Gaby
Grandma Joy and her 42-year-old grandson Brad Ryan from Duncan Falls, Ohio, have set themselves a new global goal. This traveling duo, famous for their adventures, plans to visit all seven continents of the planet. However, they have already explored three of them together.
Since 2015, they have visited 63 national parks across the United States. Their travels have also taken them to Banff National Park in Canada, as well as Amboseli and Maasai Mara in Africa. Last year, the pair journeyed through South America, including Chile, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands.
How This Heartwarming Duo Came to Be
Today, Grandma and grandson are inseparable, but it wasn’t always that way. After Brad’s parents divorced, the family experienced a rift that lasted for ten years. When their relationships improved in 2010, Joy and Brad began sharing everything that had happened in their lives during their time apart.
When Brad told his grandmother about his hike on the Appalachian Trail and his climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, he was surprised to learn that she had never seen a mountain in her life. In fact, her travel experiences were limited to a few trips to Florida with her late husband.
As they prepared for a hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2015, Brad asked his grandmother if she wanted to join him. She eagerly seized the opportunity, and in September, the duo set off on their first adventure together.
“At 85, she went hiking for the first time, saw a mountain, climbed her first peak, fell off an inflatable mattress a few times, but never complained,” Brad recounted.
Although he initially thought that traveling with an elderly person might “dampen the fun,” he quickly realized that was not the case. In fact, traveling with his grandmother enriched his experiences, as the need to slow down allowed him to appreciate the world around him more fully.
Between each trip, the pair took a two-month break, as reported by CNN. Of all the places they visited together, Grandma Joy was particularly impressed by Old Faithful (the most famous of Yellowstone’s geysers) and Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska.
A Life-Changing Experience
“She shattered my preconceived notions of what it means to be elderly,” Brad noted. For instance, at 91, Grandma Joy went zip-lining in New River Gorge (West Virginia) and white-water rafting in Wrangell-St. Elias (Alaska).
“We all have an inherent fear of aging. We think about the limitations that come with it, rather than the possibilities. Grandma reminds us that opportunities still exist,” he said.
After last year’s trip to American Samoa (a reserve in the southern Pacific), they quickly decided to travel to all the continents of the world. They consider this goal achievable.
This year, Grandma and grandson plan to visit Australia. Next, they hope to head to Asia and possibly visit national parks in India or travel to Borneo to see orangutans. After that, they plan to go to Europe, where they have many friends. Finally, they aim to reach Antarctica, which Brad has dubbed “the cherry on top of this adventure.”
Initially, Grandma and grandson funded their travels themselves. However, once the world learned about their journeys, they began to receive sponsorships.
Connecting Generations
“Not everyone is lucky enough to have a grandson willing to take you along,” Grandma Joy Ryan proudly stated.
Having spent a significant amount of time on the road together, Grandma and grandson have grown closer than ever. Brad, in particular, has realized the importance of connecting with older relatives while they are still alive.
Have there been conflicts over the years? Despite their great rapport, the significant age difference has led to occasional disagreements, especially regarding their differing musical tastes.
“I’ve tried to learn to enjoy his music. But I still can’t understand how he calls it music, but that’s okay,” Grandma Joy admitted.
After climbing mountains and hiking through nature, the elderly lady has no plans to slow down. Although she often has to stop to catch her breath while on the go.
“I have two new knees, and I think I might need to replace them,” Mrs. Ryan said. “But I don’t have diabetes, and my heart is in good shape. So for an older woman, I’m doing well,” she added.
