And, we're off...
 

The shuttle to the airport arrives in about five hours. I was probably insane agreeing to a 2:50 a.m. pickup time, but that's all they had, and my flight out of Seattle leaves at 6 o'clock in the morning. I guess I can sleep on the plane.

I'm headed to Phoenix tomorrow to pick up my new MINI and drive it home. It's a Checkmate Edition 2006 Cooper S with the JCW package. If I wasn't so exhausted from a crazy day at work today, I'm not sure I'd be able to sleep.

I'm traveling light, carrying just the cashier's check for the car, a change of clothes, my laptop and a camera. Any more and I might upset that great MINI handling on the drive home.

The route back takes me north towards Vegas, across Death Valley and then along the California and Oregon coast back to Puget Sound. It's a drive I've dreamed of doing my whole life.

I'll be posting updates along the way to my blog at mynameistaken.com for those of you that might be interested.

For now, though, it's time for some sleep.

Sounds exciting. It's your first MINI? What a great way to get to know it.

That sounds awsome. Make sure you post pics right away.