During the pandemic, many people made significant decisions that would restructure their lives. For my wife, Randi, and I, COVID concerns led us to a decision that we’re delighted we made — we embraced the RV lifestyle.
My first and foremost concern was my wife’s health. Randi was born with cystic fibrosis, so ensuring a safe living environment while we’re on the road for Bassmaster Elite Series and Opens tournaments was imperative. Going from hotel to hotel or VRBO to VRBO wasn’t a good option, so we had to find a solution.
We’ve been able to accomplish that with our 40-foot fifth wheel, which Randi hauls, while I tow my Phoenix boat behind my Toyota Tundra. What we’ve found is that this gives us a comfortable home away from home, while also providing space for Randi to run her business from the road.
Although we decided to do this together, what she didn’t know was this has always been my dream — to travel around the country together, camping with her and enjoying the RV life. Now that we’ve done it, I can’t imagine traveling any other way.
When we’re on the road, you feel like you have your home wherever you go. You have your bed to sleep in, and the biggest perk for me is knowing that my wife is safe because we stay around good folks.
It’s also nice to have home-cooked meals, which is something you don’t get when you’re staying in hotels. Also, my wife can set up her office inside the camper, and on days when it’s pretty, she can get outside and enjoy the fresh air.
One of the biggest things you learn about the RV lifestyle is the importance of finding good campgrounds that are safe, quiet and located close to the tournament facilities. You also need a place with plenty of room for a boat and a truck.
After doing this a couple years, we’ve connected with several other Elite families who also stay in campers. The great part about building these relationships is the collective knowledge that’s readily shared — particularly when it comes to choosing campgrounds.
There’s a whole group of 15 to 20 families that travel like this, and a lot of the B.A.S.S. wives coordinate with one another. When the schedule comes out, they all get together and talk about campgrounds that they’ve used before. That’s how they make all of our bookings.
Like many of the RV families, we travel with our dog, Rowdy, so it’s important to stay at campgrounds that are pet-friendly — something that can be challenging with hotels and rental homes. For me, it’s nice to know that when I’m on the water all day, my wife has a safe and convenient place to walk our dog.
During the offseason, Randi remodeled our camper with all new furniture. It sounds simple, but after a long day of fishing, comfortable seating like a nice recliner is really important for unwinding and getting the rest I need to get back our there the next day.
Randi also built an office for herself in the kitchen area. She does so many Zoom meetings for work that she needs a dedicated space.
And while I’m listing the benefits of RV life, having your own washer and dryer makes a huge difference. No running back and forth to a laundromat and no packing several times a year. We take the clothes we need and wash at the campgrounds.
In addition to our RV’s full kitchen, we also bring a portable Traeger grill for outdoor cooking. We’ve enjoyed many great meals this way, but ever since I was a kid, one of my favorite things to do is roast sausages over a fire.
After a tournament, if our schedules allow, a lot of us will stay around for an evening and build a campfire. While most people are roasting hot dogs, I’ll roast the Down Home sausages that I brought from our home state of Louisiana.
This is all part of the campground community we’ve come to love and appreciate. If I need a bait, or something to work on, there’s always someone there to help. If Randi needs a cup of flour for the kitchen, she always has someone she can ask.
You don’t get that staying in a hotel. With the RV lifestyle, we’ve found a travel family and we’re blessed to be sharing this journey with them.