Eighty-five years after John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts set out on their Gulf of California expedition, the Western Flyer returns to those same waters.
Onboard is a different kind of gathering—marine scientists, artists, educators, filmmakers, and students—brought together not by a single objective, but by a shared sense of curiosity. In the spirit of Ricketts’ non-teleological thinking, the journey unfolds without a fixed outcome.
Along the way, new voices enter the story. In ports across Baja California, young Mexican scientists, students, and artists step aboard. Conversations expand. Perspectives shift.
“This trip had dimension and tone. It was a thing whose boundaries seeped through itself and beyond into some time and space that was more than all the Gulf and more than all our lives.”
We Simply Liked It captures these moments as they happen—where science, story, and lived experience intersect, and where the line between observer and participant begins to dissolve.
The result is not a conclusion, but an invitation: to look more closely, to stay curious, and to recognize the connections that bind us—from the tide pool to the stars, and back again.
Film Details
Length: 23 minutes
Filmmakers: Soulcraft Allstars
Produced by: Western Flyer Foundation
Filmed during: 85th Anniversary Gulf of California expedition (2025)
Upcoming Screenings
The film is currently being screened at events along the West Coast:
- Sunday, May 10 – The Egyptian Theater, Coos Bay, Oregon (Event Details)
- Sunday, May 17 — Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, Oregon (Event Details)
- Sunday, June 7 — Northwest Maritime Center, Port Townsend, Washington (Event Details)
See event page for full details and tickets: westernflyer.org/events
Host a Screening / Support the Film
Interested in bringing a screening to your community or supporting future storytelling aboard the Western Flyer?
Contact us at info@westernflyer.org.
About the Filmmakers
Soulcraft Allstars is a creative production company specializing in telling compelling stories through film and visual media. Their projects span documentary, education, and activism, with a focus on amplifying narratives that create impact. Learn more at www.soulcraftallstars.com.
More films from the Western Flyer Foundation
- The Western Flyer with Nick Offerman (2014)
- The Western Flyer: The Next Chapter (2018)
- Restoring the Western Flyer (YouTube)
- Stories, Shorts & Outtakes from the Western Flyer (YouTube)
