Monday Memories: Iowa Discoveries

It's More Than Cornfields

On our way out of Iowa to Minnesota we decided to check out one of the points of interest on our map labeled "Roseman Covered Bridge". We both like covered bridges, waterfalls, and lighthouses and will stop to see one if it is labeled. Also nearby on the map the birthplace of John Wayne was noted. So we could experience two points of interest in almost one stop.

As we traveled the arrow-straight roads between fields we passed a sign noting we were entering Madison County. I thought I'd be clever and make a joke: "Ha!" I said, "We're visiting the bridge of Madison County!" I didn't make any connections until we arrived at the Roseman Bridge and discovered that there was a gift shop. We had stumbled upon THE Bridges of Madison County! The friendly clerk at the shop sold us a map of the bridges we must see.

I hadn't read the book or seen the movie so I had no idea what the fuss was all about. All I knew was that I like historical structures and found that our unexpected adventure through the Iowa countryside was one of those special gifts that I will never forget!

Inside each of the bridges people would offer up their piece of graffitti. There were no signs saying not to, and I think this is one case in which it made sense for people to leave their mark, for it often told of their story which brought them there. Many had purposefully travelled to see the bridges as the story/movie touched them deeply. Others, like us, stumbled upon the bridges. People came as far away as Japan and Europe. We didn't leave our mark because I didn't have a Sharpie pen, but if I did I wouldn't have. I didn't feel like leaving my mark behind.

We decided we'd have lunch in the town of Winterset and check out the birthplace of John Wayne. At that time I had never seen a John Wayne movie before. They charged an admission fee to enter into the house, but going inside the gift shop was free of charge. We took some pictures outside of the house and I observed with wide eyes the feelings that John Wayne invoked in the numerous men who were at the house. The story I told myself is that his house was their Mecca. It's not often that men get emotional in public and teary-eyed. I wondered what awesome power this man held and represented to them that made them overcome their inhibitions and give such a public display of feeling.

The town of Winterset had a true town square and we drove around it looking for a place to have lunch. Being we had no idea I turned on my sense of locating a decent place to eat. I spied the Northside Cafe and thought to myself, "That will do just fine." We went inside and I realized I had made a good choice. During our meal we wondered why people were taking pictures of the exterior and then coming inside to snap more photos. So Pooky asked the waitiress and she gave us a look that said, "You don't know?" then proceeded to explain to us that this was the actual filming location used in the movie. Clint Eastwood himself sat at the bar and ate food! Oh, well not having seen the movie this was lost on us.

Having filled our sense of adventure and wonderment, along with our stomachs, we resumed our travel north to Minnesota where we had plans to discover what is beneath the Golly Green Giant's tunic and discover Walnut Grove.

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