<p>A 93-year-old grandmother from the United States is living her life to the fullest. At the age of 93, Grandma Joy has seen all 63 US national parks. Joy went on this epic journey with her grandson, Brad Ryan, who was first inspired to travel with his grandmother in 2015.</p>

<p>By the age of 85, Joy from Ohio had never even seen the ocean or mountains. But now, she has seen every corner of the United States by visiting all 63 national parks in the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-doctors-surgically-remove-sack-of-marbles-growing-on-52-year-old-womans-scalp-since-childhood-621716">Indian doctors surgically remove 'sack of marbles' growing on 52-year-old woman's scalp since childhood</a></p>

<p>Joy told CBS News all the travelling she had done earlier was "to the fishing hole." &nbsp;</p>

<p>"Every winter, my husband took me to Okeechobee and we fished. That was about the extent of my wandering," she said.</p>

<h2><strong>A trip that gave the idea of travelling to all US national parks&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>It was her grandson Brad who decided to take her to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This trip was memorable for Joy as she saw the mountains for the first time, but it also sparked the idea of travelling to all US national parks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"When I learned she had never seen the great wildernesses of America – deserts, mountains, oceans, you name it – I thought that was something that would haunt me if I didn't intervene in some way," Brad told CBS News in October 2022.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>"The more I kept reading about the parks and I saw how close they were to one another, that we could make this giant loop, it became an obsession," Brad said.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>"And all I could think about was, 'I've got to see Grandma Joy at Old Faithful, I've got to see her at the Redwoods, I've got to see her at the Grand Canyon. I just have to do this; I just have to have those memories for my own long-term happiness. I think we're two peas in a pod when it comes to just our desire for travel, adventure, connection.'"</p>

<p>The duo started planning road trips, hitting multiple parks each time they went on the road. The duo said that though they had many adventures during their travels some of their best memories happened while travelling in the car.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>"We hit the road together and we start talking about our lives," Brad said. "And she told me things in her 80s and 90s about her life.</p>

<p>The 63rd and final stop on their epic tour was the National Park of American Samoa.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A 93-year-old grandmother from the United States is living her life to the fullest. At the age of 93, Grandma Joy has seen all 63 US national parks. Joy went on this epic journey with her grandson, Brad Ryan, who was first inspired to travel with his grandmother in 2015.

A 93-year-old grandmother from the United States is living her life to the fullest. At the age of 93, Grandma Joy has seen all 63 US national parks. Joy went on this epic journey with her grandson, Brad Ryan, who was first inspired to travel with his grandmother in 2015. By the age of 85, Joy from Ohio had never even seen the ocean or mountains. But now, she has seen every corner of the United States by visiting all 63 national parks in the country. Also Read | Indian doctors surgically remove 'sack of marbles' growing on 52-year-old woman's scalp since childhood Joy told CBS News all the travelling she had done earlier was "to the fishing hole." "Every winter, my husband took me to Okeechobee and we fished. That was about the extent of my wandering," she said. A trip that gave the idea of travelling to all US national parks It was her grandson Brad who decided to take her to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This trip was memorable for Joy as she saw the mountains for the first time, but it also sparked the idea of travelling to all US national parks. "When I learned she had never seen the great wildernesses of America – deserts, mountains, oceans, you name it – I thought that was something that would haunt me if I didn't intervene in some way," Brad told CBS News in October 2022. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Grandma Joy’s Road Trip — Brad and Joy Ryan (@grandmajoysroadtrip) × "The more I kept reading about the parks and I saw how close they were to one another, that we could make this giant loop, it became an obsession," Brad said. Also Read | Who is Robert Bowers? Pittsburgh synagogue mass shooter sentenced to death for killing 11 people "And all I could think about was, 'I've got to see Grandma Joy at Old Faithful, I've got to see her at the Redwoods, I've got to see her at the Grand Canyon. I just have to do this; I just have to have those memories for my own long-term happiness. I think we're two peas in a pod when it comes to just our desire for travel, adventure, connection.'" The duo started planning road trips, hitting multiple parks each time they went on the road. The duo said that though they had many adventures during their travels some of their best memories happened while travelling in the car. Also Read | Greek PM offers free holiday to tourists who escaped Rhodes wildfires "We hit the road together and we start talking about our lives," Brad said. "And she told me things in her 80s and 90s about her life. The 63rd and final stop on their epic tour was the National Park of American Samoa. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

This 93-year-old grandmother travelled to all 63 US national parks

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{2d09d755-024a-4fc6-95b9-753745e666e4}{196}" paraid="1977633820" >The Sonoran Desert toad is somewhat infamous for a toxin it secretes which can be used to have a hallucinogenic experience. The animal appears mostly in North America and several reports claim that people end up having violent episodes after coming in contact with the animal. However, licking them has suddenly turned into a trend in the United States and the authorities are not happy about it.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{674080b9-75a5-40bb-b3f7-ff280a409874}{64}" paraid="2090167698" >The US National Park Service has come out with an official warning against people trying to lick the Sonoran Desert toad for a quick high. The authorities have stated that the warning is meant to protect people from falling sick due to overexposure to the toxin of the largest toad in the US.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{674080b9-75a5-40bb-b3f7-ff280a409874}{64}" paraid="2090167698" >Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ten-african-countries-accuse-european-union-of-endangering-global-hippo-population-532237" hreflang="en">Ten African countries accuse European Union of endangering global hippo population</a></p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{d7876164-0066-4553-a96a-4e98c4094a19}{114}" paraid="1310596698" >Toad-licking is not a new practice with many parts of Africa and South America providing such services on the black market. However, the health concerns are equally well documented, and over the years, multiple deaths have been attributed to overdosing or constant abuse of the toxins.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{4c0ab45a-24e2-40ff-9eea-b9e83cff22af}{120}" paraid="594133409" >According to the official website of the Organ Pipe Cactus national monument in Arizona, hallucinations and euphoria are the effects of consuming the toxin but can be lethal in high doses.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{4c0ab45a-24e2-40ff-9eea-b9e83cff22af}{120}" paraid="594133409" >Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/3-billion-in-bitcoin-seized-by-us-department-of-justice-in-a-decade-old-case-532176" hreflang="en">$3 billion in Bitcoin seized by US Department of Justice in a decade old case</a></p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{98e70e22-a952-40ee-9cb4-adca03f73de9}{53}" paraid="1712084773" >“As we say with most things you come across in a national park, whether it be a banana slug, an unfamiliar mushroom, or a large toad with glowing eyes in the dead of night, please refrain from licking,” it said.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-US" paraeid="{22aba575-2a64-43f5-aefc-2a0eadb5ff77}{44}" paraid="953725989" >The warning is not just limited to human beings as the owners were also asked to refrain their dogs from licking the toad as the toxins can also impact them. “Animals that harass this species generally are intoxicated through the mouth, nose, or eyes,” the&nbsp;Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum told The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>


The Sonoran Desert toad is somewhat infamous for a toxin it secretes which can be used to have a hallucinogenic experience. The animal appears mostly in North America and several reports claim that people end up having violent episodes after coming in contact with the animal.

The Sonoran Desert toad is somewhat infamous for a toxin it secretes which can be used to have a hallucinogenic experience. The animal appears mostly in North America and several reports claim that people end up having violent episodes after coming in contact with the animal. However, licking them has suddenly turned into a trend in the United States and the authorities are not happy about it. The US National Park Service has come out with an official warning against people trying to lick the Sonoran Desert toad for a quick high. The authorities have stated that the warning is meant to protect people from falling sick due to overexposure to the toxin of the largest toad in the US. Also read | Ten African countries accuse European Union of endangering global hippo population Toad-licking is not a new practice with many parts of Africa and South America providing such services on the black market. However, the health concerns are equally well documented, and over the years, multiple deaths have been attributed to overdosing or constant abuse of the toxins. According to the official website of the Organ Pipe Cactus national monument in Arizona, hallucinations and euphoria are the effects of consuming the toxin but can be lethal in high doses. Also read | $3 billion in Bitcoin seized by US Department of Justice in a decade old case “As we say with most things you come across in a national park, whether it be a banana slug, an unfamiliar mushroom, or a large toad with glowing eyes in the dead of night, please refrain from licking,” it said. The warning is not just limited to human beings as the owners were also asked to refrain their dogs from licking the toad as the toxins can also impact them. “Animals that harass this species generally are intoxicated through the mouth, nose, or eyes,” the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum told The Guardian.

Stop licking toads, US National Parks Service warns visitors

<p>An ancient rock art at the Big Bend National Park has been vandalised and ''irreparably damaged'' in Texas.</p>

<p>The National Park Service said, ''A panel of ancient petroglyphs in the Indian Head area of Big Bend National Park was irreparably damaged when vandals chose to boldly scratch their names and the date across the prehistoric art.''</p>

<p>The antique art was between 3,000 and 8,500 years old as per Tom VandenBerg, chief of interpretation and visitor services with Big Bend National Park.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/jk-rowlings-handprint-vandalised-with-red-paint-amid-transphobic-row-312886">Also read |&nbsp;JK Rowling's handprint vandalised with red paint amid 'transphobic' row</a></strong></p>

<p>"The particular style of rock art that was damaged in this instance is classified by archeologists as the 'Pecked Abstract Tradition," VandenBerg said. "It is characterized by abstract, complex, geometric shapes and lines."</p>

<p>"Park managers have seen an increase in vandalism and graffiti in the area, and ask anyone with information about these incidents, or the persons involved, to contact the law enforcement staff of Big Bend National Park," officials said.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/trump-hollywood-star-vandal-charged-with-marilyn-monroe-statue-theft-230200">Also read |&nbsp;Trump 'Hollywood star' vandal charged with Marilyn Monroe statue theft</a></strong></p>

<p>“Big Bend National Park belongs to all of us. Damaging natural features and rock art destroys the very beauty and history that the American people want to protect in our parks,” aid the park’s superintendent, Bob Krumenaker.</p>

<p>“With each instance of vandalism, part of our Nation’s heritage is lost forever.”</p>

<p>“Trained staff will attempt to mitigate the damage as quickly as possible, using highly specialized techniques,” read a statement from the park team.</p>

<p>“Staff have already treated the most recent vandalism at Indian Head, but much of the damage is, unfortunately, permanent.”</p>

<p>Big Bend National Park includes the entire Chisos mountain range and a large swath of the Chihuahuan Desert.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


An ancient rock art at the Big Bend National Park has been vandalised and ''irreparably damaged'' in Texas. The National Park Service said, ''A panel of ancient petroglyphs in the Indian Head area of Big Bend National Park was irreparably damaged when vandals chose to boldly scratch their names and the date across the prehistoric art.

An ancient rock art at the Big Bend National Park has been vandalised and ''irreparably damaged'' in Texas. The National Park Service said, ''A panel of ancient petroglyphs in the Indian Head area of Big Bend National Park was irreparably damaged when vandals chose to boldly scratch their names and the date across the prehistoric art.'' The antique art was between 3,000 and 8,500 years old as per Tom VandenBerg, chief of interpretation and visitor services with Big Bend National Park. Also read | JK Rowling's handprint vandalised with red paint amid 'transphobic' row "The particular style of rock art that was damaged in this instance is classified by archeologists as the 'Pecked Abstract Tradition," VandenBerg said. "It is characterized by abstract, complex, geometric shapes and lines." "Park managers have seen an increase in vandalism and graffiti in the area, and ask anyone with information about these incidents, or the persons involved, to contact the law enforcement staff of Big Bend National Park," officials said. Also read | Trump 'Hollywood star' vandal charged with Marilyn Monroe statue theft “Big Bend National Park belongs to all of us. Damaging natural features and rock art destroys the very beauty and history that the American people want to protect in our parks,” aid the park’s superintendent, Bob Krumenaker. “With each instance of vandalism, part of our Nation’s heritage is lost forever.” “Trained staff will attempt to mitigate the damage as quickly as possible, using highly specialized techniques,” read a statement from the park team. “Staff have already treated the most recent vandalism at Indian Head, but much of the damage is, unfortunately, permanent.” Big Bend National Park includes the entire Chisos mountain range and a large swath of the Chihuahuan Desert. (With inputs from agencies)

'Irreparably damaged': Ancient rock art that was thousands of years old has been vandalised