Well, It Does Save Nearly 10%

I've been having an intermittent problem with the heater/AC fan on my van. We know what the problem is: Lisa looked into it last year and determined (and I agree) that I really need a new fan; however, she patched it together temporarily then, and it held together until this trip. During this trip, it started failing again. I could coax it back to life temporarily by wiggling the wires running into the motor, but it really needs replacing. So this morning I called the nearby GM dealership and made an appointment to have them replace it. We'll take it to the shop this afternoon when Lisa can follow me in.

While I don't like having to spend yet more money, at least I don't have to pay sales tax on the parts.

Update, 15:30: Dealership confirms that it's the blower fan, and quotes a price of a little over $150 $200 installed, which seems like a bargain to me. I should be able to collect it sometime tomorrow afternoon. They must know what the trick for getting the fan assembly out of the van is. Lisa and I tried it once and could see no way to do so without serious structural work.

Further Update, 16:30: They forgot to quote me the entire fan assembly including the cage that actually moves the air. Still doesn't seem too bad to me. Also, it's replacing an after-market blower with a GM part, which seems like a better thing to do.

Say, Is That...?

I forgot to mention about our trip to Albany yesterday: While driving on OR-226, we spied one of those contraptions the power companies erect over high-voltage line to form areas where birds can nest without getting electrocuted (and shorting out the lines). There was a very impressive-sized nest built on the stand. A short distance farther along, I saw a large raptor flying toward us. As it passed almost directly overhead, I said, "Hey, that's a bald eagle!" Sure enough, there's are eagles nesting there. That's the second time Lisa and I have spotted eagles in Oregon. The first time was when we rode the short-lived Lewis & Clark Explorer train from Portland to Astoria a few years ago. As we passed over a bridge, we saw a bald eagle diving and flying away with a fish flapping in its talons, which was most impressive — possibly worth the entire price of the trip.