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The National Park of American Samoa

Photo: Michael Runkel / DanitaDelimont. / imago images/Michael Runkel / Da

Endless expanses, breathtaking landscapes and unforgettable experiences: this and much more connects people with the national parks in the USA. But Joy Ryan of Ohio hadn't seen the ocean or the mountains until her 85th birthday. Today, just eight years later, she has visited all 63 national parks in the world's third-largest country – together with her grandson.

In 2015, Brad Ryan was first inspired by his grandmother. "When I learned that she had never seen the great wilderness of America — the deserts, the mountains, the oceans or whatever — I thought that would be something that would haunt me if I didn't do anything," Ryan told CBS News.

Every winter, her husband took her to Florida for fishing, Joy Ryan told CBS News last year. As a result, Brad decided to show his grandmother the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the USA. During this trip, Brad had an idea: "The more I read about the parks and saw how close they were to each other, the more it became an obsession." He wanted to see his grandmother in Old Faithful, the Redwoods and the Grand Canyon. "I just had to have those memories to be happy in the long run," says Brad Ryan.

"I think it helps to stay optimistic and have the will"

Fun should quickly become serious. The two began planning and had already seen 62 of 63 national parks within six years. But while they experienced unforgettable things on their travels, the time spent together in the car was precious. Joy told her grandson about private problems in the eighties and nineties. "They were things she'd never talked to anyone about before," Brad Ryan said. At the same time, he also worked through his own problems with her.

Joy, who has three children and four grandchildren, is still fit. Their secret? "I think it helps to stay optimistic and have the will," says the 93-year-old. In addition, she was lucky to have been spared serious illnesses in the past. Even at the age of 91, she went whitewater rafting, and she was even braver than her grandson.

The last destination, the 63rd and last national park, once again presented the two with a great challenge despite their great will: The national park of American Samoa is almost 11,000 kilometers away from Ohio and the only American national park south of the equator. Nevertheless, they dared to make the journey towards the South Pacific. According to their own statements, they were able to "enjoy the beaches as well as the beautiful tropical paradise" on site. In addition, according to Ryan, the island community has very strong family roots. This is another reason why it was particularly nice to end the journey there.

Where do we go from here? Brad himself considered his grandma to be an inspiration even before the trip. "I think there's really no end in sight for Grandma Joy," says the grandson.

Bam