Day One - Colorado Springs, Colorado to Topeka, Kansas
After weeks of uncertainty, we finally had a date to leave Colorado. December 13, 2023, was the day. As I outlined in my post Cross Country and Beyond with Three Dogs - Colorado to Spain, everything was in flux, and I booked two trips. One for leaving on December 11 and one leaving on December 13. Of course, by the 13th, I had set about cancelling back-up reservations and our flight leaving Newark the next day.
We picked up our rental, a Kia Carnival, a few days before departure, a decision which proved to be incredibly valuable. We decided on this vehicle because of its size, the ability to fold the seats, and its safety features, and because it looked more like an SUV than a van, which I really liked. The extra time allowed for a few dry runs loading luggage and dog gear. Although we were exhausted and really wanted to delay our departure, an imminent winter storm headed our way from the southeast forced us to face reality and get on the road.
We quickly loaded up the car, said goodbye to dear friends, and headed out to Topeka, Kansas. It was just about 1:00 PM, and the first snowflakes had started to fall. We hit the road as we always do, anxious but glad to finally be GOING. Ginger is a veteran road-tripper, Ellie had one under her belt, and it was Finn's first time out.
Our pups love being together and snuggling up. Given their love for being with us and each other, we weren't worried about how they would handle the long drives in the car.
Not having had anything to eat all day, we stopped for fuel about three hours in and bought some of those gas station pre-made sandwiches and chips. Anything tastes good when you're that hungry. We dodged the storm and pulled into the Courtyard by Marriott Topeka a little after 10:00 PM. The staff at this hotel were so hospitable. Knowing we had dogs, they had booked us a room at the end, next to an exit door and close to a walking area. That little bit of kindness went a long way.
Before booking, I highly recommend reviewing my original blog, Cross Country with Three Dogs where I explain all the necessary steps to make reservations when traveling with pets.
The room in Topeka was very big, with a sitting area, a large counter with a sink, a coffee maker, and a mini-fridge underneath, and a king-sized bed and bath in a separate room. Of course, Finn was endlessly curious about these new surroundings and had to sniff every inch of the room.
After some much-needed rest, we got up, had some quick walks and food, and hit the road at 7 AM for Dayton, Ohio, to begin day two of our adventure!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing!