Profiled earlier on Automotive Traveler, Facebook Friends Brad Nelson and Emma Frankland start their month-long 11,000-mile, 48-state adventure with their 2009 Ford Fiesta named Vortex.

We have begun our grand adventure. After mapping out a U.S. tour of the 48 states which shows approx 11,327 miles round trip leaving from Medford, Oregon, we began to make preparations. After a mad packing frenzy of stuffing the Ford Fiesta (that we've named Vortex) full of everything except maybe the kitchen sink, we were on our way. The first shorter stint in the car included Phantom, my lab mix, panting in our ears for the 336-mile trek to Auburn, California where she will visit with my parents while Emma and I roam the Lower 48, all 48.

After the epic packing battle, at about 8:15 PM, we began the arduous journey down the I-5 corridor that we have covered hundreds of times. As we passed through Yreka, California the Fiesta's odometer rolled over the 5000-mile mark. Hopefully, the next big number will hit in a more monumental place, and one that we can pull over for pictures. We stopped for a late night dinner in Redding, California at the west coast institution In-and-Out burgers after circling the streets for better cuisine. We got our fill of burgers, fries, and a chocolate shake, and climbed back into Vortex. Another hour passed on the road and Emma was now sacked out, though I'm not sure how with Phantom still panting heavily from the back seat. I continued to listen to the comedy station on our newly installed Sirius Radio from our last Fiesta Mission Video. The rear view mirror auto-dim feature was in full effect and kept away the blinding lights from behind. Time seemed to be moving so slowly now at 1 AM and every mile seemed as though it took 10 minutes.

Time to stretch our legs once again in Dunnigan, California and fuel-up. We topped of Vortex's tank and registered an impressive 34.7 MPG tank, her best yet to date. (All of our fuel-ups--less one--can be found on our FollowTheFiesta website.) We traded shifts and Emma was now behind the wheel. With around an hour left it seemed as though the end was in sight...though the end of the panting was not. During the last turn up the windy roads in the foothills of Auburn, towards our final destination, a skunk made a suicide attempt at scurrying across the road directly in front of us. The quick reflexes of Emma and Vortex both allowed the stinky critter to survive another night. We finally pulled up to the house in Auburn at 2:25 AM and immediately crashed into a deep sleep. A day off in Auburn is next followed by some day trips to Vista, Las Vegas, Flagstaff, and the Grand Canyon to visit family and friends before we continue on with the next portion of the road trip!