the comments section below, and I hope today is full of exciting new experiences for you!