It was sad to let her go, more so than I expected. (As cars go, Mini was definitely a she). Certain cars seem to have a personality all of their own; she was fun to drive and was always able to squeeze through the tight spots in traffic, though she needed some TLC at times (as many of you know). Together we got through blizzards, hot 100degF days, Friday afternoon traffic with NPR on the radio. And of course the tire blow outs, failed power steering pumps, and a plethera of little red and yellow lights.
Mini did get us to the end of our road trip safe and sound, and in style; she was repatedly recognized by other travellers who were pacing us along the route. She got through the bumpy back roads, up and down the steep hills, around the twisting switchbacks, and of course along the I-405. She even got the best gas milage of her life. Not unexpectedly, she didn't quite get to the end of the road trip problem-free, but nothing that hindered our progress. We actually started to make a game of it: what size of bump will trigger the wheel speed sensor?
And so we say thank you to our dear car as she passes into a luxurious retirement in sunny southern California, over 3200 miles driven from Chicago. She will be fondly remmebered for her looks, her quirks and her acheivments in completeling Route 66.
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