Early February, we packed the bags, loaded up the dogs, grabbed Slate, threw in some Rayco goodies, and headed south to meet up with our friends at Super Pacific and HEST.

We were beyond excited to spend a week exploring Baja with the crew, leading the way to some of our favorite spots and sharing the places that have made us fall in love with the peninsula.

Most of the group had never been, so we helped build the itinerary around some of our favorite experiences. We had never done Baja with a bigger group before, and we couldn’t wait to show them around, find new places, and make memories together.

We met up before crossing the border and rolled through together. Everything went smoothly, and before we knew it, we were cruising toward our first camp spot south of San Felipe. The stoke was high.

Of course, before making it to camp, we had to stop for some local tacos. And they did not disappoint. They were so good that they made me a little too comfortable.

If you’ve spent time in Mexico, you know the pothole and curb situation can be unpredictable. After years of traveling down there, I should have known better — but even veterans become victims.

While holding Slate, I stepped off a curb and straight into a pothole. I heard a snap, my ankle rolled, and I went down — all while making sure Slate was safe. 

Within minutes, everything changed.

Collin ran to grab the truck while Sacha from Super Pacific stayed with me, holding ice on my ankle as it quickly swelled to the size of a baseball. The pain was intense, and before long, a crowd had gathered around wondering what was going on.

We made it to the local hospital, but unfortunately, they didn’t have an X-ray machine. After being wrapped up and sent on our way, we realized we were stuck waiting a few days before we could get proper imaging.

I couldn’t walk.

The crew from Super Pacific waited outside the hospital, helped with Slate, checked on us, and made what could have been a really hard moment feel a little lighter. They treated us like family.

I tried to convince myself we could still make it work. I thought, “Maybe I can just sit on the beach for a week, take it easy, and let everyone else handle the adventure.”

But once we arrived at camp, reality set in. I was in too much pain and couldn’t help with Slate or enjoy the trip the way I had imagined.

The hardest decision was made. We were heading home.

Our excitement was so high, and having the trip end on day one was heartbreaking. But looking back, we’re reminded that the best part of adventure isn’t always the places you go — it’s the people you share it with.

The Super Pacific and Hest crew stepped up in every way. They helped with Slate, helped with our dogs, and even took our Rayco gear along for the rest of the trip and captured some incredible photos while we were gone.

That’s the kind of crew you don’t forget.

The kind of people who show up when things don’t go according to plan.

We didn’t get to finish our Baja adventure, but our gear did. And we couldn’t have asked for a better crew to carry it south.