12/24/24-Tuesday-Day 18 “Hummingbirds and Truck Repairs”

Between sips of coffee we take what seems to be nearly a thousand pictures of the Humming Birds that abound the ranch and Clarence gives me a brief history of the old homestead on which we are camped. Rancho San Dionisio dates back to the 1700’s and had been abandoned since the 1970’s until Clarence and Isabella discovered the property while trail running and turned it into what it is today. With a full kitchen, covered dinning area, hot showers, composting toilets, a cold soaking pool, community vegetable garden, and multiple fruit trees on the property it is an absolutely beautiful place for travelers like ourselves as well as locals to congregate. 

One perk that Rancho San Dionisio shares with Paraisio Misional in San Ignacio is grass! And much like our stay there, this one is as much about truck maintenance as it is about respite. Eight days ago while on the dirt road to the hot springs near San Cosme we had a BRAKE and ABS dash light come on. A quick inspection at the time revealed an almost severed wheel speed sensor wire at the passenger side hub assembly. Since then we have tried to get a replacement sensor at nearly every opportunity with no luck, the parts stores can get it but all of them say it is 3-4 weeks out, time we simply do not have seeing as we are boarding a ferry bound for mainland in less than 2 weeks. After my morning coffee I put on my bibs and get to work pulling the passenger side tire and brake rigging off so that I can access the sensor in hopes of repairing the wires. Thankfully Mark carries as many tools and spare bits and pieces as I do and he provides some compact uninsulated butt connectors and marine grade heat shrink that gets the job done. 

While the tire is off we take advantage of the access to the engine bay and also work on the trucks A/C, an ongoing issue that has been a struggle for quite some time. After running a jumper wire from the battery directly to the compressor we’re able to get it to work enough to pump a can of refrigerant into the system and after removing the jumper it seems to be working on its own blowing nice cold air, something Heather is ecstatic over! As Mark and I are busy working on Wanda Josh takes the time to rotate his trucks tires while Heather, Michele, Darci and Hannah all make Christmas ornaments in the community area. 

We spend the evening hours in our little courtyard, now lit by the tiny Christmas trees, which Heather had the foresight to bring along! and twinkle lights strung through the surrounding avocado trees. It is not wasted on any of us just how magical it is that we have once again found ourselves together for Christmas in the mountains of Mexico!