Winston and I stayed with my sister in Shawnee, Kan., for a couple of days before taking off for Washington. On Dec. 19, Winston and I headed to Lawrence to pick up our pal Jennifer for the first leg of what I've been calling our "big adventure."

Our timing was perfect. The last week in KC was chilly, and we knew a storm was supposed to arrive after our departure.

The temperature dropped, and the moisture fell a little during our drive. The paved surfaces got slick, and Jennifer and I saw several cars on the side of Interstate 70.

And then about 15 miles from the Colorado border, the sky cleared, and the temperatures began to rise.

Kansastravelelement