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In this episode of the RVing with Joe & Kait podcast, we chat with Bob Gauthier (aka Sticker Bob) of Kokua Promotions about his unique journey into RVing, which began as a spontaneous decision to tour coffee shops across the country. Over eight years later, he reflects on the joys and challenges of solo RV life and shares practical tips for navigating life and running a business on the road, the evolution of RV internet, and the dilemma of finding a place to settle down after experiencing the beauty of over 40 states.
“There’s this beautiful thing about the solitude of it all. You know, I really enjoy those sort of things…But there’s also a bit of loneliness to it as well, right? So I do crave that partnership because I like to share experiences with someone.”
Bob Gauthier on solo RV life
From One Year to Eight Years of Solo RV Life
Where to listen
- Listen on Apple Podcasts
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- Listen on Amazon Music
- Listen on iHeartRadio
- Listen on Pandora
- Listen on Podcast Addict
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Episode Guests
Bob is a Paniolo Cowboy and Vanlifer when not on an island. His business is in the promo product space and Kokua means “Aloha in Action” and “To be In Service to Others”. Bob enjoys riding horses, paddling canoes, workouting, biking/hiking and all things outdoors. His motto is “kindness always wins.”
Links:
Resources Mentioned in this Episode
- Kokua Promotions
- Circle M Ranch
- Garmin inReach
- We’re the Russos YouTube Channel
- Newsletter sign up
- Book 1: Take Risks
- Book 2: Tales From the Open Road
Key Highlights
- How it all started: Bob left his routine life and longtime coffee shop hangouts to launch a cross-country coffee shop tour, originally intended for just one year.
- On solo RV life: Bob cherishes the solitude and independence of solo travel but admits that sharing experiences with someone is something he misses. He hopes one day that special someone might just roll up next to him at a national park.
- Van life for business: Bob runs Kokua Promotions, a branding and merchandise company, entirely from his camper van using tools like Slack and Outlook. His remote team spans the country, and he’s proof you don’t need an office to run a multimillion-dollar business.
- Planning and Flexibility Go Hand-in-Hand: As a solo RV traveler, Bob handles all logistics himself, from route planning to navigating on the fly. He books travel well in advance around events but always builds in time for personal adventures in nature.
- Community & Events: Much of his travel revolves around overland expos and van life gatherings where he reconnects with a community of like-minded travelers. These gatherings give him a sense of belonging and a chance to reconnect with familiar faces.
- Internet Connectivity While Traveling: Despite the boom in tech, Bob still runs most of his connectivity through a basic hotspot setup. He’s yet to adopt Starlink but acknowledges it would be useful for remote locations like Alaska.
- Don’t Rush the Journey, Savor the Stops: One piece of advice he’d give to his past self: slow down. Bob encourages new RVers to spend more time in fewer places instead of racing through bucket lists, allowing deeper experiences and stronger local connections.
- Favorite experiences: Sleeping near wild mustangs while camping outside Grand Canyon, finding beauty in every state, and trail riding in Maui.
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