Welll, we weren’t planning for this. But we are always expecting something to break.
Yesterday was a double whammy.
As soon as we pulled out onto the main road from our restorative 2 nights at the insanely beautiful El Coyote campsite…
…I noticed that a small existing crack in our windshield has advanced- LIKE 6”’!!!
The rapid temperature change from the sunlight hitting it must have caused it. I know this can be stopped and we’ve dealt with stopping cracks before. But not of this size. We’ve also discussed the eminence of getting a brand new windshield.
But, 100km/ 60mi later we manage to find a mechanic in Loreto- the biggest city we’ve encountered yet. Only it gets worse- he doesn’t know anyone who does windshields and tries his best. Well, his best was not good. $8 later and with the diamond bit we purchase from the local shop, there is a large chip, A HOLE, in the windshield. Todd is pissed. And I am kicking myself for encouraging him so strongly to fix this.
Tensions are high, the girls are starting to ask for more snacks. And they are curious about the mechanic’s not so tidy front yard…lots of questions.
Thank goodness for Google, big sandwiches for everyone, and some shade in an Advanced Auto Zone store parking lot, Todd figures out a temporary solution! A $14 windshield repair kit.
This happens to be one of our long haul days before family comes down to visit us. So we have 368 km (230 miles) to drive for the day and 280 km (175 miles) left. Remember, we are playing SURPRISE FROGGER on all the roads of Baja- you never know when a small or 3’ pothole will sneak up on you!
So after the fix we get back in the van and drive south and inland. Temps reach 89F and sun is blasting in the front windshield. A/C gets turned on. 4 hour ETA projection.
I’m quietly lamenting about how hot it is. Should’ve worn a tank top, this A/C should be colder, I want a cold ice cream….blah blah blah.
We stop for gas at Cuidad Constitución.
Todd is maneuvering the van and turns the wheel to the extreme right.
A horrible clicking sound begins and gets louder and a puff of dust comes out of his air vent!!!
The paranoia sets in. Can the van be turned back on? YES. Does Todd have power steering? YES. Play with the fan dial- no change in airflow. Play with the A/C button- there is some cool air flow.
Our fan is out.
And it’s 87F. We still have another 1.5 hours to drive to our remote campsite for the night. Luckily at fast driving speeds air gets pushed across the A/C and it kinda feels like setting 1 on the fan dial is turned on.
We do the drive. I hide from the sun.
We get to camp. All are exhausted. Camp spot is beautiful and perfect. “Cactus Forest”
Todd gets out and immediately starts problem solving. What could it be? A fuse? No. The fan comes out, WD40 comes out. I see electrical diagrams on his phone….
An hour passes, it’s 6:30pm. As I’m keeping the girls at bay and reheating leftovers for dinner he pronounces the fan dead. It just wore out over time.
So the search for a replacement begins.
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