Press Release

Burgess Offers Bus Trip to Bridges of Madison County

The Bridges of Madison County and a chartered dinner train through scenic Des Moines River Valley will highlight the next Burgess Health Center Senior Advantage bus trip on Wednesday, Oct. 3 from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

One of the bestselling books in history, Robert James Waller’s 1992 novel, The Bridges of Madison County, sold over 60 million copies and was adapted into a popular 1995 film starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep.

Tickets are now on sale for the trip, which will show the Clint Eastwood film on the bus when it departs for its return trip to Onawa at 8 p.m.

Lunch will be served at the Northside Café, the restaurant in the film where Robert Kincaid stops for coffee, according to Jean Pekarek, the Burgess director of patient experiences who is coordinating trip. The trip will also visit John Wayne’s birthplace and the Madison County Historical Complex and require very little walking.

The 22-mile train ride on the Boone Scenic Valley Railroad will feature a four-course dinner with choice of entrees.
“Our passengers will enjoy a trip on the historic ‘City of San Francisco’ or ‘City of Los Angeles’ cars along with an elegant dining as it was on dining cars in the 50's,” says Pekarek. “We’re received an enthusiastic response to this trip.”

The bridges trip follows a previous bus trip that visited the kitchens and gardens of Better Homes and Gardens in Des Moines and the botanical center.
Persons are invited to bring a family member of friend and space is limited. Cost is $75 for active volunteers and $95 for others. To register call Jean Pekarek at Burgess at 712-423-9201.