Josephine Thompson has lived in Walnut Creek for 69 years, watched her children gambol across the ridges across from her house and always harbored a secret inner desire to one day see what was up there for herself.
With the help of her devoted family and a couple of Contra Costa County Fire Protection District firefighters, Josephine, now 87, got her wish.
“Grandma has always wanted to go to the top of the trail across from her house,” said grandson Ryan. “She would always watch from the deck when my mom rode her dirt bike back and forth across the trail as a teenager, but grandma has never been up there.”
That changed recently when Ryan convinced firefighters Scott Valencia and Chuck Stark to unlock the gate blocking access to the trail, enabling Josephine to reach the ridge in comfort.
“It is one of her last wishes, and I’m so thankful that that (ConFire) firefighters were able to help us complete it for her,” Ryan said Monday.
