Laughs, Landmarks, and Long Roads: 10 oops I meant 12 Days Together

 Day 10 – From Sunrise to Statues – A Day of Bridges, Rivers, and Road Miles

We got up early and caught a few pictures of our last sunrise in Omaha before hitting the road.

 Loaded the van and by 7:15 am, we were backing out of the driveway, waving goodbye to our home base for the week.

First stop… you guessed it: DUNKIN. One XL hot coffee for me, one medium hot chocolate with whipped cream for Susan — then it was road trip mode!

Our first real stop was Winterset, Iowa to see some of the famous Bridges of Madison County — the ones from the novel and movie. We visited four:

• Roseman Bridge – Built in 1883 and one of the most iconic bridges in the county. This is the bridge featured in the movie, where much of the story takes place.

• Cutler-Donahoe Bridge – Built in 1870 and later moved to Winterset City Park. Its delicate latticework makes it one of the prettiest bridges. Right near the bridge are beautiful bronze statues that capture the spirit of small-town Iowa — perfect for a photo stop, and yes, I’ve got those pictures to share.

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When in Madison County… you kiss on the bridge.





Loved all the statues around the park!































• Holliwell Bridge – At 122 feet, it’s the longest covered bridge in Madison County. Built in 1880, it was also in the movie.

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• Hogback Bridge – Built in 1884, named for the limestone ridge nearby that looks like a hog’s back

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Between Holliwell and Hogback, we detoured into downtown Winterset for a quick photo stop at the John Wayne Birthplace & Museum. The museum holds the largest collection of John Wayne memorabilia in the world and is right next to the small white home where he was born in 1907.

John Wayne Museum – Honoring the Duke in the town where it all began.

We found the Fire Hall and the Fire House - 

Not the best picture of the fire house but it was right across the street from the fire hall.

We also popped into the local quilt shop — and there may have been a purchase 😉. 

Oops caught my reflection in the window. 😂

Winterset Courthouse Square – At the heart of town sits the Madison County Courthouse, a striking limestone building completed in 1876. Built in the French Renaissance style, it features a 136-foot clock tower and serves as the centerpiece of Winterset’s historic courthouse square. Around it, you’ll find charming shops, cafés, and boutiques that make the square a favorite stop for visitors exploring the Bridges of Madison County.

Then it was on to Hogback Bridge before getting back on the highway. -Pictures above

Next stop: Culver’s. Had to get it at least one more time before heading home. Kids’ meals all around, and a free scoop of the Flavor of the Day — Chocolate Peanut Cup for Susan and me, vanilla for Mark, and a root beer float for Michael.

From there, we made our way to the World’s Largest Truck Stop on I-80. This place is massive — full of shops, restaurants, a trucking museum, and even a movie theater. And guess what? No purchases made… can you believe it?

Back on the road, we decided to find a place to stay for the night. Mark found us a Hyatt Place Hotel I got it booked and found a restaurant right nearby for us!  Maggie Miley’s, a cozy Irish pub in Normal, Illinois. Warm atmosphere, great menu, and service that went above and beyond — even the chef stopped by our table. Definitely a road trip dining win.

Susan had Bangors and Mash -my pictures were not so good on this or Mark's Shepherd's Pie 😓

Michael had Corned Beef & Cabbage with mashed potatoes and it was fork tender - had to ask the chef his secret!

These were some of the best onion rings I have had in a while not a great picture 

We covered three states today — Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois — and crossed three rivers: the Missouri, the Mississippi, and the Illinois. Most of the drive was through miles of lush farmland, dotted with small towns and terraced hillsides that looked like green staircases.

Terraces Help Prevent Erosion
Water gains speed and power as it runs downhill, similar to a sled on a snow-covered hill. Terraces are constructed on hillsides to reduce the length of the slope to slow rain water, capturing it and reducing its erosive power. They catch water much like eave spouts on a house. Slope is the rise in land over a certain distance. For example, if the land rises 10 feet in height over 100 feet, it has a 10% slope.

Tomorrow… the adventure rolls on! We’ve got more miles to cover, more bites to eat, and who knows what quirky roadside stops will make the list. One and a half more days on the road — and we plan to enjoy every mile. Stay tuned!