Entertainment Agencies on the Costa del Sol

	This pic shows Dan, Tasso, Clive, Me, Colin and Don Larsen. We drove up through the Colorado Rockies to the ski town of Vail . Incredible scenery . We went to visit Don Larsen, who lived there then . He had some great photos of the W.D.P. tour in '59 as well as some of the Everly Brothers. He was also a friend of John Denver.
After Clearlake , our journey back to Denver . Stayed at the Super 8 Motel in Lincoln, Nebraska . Ate in Lincoln the night before at a diner called "Buzzard Billy's". Here loading, and getting ready to go: Colin , Tasso and Nancy. On the way back we took a detour to Cheyenne, Wyoming .
	This is Ogallala, Nebraska . We had stopped to gas up and fill the bin (eat). Ate at the "Cowboy's Rest". Clive (pictured) had a Buffalo burger. I was very proud of him !
February 2004 , after landing in Chicago , I made my way across Illinois to visit the "Quad Cities" of which Rock Island is part of . This is a memorial to trains and the history of the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Co , which was the inspiration for Lonnie Donegan / Johnny Cash hit song "The Rock Island Line" .
NORTHFIELD , MINNESOTA

As mentioned on the plaque above , on September 7th 1876 , the James and Younger Gang went to Northfield Minnesota to rob the First National Bank . Shown opposite is the safe , which was on a time lock and couldn't be opened until some days later . Out of pure frustration , they shot the bank clerk dead and the townspeople discovered a bank raid was in progress . They all rallied round and attacked the gang from all points .
	Inside the bank , this picture shows the door to the vault . Everything inside the bank has remained exactly as it was . To this day , the only thing changed is the glass in the windows .
This delightful and historic little detour just off the I35 , South of Minneapolis , has become a favourite of mine and I try to call in on most of my visits . Jessie and Frank James got away ! 2 or 3 members of their gang died later from their gunshot injuries , and 1 or 2 were shot and died there on Division Street .
Every year now , on September 7th (Buddy Holly's birthday), they stage a re -enactment of this famous bank raid , and crowds gather in the street to watch this spectacle .

--------------------------------------------- WINTERSET , MADISON COUNTY , IOWA
During my visits to Iowa in the last few years , I have become fascinated with Winterset , Madison County , firstly as it is the birthplace of John Wayne , and secondly famous as the location for the 1995 movie "The Bridges Of Madison County" , starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep .
	This is "Francesca's" house in the movie . Note just parked in the front garden is "Robert Kincaid's" green chevvy truck still remaining from the movie shoot .
Originally there were 19 bridges , now only 6 remain ! They are now protected by the American equivalent of our National Trust . Shown below is the Holliwell Bridge , the longest of the 6 bridges , at 117 feet in length . Shots of this bridge were used in the movie .

This is The Northside Cafe , in the town square of Winterset . Memorabilia from the movie adorns the back walls . Note the 4th bar stool on the right , where Clint Eastwood's character "Robert Kincaid" , sat in a scene from the movie .

This is me sat on that 4th bar stool , enjoying lots of coffee and waiting for my "Eggs over easy on Rye" .

This is a bar across the road from The Northside Cafe , called The Pheasant Run . For the movie , Hollywood moved in and gutted it , creating "The Blue Note" . When they left , they took all with them but forgot to take the table and 2 stools on which the 2 stars sat sharing a beer in a scene from the movie . This is me sitting on the stool which Clint sat on in the movie !

This is the birthplace of John Wayne , just off the main square in Winterset . The actual tour of the small 4 - roomed mainly wooden house is amazing . Just next door is the shop selling the tickets for the tour and all the merchandise . Pictured is the bronze statue commissioned by Wayne's seven children . This will take pride of place in a new centre being built just behind the original birthplace .

Pictured with friends , Dan and Nancy from Denver , Colorado , who I was staying with , and Clive Harvey .

Dan , Nancy , Clive , Tasso from Australia , Colin , myself and The Duke , whose movie "The Searchers" inspired Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison to use Wayne's often used phrase during that movie , as the title of his first big hit song "That'll Be The Day" .

This is the Roseman Bridge , built in 1883 and is the main bridge featured in the movie . Photographed from any angle , it is always beautiful !



The log cabin official souvenir shop , owned by Wyman Wilson , a friend of mine who was Clint's location advisor for the movie .
	Having been to Winterset now a few times ( for the yearly Buddy Holly anniversary celebrations in Clearlake , just 150 miles North) , I'm looking over my shoulder at the Roseman Bridge for the last time . I have vowed to return again to Iowa when there is no snow and the weather is a lot warmer !