Brothers from Baja: A Surf Story (new short)
- Barry Walton
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
There are few moments in adult life when friendships are tested in the same fashion they were tested in our youth. During that time in your life when you would do things you may not do today to achieve things you do not value anymore. However, those moments make for unique friendships that pass the test of time. Friendships with people who you accept for who they are, and they accept you for who you are. This new documentary short is a glimpse into some of those places in my life, when I went with friends to places that forged relationships that will last forever. These are my brothers, “Brothers from Baja” (and beyond).
The deeper story.
Making this short film reminded me of how my life’s interests have changed over the years. Looking back 25 years ago the things that mattered then were friends, adventures and being together.
There are no better examples of this than the two most iconic trips of my life; first the Mexico to Central America via Jeep for 3 months (see photo with map below) and second sailing from San Francisco to Cabo San Lucas (also see photo with map). On both occasions the number one priority was to ‘seize the day’, capture the moment and do it together no matter the cost. We didn’t have the funds. It wasn’t about the like, follows and shares. It was about the spirit of it all and going out and doing it together before youth passed us by.
That first trip gave credence to the second trip and the choice to capture it all on camera for what would become the making of my first documentary, Reaching Reality (on Prime) was because the moment felt so rich. The experience of traveling by Jeep through the countryside curated thrilling passages in deep jungle forests with clown crabs dancing along the ground. Passing semi’s, after hours caught in traffic on a one lane road, by taking a dirt passing lane filled with pot holes was insane. A moment that almost ended in death. It all gave life to the idea of capturing this rare moment in life to be able to recall it after time had passed.
Having returned from the Jeeping experience, Dan, a central character in the film and in my book, “The Unknown Adventurer” (on Amazon) came up with the idea of taking our travels to sea. Two years later in winter, February, 2005, we pushed out of San Francisco Bay in a 24’ Islander Bahama to travel at sea for 2 months. It was both full the painful torture of traveling at sea and the beautiful treasure of arriving alone at some of the greatest surf in the world.
The travels and survival of all that time on the road and sea gave life to deep friendship's that feel like they will last beyond the grave. This short film captures a little of what all that meant to me.
In looking back, I feel like, it’s easy to get sucked into the idea that I’ve “outgrown” the way I experienced things in my youth. The idea that age, identity, career or class somehow is the highest priority over the experience is a thought process that is bound to cut short the unique joy of just going out and doing it. You don’t need all the pieces in place to take the ‘perfect’ vacation and enjoy it. You don’t need to have the best (fill in the blank) to go out and experience moments in life that you dream to have with your friends, family and people you care about. You only need to go.
It has never been about things make the experience. Things are secondary to people and people are secondary to experiencing life. I have been so lucky to find a handful of friends who feel the same and create memories that I hope to impart on others and inspire them to do the same.
