Baja has been my happy place for the last 4 winters.

I first dreamt of this magical spot on the globe back when Azul Unlimited was just a Facebook page. I wanted to open a shop here, but ended up in Indonesia instead. That was a hard season of lessons, all of which I’m incredibly grateful for despite the loss.

When I bought my van in 2021, driving down Baja was my dream. I had to save money for about a year and a half, but finally did it in 2022, the year of my first-ever BAJA DIVE EXPEDITION.

Mexico has been my safe place to step out of my comfort zone, meet new people, and develop a deeper relationship with myself.

Now Baja holds a different dream. It will take a couple of seasons to make it happen, but I’m a stubborn woman with a plan.

Abby and I took a break between diving expeditions during the holidays, and it was the first time I really got to slow down since my trip to Florida in November. I had some heavy emotions weighing on my heart.

I was alone, and I tapped into some inner child play to help me heal.

But Christmas in La Paz was calling. I knew the festive cheer and soft glow of holiday lights would soothe my achy heart.

Then, something truly magical happened, and the rest of my visit gave me a taste of what’s to come.

I created a silly little video… and thanks to TikTok magic, I connected with a bunch of kind sailors moored in La Paz, which led me to a New Year’s sailing trip with a few bad ass women.

I joined Sage and Petra aboard their boat Tengai and their friend Pao, a solo sailor on her boat Sol Sister.

This sailing trip was one of those moments in life when I felt like I needed to pinch myself. How is this real?

These adventures don’t always go smoothly, but at the very least, I come away with an interesting story.

And then… the engine died.

Sailing with these ladies taught me a lot about what I need to focus on for my own boat. They shared lessons learned and tips for life on anchor that I haven’t thought about before. I came back to land with a lot of clarity and drive to get to work on my boat projects for the year.

Most importantly… to slow down and enjoy the simplicity of this lifestyle.

While we were at the beach, Sage fixed the issue with the engine, so we all hopped in the water to make an easy job of their bottom cleaning. I had way too much fun with the ladies of Tengai. If you find yourself in La Paz with dreams of hopping on a sailboat, you should reach out to them.

The following day, we had to say our goodbyes and Pao gave me a ride back to the city.

I’m going to miss this place.

Countless extraordinary moments are permanently seared into my brain. This place has made an inexplicable impact on my heart.

So here’s my big plan. I won’t run another group trip to Baja until I’m able to get here with my own boat. And whatever Baja expedition I plan next will be different from the ones I’ve done before. I feel that I’ve spent enough time in Cabo San Lucas, so I have my eyes set on La Paz or Cabo Pulmo.

I enjoy creating challenges like this for myself because it helps my little ADHD brain keep on task. I still have a lot to do on my boat and learn about sailing before I can take the big left turn and leave the Pacific Northwest. I plan on taking my time so I can explore diving in new places throughout my learning process. And of course, I’m going to bring my Azul Unlimited family along for every twist and turn of the journey.

Nos vemos prontito, Baja. Te quiero.

See what trips are coming up. I always give my community first dibs on spots, so you can sign up for Patreon (and get trip discounts) or my email list to be the first to know about new expeditions in the future.