October 30, 2023
Small Town America
Part 1 of a two-part tale of travels in scenic central Iowa
By Mary Schricker Gemberling
“Travel is about the wonderful feeling of teetering in the unknown”…….Anthony Bourdain
Those of you who follow this publication know that Gary and I love to travel in our motor home. It gives us an opportunity to explore beautiful parks and lakes in nearby states. On our annual fall RV trip we were joined again by our Wisconsin friends Barb and Jerry Neumann. Our chosen destination was central Iowa, a location easily accessible and mostly undiscovered by both couples.
We headed out on Monday morning and drove about five hours to Shady Brook Camping and RV Adventures in Earlham, Iowa. This full-service (electricity, water, & sewer) campground offers secluded spots surrounded by beautiful shade trees, walking trails, and abundant wildlife. This
destination was about equal distance from where we live in Normal, Illinois, and the Neumann’s home in Birchwood, Wisconsin. We arrived before our friends at our camp spot and followed the familiar routine of unhooking our pickup truck, putting out the RV slide, and connecting the water and electricity; it may sound like quite a process but we ‘have it down to a science.’
Each family is responsible for two main meals during our week of camping and the first night was our turn. We set the table and prepped our menu of burgers with all the fixings, along with already-made pasta salad, chips and homemade chocolate chip cookies. Our RV is equipped with an ample cooktop and microwave/convection oven but we have found it is easier to prepare as much as possible at home prior to our trips.
Before long, Barb and Jerry arrived, set up their RV in the spot adjacent to us, and joined up for Happy Hour to catch up on our lives since we last saw them. After a successful first meal, we decided to play a couple of hands of cards and turn in early. Both of our drivers were pretty tired from a day of driving.
On Tuesday morning we drove about 20 minutes south to Winterset, Iowa. First on our agenda was a guided tour of the Bridges of Madison county, of the famed book and movie. Our tour guide, Diane, has lived in the area for 50 years and shared its rich history, the impact of the movie industry on Winterset, and a bit about the life of its most famous individual, Marion Morrison, known to the rest of the world as John Wayne or the infamous Duke. Diane was an amazing tour guide and shared with us enough information to fill the pages of a small book, so I will try to summarize.
The Bridges – Madison County is the “Covered Bridge Capital of the World” with six of the original eighteen bridges remaining today. The story of the bridges dates back to 1870, when the Madison County Board of Supervisors required the bridges to be covered to protect them from rain, snow and ice, thus expanding their useful lifespan. Over the years, despite their cover, many still succumbed to the weather and some could no longer accommodate the larger farm machinery thus giving way to the more contemporary iron bridge. The covered bridges received a new lease on life following the publication of the 1992 novel and movie of the same name. (Gary and I watched the movie again before we left home to refresh our memories from the original viewing in 1995). Many memorable scenes from the 1995 movie were filmed in the kitchen of a nearby 1800s farmhouse.
We stopped at the famous Roseman Bridge where in the movie Robert Kincaid (Clint Eastwood) stops at the farmhouse of Francesca (Meryl Streep) to get directions to this bridge for his current photography assignment. It is also the place where Francesca leaves her note inviting the National Geographic photographer to dinner. Another notable bridge is the Holliwell where Robert picks a bouquet of flowers for the smitten Francesca.
“Live life with no excuses, travel with no regrets.”………….Oscar Wilde
Mary Schricker Gemberling
Mary, a former educator and Senior Real Estate Specialist, is the author of four books: The West End Kid, Labor of Love; My Personal Journey through the World of Caregiving, Hotel Blackhawk; A Century of Elegance, and Ebenezer United Methodist Church; 150 Years of Resiliency.
