Mexico to Canada: a Travel Story
Stay in touch with our Newsletter
We left the Sunshine Coast and flew into LA, where we picked up the van that was to be our home for the next two months. We spent four days around the Huntington Beach area setting up the van and picking up new boards before setting off. We travelled south through California, then into Baja California, Mexico. From Baja we drove north, following the swell up the coast, finding new and legendary waves; from small beach breaks to big rocky slabs to cold river waves.
We had no real plans for this trip. We had locations that we wanted to visit, but no plans or dates. We had a 21st in Portland that we had to attend but that was the only set date apart from our departure flight. We checked the reports and charts frequently and based our trip around getting the best waves we could (which we accomplished pretty well).
After Mexico we drove north through the coast of California and into Oregon. We got to the top of Oregon and cut across into Portland, where we had friends waiting for us. From Portland we headed north into Canada and swapped our surfboards for snowboards. We spent a week there before heading west towards Vancouver Island. We spent a week in Tofino surfing the cold waters before we had to start heading back south.
On our way home we went down the west coast through Washington, Oregon and into California. We had hit pretty much every spot on the way up so we knew where we wanted to go on the way back, but we only had a week window before our flight home. We got back to Huntington Beach with three days before our flight home and sold the van. A total trip of just over two months and about 15,000 kilometres travelled, covering some of the most diverse coastline in the world.
We met so many people on this trip. Everyone welcomed us with warm hearts and open arms. Most notable were three guys we met in Mexico; Brian, Jeremy and Chris. We met them in San Miguel one night over a fire. We surfed with Brian the next day while Chris took photos. We met up with Brian for a beer the day before we flew out. He has recently told us that he will be heading to Australia next March. Traveling opens you up to so many things, but meeting new people is one of our favourite reasons for travel; we love hearing their stories, and sharing our own.
Words and images by Beau van der Werf and Michael Townsend.
We have partnered with Afterpay to bring you a simple way of paying over 8 weeks.
Use your existing credit card or debit card.
No long forms, instant approval online.
Pay fortnightly, enjoy your purchase straight away.
HOMECAMP Ts&Cs
Welcome to Homecamp. This website is owned and operated by Homecamp and if you purchase from us you are subject to our terms and conditions. You should read these conditions carefully prior to purchase, as placement of an order implies your acceptance of them.
RETURNS
Homecamp wants you to feel completely satisfied with your purchases made online. For any reason an item is not what you expected - the wrong colour, size or you've simply changed your mind - it can be returned for an exchange or full refund.
Please note that an item will only be accepted for exchange or credit note under the following conditions:
• The item is unused, unworn and in brand new condition with packaging intact and the original labels attached.
• A copy of a valid receipt is included with the return.
• The item is returned within 14 days of the receipt date.
Please note that all conditions must be strictly adhered to in regards to returns and exchanges and that exchanges will not be accepted under any conditions if you fail to meet these requirements.
We always inspect our goods to ensure our highest quality standards are met. Many of our products are made from natural products such as wood, canvas and leather. Any variations or marks naturally occurring in these materials are intended. If, however, you receive faulty or incorrect items, we will gladly pay the postage costs for a replacement. If the reason for the return is a ‘change of mind’, then this must be shipped and handled at your own cost.
If you wish to return something, please email [email protected] with your original order number and reason for return.
RETURNS ON SALE ITEMS
We have a NO RETURN ON SALE ITEMS policy.
MISPLACED ORDERS
If for some reason your parcel does not arrive within a reasonable time please contact us on [email protected] and we will track it for you.
PRIVACY POLICY
Any personal information that you provide to us including your name, address, telephone number and email address will not be released, sold or rented to any entities or individuals outside of Homecamp.
ORDERING
All prices are listed in Australian Dollars (AUD) and include 10% Goods and Service Tax (GST). Orders will be processed in Australian Dollars (AUD) only and we do not accept payments in other currencies. We accept payment for goods via major credit cards or PayPal and all your information is securely transferred through an SSL encrypted connection provided by eWay. Goods will be shipped promptly once full payment is received. We reserve the right to change prices advertised on this website at any time.
AVAILABILITY AND BACK ORDERS
In some instances it may be that an item is listed as in stock when in fact, it is not. If this happens we will contact you within 24 hours to come to an agreement on offering you a refund, placing the item on backorder or replacing with a suitable alternative.
DELIVERIES IN AUSTRALIA
Orders are processed as quickly as possible, typically within 1-3 business days of placing your order. We use Australia Post and Couriers Please for small parcel (less then 15kg) deliveries throughout Australia, with the exception of larger orders such as our tents where we engage the services of a courier delivery service, usually Toll or TNT. Courier and post delivery times vary and we cannot guarantee delivery by a certain date so we recommend you allow plenty of time for your order to reach you, particularly if you live in WA or regional areas. If you need an item urgently, please opt for Express Post at the checkout if this option is not available (i.e. on tents or free delivery over $200) then please email us for a quote ([email protected]).
All delivery costs are normally calculated at the checkout. If you are not at home to accept your delivery, then a card will be left and your parcel will be available for collection from your nearest Australia Post office. The same system applies to all courier deliveries. If you would like the courier to leave your package without signing, please ensure you leave this instruction when you checkout. If you choose to have an order left without a signature, Homecamp is not liable for any missing or damaged items.
INTERNATIONAL DELIVERIES
We use Australia Post, Sendle or Shippit for all deliveries to international destinations. Some items such as tents are not available for international shipping and you can contact us for quote. You should be aware that import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. Please check with your local customs office to find out what these additional costs will be. If you have any questions regarding deliveries in Australia or internationally, please contact us at [email protected]