As full time travelers know, staying active can be difficult when it feels like most of the day is spent driving. Yet there are ways to stay active on the road that doesn’t include a gym membership or heavy lifting.
Meet Charmaine and John Griffith. At ages 58 and 68, you might be surprised to hear about all their adventures. From summiting mountains and racking up miles on their bikes, the Griffiths take the full-time travel life in stride while staying active everywhere they go.
For some travelers, the idea of staying active is a difficult feat, but to Charmaine and John there was no other way to keep moving forward without staying active. John says, “We want to be active and vigorous for as long as we possibly can,” and with that notion, the dynamic duo has accomplished much more than you would expect from most full-timers on the road.
With a keen sense of adventure, the Griffiths have walked many miles hiking in an effort to see the wonders the world has to offer. Charmaine recounts some of their most challenging yet rewarding hikes, “We hiked to Bishop Pass in the Eastern Sierra which was 16 miles round trip and several thousand feet of elevation gain, and John hiked a 22 mile loop in the Grand Tetons.” But they also take on less daunting tasks like riding their bikes along trails in Tucson, Arizona, and setting up a workout area of dumbbells while camping, or as they call it, “the lifetime gym membership.”
What might surprise many is that John and Charmaine were not always this active before they traveled full time. They had the opportunity to lift weights and ride their bikes, but back home the Griffiths lacked one aspect that they have come to love while on the road. “We are from the South and there weren’t a lot of great hiking opportunities there, so that has been the biggest difference [for us],” says Charmaine.
From bike trails to hiking trails, John and Charmaine know that excuses can sometimes deter people from staying active, but they also know that it’s not easy either. “With such a varied lifestyle and limited living space, it takes a higher level of commitment and some creativity. Our lives have no set routine now and so maintaining an exercise schedule is a little more of a challenge. We just have to try harder,” which to the Griffiths is better than being an inactive traveler. John goes on to talk about their diet choices, too, “For us, there is no food, no matter how tasty, that is worth sacrificing our health for.” To the Griffiths, there’s nothing more important than being able to see the world on their terms and that means staying active and healthy no matter where they park.
When asked about some of the ways other travelers could stay active on the road, the Griffiths had several suggestions to overcome mental challenges or fear of getting started. “For those that want to become more active, get a set of lightweight dumbbells and begin doing a few simple exercises,” suggests Charmaine. For those that enjoy outdoor activities, the Griffiths suggest: “America’s national parks are designed for just this purpose [staying active at any age]. They have infrastructure in place that enables people of all fitness levels to access their beauty, including accessible wheelchair paths in some places.” And for those that believe the light at the end of the tunnel is far away, the Griffiths want travelers to think about what exercise and activity would do for their lives. “Remember, the more [activity] you do, the more you can do. The converse is also true, the less you do, the less you can actually do.”
There are several things that the Griffiths do to make staying active easier on them as they live in their Airstream. They enjoy staying in towns and cities for extended periods of time to give them a chance to get the lay of the land, but to also find more of a routine in their exercise. But the best piece of advice that Charmaine gave might surprise travelers who want to spend their time on the road leisurely. “Our airstream came with a television. It lives in the closet and has been there since we moved in,” says John. This lifestyle might shock many who find themselves stuck inside on a rainy day, but it also makes it easier to get up and stay productive.
Charmaine Griffith biking in the desert to her full extent! [Photo by The Griffiths]
As far as full time travelers go, Charmaine and John are one of kind and keep their lives full of rich, memorable experiences that have only happened because of their level of activity and motivation to keep moving forward. With no sign of slowing down, these two have really created a life for themselves on the road that is more than just seeing the sights.
Though health is a high priority on their list, their activity level is not solely based on the idea of living a healthy life either. Since they hit the road full time, the Griffiths have realized that the RV lifestyle has many perks that they don’t get anywhere else. When asked what they love most about it, John says, “The amazing adventure of getting into the backcountry in all of America’s national parks. They are so incredibly beautiful. Also, life is so interesting because every day is truly an adventure as we constantly encounter different places and different people!” All of these adventures, places, and people would be hard to experience while sitting at home on the couch.
While many travelers see exercise and activity as a dreadful chore, the Griffiths have seen just how far their strength and motivation has gotten them. RVers and travelers tend to forget that in order to see and do, there is no time to stop for too long. For those full time travelers out there who want to experience the extraordinary, Charmaine and John encourage them to do their best at staying active and keeping at it. Charmaine and John both understand that without staying active their dreams of seeing the world could possibly be cut short. “The world is an amazing place and we want to explore and experience all that we can,” rejoices Charmaine. The Griffiths know that there is always more out there to explore and with that, they will keep hiking, biking, and trekking forward as long as they are able to see it all.