The 93-year-old grandmother visits the 63 national parks with her grandson
"It was the greatest privilege of my life," said Brad Ryan to finish the quest with Grandmother Joy.
When Joy Ryan decided to visit the 63 National parks With his grandson Brad, traveling in the middle of a world pandemic was not on the list of buckets. But seven years - and countless hours spent in the air and on the road —The Later, the 93-year-old grandmother and her grandson have reached their final and most remote destination: the American Samoa National Park.
In 2015, their quest started, according to The Washington Post, When Brad discovered that His grandmother had never visited a mountain in person. He invited her In road trip to Large Smoked Mountain National Park , which is between the North Carolina and Tennessee, and after that, the pair continued to plan more trips.
THE Travel to the South Pacific was not easy, Brad shared with Hello America . The American Samoa National Park is the only American national park south of the equator, which also makes it the furthest of Ohio, where Joy resides. The adventurous pair attenuated Late Monday after almost three days of travel with breaks between the two.
"We started from our hometown of Duncan Falls, Ohio, at 3:00 am on Saturday," said Brad, a veterinarian. "We took a two-day break in Oahu before getting aboard our last flight for Pago Pago, American Samoa on Monday. Three flights and almost seventeen hours of flight were needed before finding us in the American Samoa Monday evening."
During their 10 -day shipping, the Ryans plan to take advantage of all the South Pacific Sites, Odors and tastes. The park extends over seven villages. So far, they have been able to explore the island of Pola and its "deafening" waves, and have met many wild animals, including a colony of flying foxes (fruit bats). AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB
The pair, according to The Washington Post , already had slept under the night sky at Joshua Tree National Park in California; a market the bridge to National Park and Reserve of New River Gorge in Lansing, Virginie-Western; and looked at bears caught for Brooks Falls salmon Katmai National Park In Alaska .
Read this then: The 12 best national parks that must be on your list of buckets .
Visiting the number 63 national park is a "soft-amer" milestone, continued Brad. It marks both the end of their mission and a historical feat of joy, who has officially become the oldest person to visit the 63 national parks. Their journey also falls into the heels of the recent death of Brad's father and Joy's eldest son.
"Achieving our 63rd and last American national park is soft, emphasizing the" sweet ". Standing on the finish line of the American Samoa claims that apparently impossible objectives are in fact possible if you pursue them with Passion and pure intention, "said Brad GMA . "Grandmother Joy has taught the world that you are never too old to present yourself and live the adventurous life of your dreams. It was the greatest privilege of my life to be in the driver's seat while Grand- Mother Joy has made the story to become the oldest person to achieve this historical feat. "
So what is the next step for the 93 -year -old traveler? Brad says GMA Let him and Joy embark on a new quest for travel: visit the seven continents.
"We are heading for Kenya for an expedition from the National Geographic in July," he said. "I would not be surprised to see grandmother Joy flying in space or walking on the moon. This is what 93 looks like if we are lucky to live as long as it is."
Grandmother Joy shares the affection of her grandson. "I would not exchange it for anyone," she said The Washington Post. "He's my best friend. That's sure."
Fans can follow the adventures of Joy and Brad on Instagram at @grandmajoysroadtrip .
