Do you work out on the road, or do you just tell yourself you'll "get to it when you get home"?

That's the question we opened with on this week's episode on Learn to RV the Podcast, and it's one a lot of RVers carry around with a little bit of shame attached. If you're not doing CrossFit in a gravel parking lot at 6 a.m., it's sometimes easy to feel like you're falling short.

We don't think that's fair, so we brought in two RVers who've actually figured out how to stay active on the road & they don't agree on everything, which is what makes this conversation so good.

Meet Ashley & Joanie

On this episode, we're joined by Ashley Gallaher of Campfires and Motors (full-time for about a year and a half, traveling with her husband Steve,  two teenagers and a Belgian Malinois named Tango) and Joanie of On the Go with Joanie and Joe, a retired physical education teacher who's spent 35 years making movement a daily habit, who also just finished her first year of fulltime travel in August.

They both get real about the stuff nobody puts in the highlight reel: losing your workout community when you hit the road, trying to find a place to run when the campground loop is only a mile and a half, and how weather alone can tank your motivation.

As Ashley put it, RV life doesn't give you the same atmosphere every day, so the rhythm you rely on at home just doesn't hold up out here.

Rucking: the workout that fits in a rig

When Joanie's husband told her she needed to sell her weights before they hit the road, she had to get creative. Her answer was rucking, which is a weighted vest, worn on regular walks. She's up to 25 pounds now, but she's quick to warn beginners not to start there: her first vest let her add weight in one-pound increments, front and back, so she could build up slowly instead of waking up the next day wondering why her shoulders hurt.

And if you've ever carried a toddler on a hike, you've already been rucking without knowing it. That's basically how the early years of full-time RVing went for us, minus the fancy vest.

Hiking, running, and knowing when to turn around

Ashley and her husband Steve are avid hikers, and she shares exactly how they scout new trails and pace themselves on climbs like Mount Washington. Her advice for anyone getting back into it: start small, don't chase the pace you used to have, and there's no shame in turning around before the summit.

We get into that last part more than you'd expect. One of us didn't make it to the top of a hike in Colorado and had to walk back down alone while the rest of the family kept going & it's still the right call.

Knowing your own limits isn't failing. It's the difference between a hike you finish and one you get rescued from.

Pickleball, e-bikes, and finding your people

Joanie was a serious pickleball player before hitting the road, and she has a warning most campground brochures leave out: just because a campground lists pickleball courts doesn't mean there's anyone actually playing on them. Her tip for anyone nervous about getting on a court for the first time is part of the conversation and to remember that not every pickleball community will welcome you in on your own.

Then there are e-bikes, which Joanie calls one of the best purchases they've made in this lifestyle. A regular bike might get you 10 miles; an e-bike can get you 30 or more, which could mean you are seeing more of the country instead of turning back early.

We also swap stories about accountability partners, running buddies who kept showing up on 5:30 a.m. calls years after moving apart, and why your workout doesn't have to look like your spouse's to count.

A quick behind-the-scenes note: this wasn't the episode we originally planned to kick off Season 3 with. Honestly, so much about this podcast keeps changing... kind of like RV life itself.

We're still learning how to pivot too.

Watch the full episode

This is one of those conversations that feels like sitting around a campfire with three RVers being honest about what actually works, what doesn't, and why there's no single right way to stay active on the road. If you've ever felt guilty about skipping a workout because the campground didn't have room for it, this episode is for you.

You can also catch the FULL EPISODE wherever you get your podcasts.

Don't forget to like, follow, and subscribe to Learn to RV the Podcast, and head to learntorv.com to join the community.

If you're looking for a walking buddy, a trail partner, or someone to play pickleball with, post in one of the Learn to RV Facebook groups — you might find a neighbor closer than you think.