Winterset, Iowa? Is this some tiny, sleepy, farm town? No, we were shocked to find out what a popular place it is! Once again we headed out onto the highway in a snow/ice storm to drive four hours to Winterset for Nose Work. It was a total shock when we found out how famous Winterset is!
I had two trials on Sunday, so imagine the surprise when we learned we were in Madison County, Iowa! It seems like I was destined to do nose work in this place! Bailie was just along to be my cheerleader, but she wanted to explore some of the fun stuff we found out about too. Luckily, in between my trials, we had time to take a drive and see some sights. Unfortunately, the visitor center is closed on Sundays.
Touring Fun In Winterset
Mom and Gramma always talk about a store called Ben Franklin and how these stores are all gone. Well, evidently, they still exist, at least in Winterset. Everything was closed because it was a Sunday, but we still wanted to get a photo of this store.
It was nice to be out stretching our legs, but it was super icy on the sidewalks, so we didn’t walk around too much. Bailie found this cool bench with the back made from a Chevy pick up gate to sit on. Pretty cool idea if you like pick up trucks.
Madison County has a few wineries, and they are famous for covered bridges, The Bridges of Madison County. We decided to visit one or two of these bridges since we had time. Hard to believe, we got to the first one and it was all torn down! Next we tried to get to another one just a few miles away, but it was going to be a rough dirt road, and none of us were up for that kind of a journey. No covered bridges for us this trip.
The biggest draw for Winterset is the birth place of a guy named John Wayne. Bailie and I don’t know of him, but Mom says he was super famous. Even the main street in town in named after him. This weekend we will be visiting a John Deere, but Mom says the two John guys have nothing to do with each other.
At one end of town, there is a John Wayne museum. Naturally, it was Sunday, and it was not open when we were there. This is a popular place! Over a million visitors have traveled to historic Winterset to tour the birthplace of John Wayne. President Ronald Reagan, movie legend Maureen O’Hara, and fans from fifty states and forty countries have come here to see the museum, and John’s birth home.
The most important photo of all is the one taken on the steps of the house John Wayne was born in. Such a tiny little house with four rooms, right on the corner. John Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison on May 26, 1907. To think we found all these things by accident! Mom needs to research our destinations better before we travel.
My Nose Work Trials
If that wasn’t enough excitement, I also earned my first nose work element title. I had trouble with containers, but Mom knew that would be tough for our team. Exteriors was much better, and I passed all four searches earning my L1E, Level 1 Exterior Title. Can you tell I’m pretty proud of my new title? My sisters both earned there Level 1 Vehicle Titles first and Exteriors last, so now I am blazing my own fresh trail.
Bailie’s friend Hydro was also at the trial cheering for his sister. They wanted to take a photo together. The two of them practiced tracking together and got their TD titles together a few years ago.
Now it’s on to the next trial weekend. It looks like better weather for traveling, finally.
Not sure how nature like this post is, but we are out and about. Our friends at Living Laughing and Barking in Our Backyard are hosting the nature Friday blog hop and we are hooking up.
WOW! Congrats on earning that title and Winterset looks pretty interesting!
Lots going on down there…not the sleepy town we were expecting!
we love that post and the house of john wayn… and we are so deep impressed that you have your own county…
Congratulations on this new title. Nose work sounds brilliant! We had no idea where John Wayne was born but Gail says she always finds it funny that he was christened Marion, which in the UK is definitely a girls name. I suspect it is politically incorrect to find this funny, but then some people ask if I’m a bitch when told my name is Bertie!
Toodle pip!
Bertie (all male, like John Wayne).
Marion is a boys name to us too, but who knows what was going on back when he was born. People call me and Bailie boys too sometimes. Oh well, we all know who we really are…all girl power here.
I was impressed to find out I have my own county too!
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS to both of you! Wowza! What a quaint little town that actually closes businesses on Sunday. So much history. I am happy they named a county after you, Madison. 🙂 XOXO, Sparkle
Can’t believe my silly Mom had no idea about my county, John Wayne, or the Bridges of Madison County. Good thing I got her down to see it all.
My mom knew about the Bridges. She read the book and said it was real steamy (whatever that means!)
Very odd. It was just cold and super windy when we were there.
Madison and Bailie what an most interesting and fun post from your road trip to the Iowa trials!!
I really enjoyed seeing your friends and John Wayne’s home.
Hugs Cecilia
Thank you. What was to be a quick trip turned out to be filled with new stuff!
Winterset reminds me of my hometown as a kid. Everything was closed on Sundays. It was a day for church and rest.
You two are most adorable.
Have a woof woof day and weekend. My best to your peeps. ♥
Mom said most things were closed on Sundays in her town as a little girl too and at the time she found it so boring. Now she loves it when places are closed.
Oh, now I look at you as two movie stars…must be all in the name. Thanks for the trip, Madison and Bailie <3 Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend🐾😽💞
Thank you. It turned out to be a real interesting place in the middle of nowhere.
Congratulations! What a cute little town Winterset is! Mom remembers Ben Franklin stores!
My mom calls them dime stores for some reason. She was so excited to find one.
So proud of you! Congratulations
Thank you. It was a real fun trip, minus the poor driving conditions.
John Wayne!!! WOW , who’d of thunk??? Your nosework gets you into a lot of interesting places . I MISS BEN FRANKLIN!!!
We do end up in some cool spots sometimes for our nose work.
What a fun little town and so historical! Congratulations on more awards!
We had no idea about any of the stuff going on with the town, so it was a real nice surprise.
wow, that looked like a great wkend, i love John Wayne, still watch his old movies. i am a western buff mainly because of the horses. congrats on the big win!i did not know there were anymore Ben Franklin stores around anymore.
Mom thought they were all gone too, but I guess there is at least one left. You need to go to Winterset to visit the John Wayne birthplace and museum.
Way To Go Madison!!!! Ducky and I are proud of you!! We know Shadow would be, too! Winterset looks like a neat town to visit, even for people like me who aren’t fans of John Wayne.
My mom isn’t into John Wayne either, but knows he is quite famous. It was fun to see some historical stuff anyway, and bring home a title from my own county.
outstanding news Madison!! And what an awesome town to visit! Madison County!!! Hooray— your own county!! (by the way your friend Hydro looks like my brother!!!). Awesome post. Congratulations! your friend Lilly
They do look very similar, but I don’t thing your brother is a Portuguese Water dog, or is he? I was thinking he was a Doodle?
What a cool place Winterset is…and you got to visit a ton of cool places!!!
xoxo,
Jakey, Arty & Rosy
It is mostly accidental, but we do get around traveling for our sports.
Maybe you can go back again some day when everything is open. Congrats on the title!
We will see if there are any trials down in that area in the future.
What an awesome trip! So much cool stuff to see (we wouldn’t have known either – we’d never heard of Winterset (even though we know who the John guy is), and success as well! Congrats on your new title!
It was quite a surprise for us to find out all those things at 8 am, but a good surprise and we were lucky to have time to see some of the sights.
Congrats on a nice trial and great pictures of the town. Didn’t know John Wayne was born there, very cool.
We never heard of the guy, but Mom says he is real famous.
Congrats on your title!!!! Way to go. I’m glad that it was such a fun place to visit!
We never expected to find anything in the midst of Iowa, but all of the sudden there it was. Lots of fun.
Congrats to you all on your titles
Thank you. I’ve quite pleased to have my exterior title.